Marius Swart's work, particularly his English translation of Marlene van Niekerk's Die sneeuslaper, was recently praised by the International Federation of Translators (FIT). Although he did not win the Marion Boers Prize, he received an honourable mention for The snow sleeper.

The prize was awarded during FIT's 22nd world congress in Varandero (Cuba). Prof Ilse Feinauer, who delivered a keynote during the conference, received the award on Swart's behalf. In the commendation, the jury describe Swart as “unquestionably a leading literary translator working mainly between Afrikaans and English". They also acknowledged his work as a lecturer, interpreter, translator and researcher who, though “his attention to the interplay between theory and practice" produces work “guided by scientific thought" but abounding in “creativity and artistry".

Regarding the recognition his translation expertise has garnered, Swart says that without the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch he “would never have known translation is something you can do" and describes it as “fitting and poetic" that the lecturer (now colleague) who introduced him to translation should collect the award on his behalf.

The Marion Boers Prize is for the translation of works of fiction or non-fiction by an author from one of the 16 SADC member states and is aimed at recognising and rewarding excellence in translation. Candidates have to be nominated by a FIT member. Although the work's author should be a citizen of an SADC state, translators of all nationalities can be nominated.

The prize was instituted in memory of Marion Boers in 2020 and was awarded for the first time in 2022. Boers was FIT president for two consecutive terms from 2008 to 2014 and was the executive director of the South African Translators' Institute (SATI) for more than two decades. She passed away in October 2018.