Rina Minervini

Rina Minervini (1944-) is a South African journalist, arts editor and author.

Biography
Born Catharina Sophia van der Walt, 31 August 1944, Johannesburg.

Schooling in Kimberley, East London, Vereeniging, Johannesburg (Roosevelt High School) and Bolton Landing, New York State, United States (as an American Field Service exchange student, 1961–1962).

Training
Completed a BA, University of the Witwatersrand, 1964, an Hons BA (English) (cum laude), University of South Africa, 1971 and an MA (English), University of South Africa, 1979. Thesis: J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings': a source study and evaluation.

Over the period 1961 to 1972, with intermittent breaks, attended Ruth Oppenheim's Academy of Acting part time, occasionally taking over teaching in her absence. Directed some plays.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst for IBM for seven years before starting to write freelance film criticism for the Rand Daily Mail in 1972. Joined Cinema and TV magazine as a writer in 1974 and later became editor. Moved briefly to The Star Tonight as TV critic in 1976, then rejoined the Rand Daily Mail as full-time film and theatre critic.

After a two-year break lecturing in Communication Studies at Wits and freelancing, she again rejoined the Rand Daily Mail in 1982. Was editor of its weekly entertainment supplement Funfinder as well as working on the daily pages under Raeford Daniel when the RDM closed in 1985. After a year as public relations officer at Ster-Kinekor, joined The Star Tonight as a sub-editor, and then became Arts Editor of The Sunday Star (1987–1991).

Worked for various magazines in senior capacities until 2000 when she became a freelance editor. Among the books she has edited is playwright Ronnie Govender's autobiography, In the Manure. Served on judging panels for film and theatre awards (Dalro Awards, Vita Awards) and the Thomas Pringle Award for critical writing. Member of the now defunct Johannesburg Critics' Circle.

Wrote the original screenplay synopsis for the TV series Shaka Zulu.

As a director, did inter alia a performance of L'Amante Anglaise with Ruth Oppenheim in Johannesburg for a Des Lindbergh and Dawn Lindbergh soiree.

Awards, etc

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