Beverley Roos-Muller

Beverley Roos-Muller (1949-)

Biography

Born on 19 July, 1949, in Cape Town, of Irish parentage and had her early schooling at Rustenburg Primary School, Rondebosch and Huguenote Hoër Skool, Wellington, befoe matriculating in Natal at Northlands, 1966.

She then went to the University of Cape Town to complete a B.A. (with Distinction), an M.A., and a Ph.D. in Humanities.

She became a reporter for The Cape Argus (January 1967-1974), becoming the first woman newspaper reporter in South Africa to receive parity pay (1972), when she was appointed Head of Features in 1972, the first woman to hold that post. For two years (1974-5) she worked as a free-lance journalist in London.

She then became a University of Cape Town lecturer, teaching in the departments of cultural history, the study of Religions, and Political Studies until 1987. Also was a guest lecturer in Archaeology on occasion.

She then left her academic career at UCT to participate full time in the politics of the 1980s, standing for the PFP in Durbanville in 1987 during that year's Election, and became involved in a range of progressive activities, including becoming a founding member of the Cape Town branch of the Five Freedoms Forum, became the official spokesperson for the FFF campaign Open City, and was invited by Cowley House during Robben Island’s final years as a political prison, to become a prison visitor for those whose families lived too far away to make the long journey. She has written about this time, and spoken at various events including a special Commemoration on the Island with former political prisoner Ahmed Kathrada.

In 1970 she married Dr Peter Roos, and has a daughter, Nandi Roos, and grandson, Kieran Roos-Munroe.

In 1997 she met her second husband, Ampie Muller, while they were both working for Fine Music Radio. They were marred for 22 years, till his passing in 2019.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Starting as a journalist for the The Argus, she would in the course of her career interview and write on international authors and stars of stage and screen, as well as writing on political, social and cultural matters for most other mainstream newspapers in South Africa. She is still a featured Opinionista in the Daily Maverick, and her work has been syndicated in overseas news publications.

With its founding, she became a radio presenter on Fine Music Radio (FMR101.3), presenting a weekly Arts Diary programme for ten years, as well as classical music programmes. She covered the full Grahamstown National Arts Festival live on air for four years, from 1998-2001. She continues to write regular features, broadcasts and podcasts.

Sources

Go to the ESAT Bibliography

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