Danie Botha
(1947-) Author, actor, critic, editor, publisher and writer. Daniel Stephanus “Danie” Botha was born near De Doorns in the Western Cape. He matriculated in 1964 from Worcester Boys’ High School. In 1966 he started working in the Central Research Department at the Cape Provincial Library in Cape Town.
From 1967 to 1970 he studied at the University of Stellenbosch and received a BA Honours degree in Afrikaans and Dutch. He was a member of DJ Opperman’s Literary Laboratory and also served on the editorial team of the at Die Matie student newspaper alongside people such Fanie Oliver and Etienne Britz. Together with Fanie Olivier he founded the literary magazine Penseel in 1970.
After his studies he worked as Afrikaans book selector at the Cape Provincial Library Service, and in August 1972 he joined Tafelberg Publishers as fiction editor. Danie was also head of the children’s books department during his time at Tafelberg. In the 1980s he moved back to fiction into the position of senior editor.
Up to his retirement in 2000, as fiction editor he managed all literary genres and specialised in literary criticism, author biographies, anthologies, dramas, short stories and gay literature.
His short-story collection, Die Soft Rock Klub, appeared in 1995.
He is also known as compiler of Op ’n hoë noot: die lekkerste stories van PH Nortjé and Tien uit tien: stories en sêgoeters van Fanus Rautenbach.
Books still in print
Compiler
2010 Tien uit tien: stories en sêgoeters van Fanus Rautenbach, Tafelberg 2008 Op ’n hoë noot: die lekkerste stories van PH Nortje, Tafelberg 1992 Die beste spookstories van C.J. Langenhoven, Tafelberg
Awards
2011 He receives an honorary tribute from the ATKV acknowledging his contribution to drama and his work in publishing as editor.
Publised works
Children's books
1981 Uil in die pad, Tafelberg
Prose: short stories
1995 Die Soft Rock Klub, Tafelberg
Nonfiction
2006 Voetligte en applous! Die beginjare van die Afrikaanse beroepstoneel, Protea Boekhuis
Compiler
1987 Hulde aan JD, Tafelberg 1991 In ons goeie boekies: skrywers en redakterus oor Tafelberg-Uitgewers, Tafelberg 1992 Die beste spookstories van C.J. Langenhoven, Tafelberg 1993 Wellingston se suiker: die beste sketse van PH Nortje, Tafelberg 2001 Party van ons: die Homeros leesboek, Homeros 2008 Op ’n hoë noot: die lekkerste stories van PH Nortje, Tafelberg 2010 Tien uit tien: stories en sêgoeters van Fanus Rautenbach, Tafelberg
Sources
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
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