Rina Botha

(19**-198*) Actress, writer and very influential voice teacher. Born in George as Catherina P. Botha, she studied at the Stellenbosch University and became a teacher in Sutherland. In 1944 she left teaching to enter the acting profession, where she met the actor Johan Fourie and joined his company, later marrying him. She spent 12 years with the Johan Fourie-toneelgeselskap (“ Johan Fourie Theatre Company”), later doing work for NTO as well. In 1964 she returned to the Stellenbosch University to study acting under Fred Engelen and complete a B.A. Honours degree in Afrikaans literature. Engelen then appointed her as lecturer in speech and voice in the department, and she remained there till her death in 198*. A large number of Afrikaans performers and speech teachers trained with her, including Annalize van der Ryst, Rina Nienaber, Johan Esterhuizen, Antoinette Kellerman, Dawie Malan, Laurika Rauch, Juanita Swanepoel (Nita Fourie) and Marie Kruger, the latter two following her as voice teachers in the department. Among her roles in theatre were in Geknakte Riete (Johan Fourie, 1952) ***. She also wrote a number of stories. Her second husband, Carel “Yster” Hattingh, died in 1970.