Marlene le Roux (born 17 September 1967) is a South African

disability Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, ...

and

women's rights Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, ...

activist. She is co-founder of the Women's Achievement Network for Disability, and CEO of the Artscape Theatre Centre in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

Biography

Marlene le Roux was born in

Wellington, Western Cape Wellington is a town in the Western Cape Winelands, a 45-minute drive from Cape Town, in South Africa with a population of approximately 62,000. Wellington's economy is centered on agriculture such as wine, table grapes, deciduous fruit, and a bra ...

, 17 September 1967. At three months old, le Roux contracted poliomyelitis which left her with a weakened leg for which she wears a brace. She

matriculated Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...

at Bergrivier Secondary School then went on to earn a

B.Mus. Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or music school, conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consi ...

degree in 1988 and a Higher Diploma in Education in 1989 followed by a

B.Ed. A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) is an undergraduate professional degree which prepares students for work as a teacher in schools. In some countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, additional tasks like field work and research are required in order for ...

in 1991, all at the

University of the Western Cape The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a public research university in Bellville, near Cape Town, South Africa. The university was established in 1959 by the South African government as a university for Coloured people only. Other un ...

. In 2002 and 2003 le Roux continued her education with a Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Senior Management from the

University of Stellenbosch Stellenbosch University ( af, Universiteit Stellenbosch) is a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Stellenbosch is the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest extant ...

. Le Roux served as an international expert on the London Olympic Committee and Arts Council England to select arts projects for the London Olympics and Paralympics 2012. Le Roux and Karen Smit launched the Women's Achievement Network for Disability, in August 2014, "to raise the profile and awareness of disabled women and girls in South Africa, so that their human rights may be advanced and promoted".

Selected works

* Featuring stories of 23 women with various disabilities, the photography is by Lucie Pavlovich. * Everyday life in

Mitchells Plain Mitchells Plain is a large township located within the City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa and situated about from the Cape Town city centre. It is one of South Africa's largest residential areas and contains multiple smaller suburbs ...

, a large township on the outskirts of Cape Town. * About the minstrel history in the town of

Awards and honours

* Shoprite/Checkers Woman of the Year – Art Category, 1998 * Desmond Tutu Legendary Award, 2001 * Chevalier des Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a French Knighthood in the Performing Arts, 2002 * Alumni of the Year 2003, University of Stellenbosch * Western Cape Provincial Award, Arts & Culture, 2005 * Honorary Membership in the

Golden Key International Honour Society The Golden Key International Honour Society (formerly Golden Key National Honor Society) is an Atlanta, Georgia-based non-profit organization founded in 1977 to recognize academic achievement among college and university students. Golden Key has ...

at the University of Stellenbosch, 2007 * Alumnus of the Year 2007, for excellence in Management,

University of Stellenbosch Business School University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) is the business school of the University of Stellenbosch in Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa. History The University of Stellenbosch Business School was founded in 1964, enrolling 14 MBA s ...

, 2008 * CEO Magazine Awards. SA's most Influential Women in Business and Government. Recognition of achievement in the Arts & Culture Sector, 2010 *

Ordre National Du Merite A suite, in Western classical music and jazz, is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral/ concert band pieces. It originated in the late 14th century as a pairing of dance tunes and grew in scope to comprise up to five dances, sometimes with ...

from the French Government, 2012 *

German Africa Prize The German Africa Prize or German Africa Award (german: Deutscher Afrika-Preis) has been awarded annually since 1993 by the (german: Deutsche Afrika Stiftung) to promote peace, democracy, social market economy and human rights. In addition to these ...

from the German Government for work done in disadvantaged communities, 2012 * Honorary doctorate in education from

Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Peninsula University of Technology, a university in Cape Town, South Africa, is the only university of technology in the Western Cape province, and is also the largest university in the province, with over 32,000 students. It was formed b ...

, 2017 * Commonwealth Point of Light Award, 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:le Roux, Marlene 1967 births Living people South African disability rights activists South African women's rights activists South African women theatre directors South African theatre directors Stellenbosch University alumni University of the Western Cape alumni South African activists with disabilities