Photo by Jozua van der Lugt.
My Story
I was born in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in the city that was then known as Port Elizabeth, but has since been renamed Gqeberha.
My childhood and school-going years were spent in rural and urban areas – the small city vibes of 1960s Port Elizabeth, a carefree existence in the apple-producing Langkloof, and hot summer days in the Little Karoo are just some of my recollections.
Towards the end of the 1980s I graduated from Stellenbosch University, and after completing two years of compulsory national service I embarked on a career in acting.
By the year 2002 I experienced a bit of a career change teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. This lasted a number of years until I settled in Cape Town where I continued teaching English at local academies as a freelancer. During this time I also took on sub-editing and translation work.
The urge to travel took me to Beijing, China, where I taught at Wall Street English for 12 months in 2017/2018.
Back in Cape Town my freelance status switched to full-time when Media24 appointed me as a Senior Sub-editor in 2018. I am due to retire from this position in September 2025 and hope to continue as a freelancer in various capacities.
My CV
Professional Summary
Sub-editor, translator, language teacher, and occasional actor and voice artist since 1990.
Skills
- Copy editing and proofreading in Afrikaans and English
- Translating and subtitling (English and Afrikaans)
- Language instructor (English and Afrikaans)
- VoiceQ Writer and Subtitle Edit Pro
Education
Stellenbosch University
B Drama degree (4 years)
Speech & Drama major
CELTA
Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults
Diploma of Publishing (Professional Book Editing, Proofreading & Publishing)
Australian College Online Studies
Certificate in Practical Photography
Cape Tech
Work History
Senior Sub-editor (October 2018 – September 2025)
Media24/Die Burger newspaper
• Editing, proofreading and translating
Freelance sub-editing (April 2011 – July 2017)
Media24/Die Burger newspaper and TV Plus magazine
• Editing, proofreading and translating
English Teacher (August 2017 – August 2018)
Wall Street English China (Beijing)
• Foreign language trainer
Freelance English Teacher (August 2011 – April 2016)
Good Hope Studies (Cape Town)
English Teacher in South Korea (6 years)
• Pagoda/Direct English 2010-2011
• YBM 2008-2009
• English Channel 2007-2008
• Pagoda 2005-2006
• YBM 2003-2004
• Kids Herald School 2002-2003
Freelance actor and voice artist (1990-2001)
Highlights:
• Afrikaans feature film Lipstiek Dipstiek (character: Charl de Vos Malan)
• Lead in television commercial for ABSA (Volkskas Bank)
• Continuity announcer at SABC2
• Dubbed Afrikaans speaking voice of Jason Priestley character Brandon in series Beverly Hills 90210
