Marlene le Roux (born 17 September 1967) is a South African disability and women's rights activist. She is co-founder of the Women's Achievement Network for Disability,^[1] and CEO of the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town.^[2]

Biography

Marlene le Roux was born in Wellington, Western Cape, 17 September 1967.^[3] At three months old, le Roux contracted poliomyelitis which left her with a weakened leg for which she wears a brace.^[4] She matriculated at Bergrivier Secondary School^[5] then went on to earn a B.Mus. degree in 1988 and a Higher Diploma in Education in 1989 followed by a B.Ed. in 1991, all at the University of the Western Cape. 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.^[6]

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.^[7]

Le Roux and Karen Smit launched the Women's Achievement Network for Disability, in August 2014,^[8] "to raise the profile and awareness of disabled women and girls in South Africa, so that their human rights may be advanced and promoted".^[9]

Selected works

• le Roux, Marlene, ed. (2008). Look At Me. photography by Lucie Pavlovich. Cape Town: Genugtig! Publishers. ISBN 9780980260670. Featuring stories of 23 women with various disabilities, the photography is by Lucie Pavlovich.^[10]
• le Roux, Marlene; Ommundsen, Ludmila (2012). Mitchell's Plain : a place in the sun : the story of Mitchell's Plain as told by its people 1974-2011. Cape Town: Mikateko Media. ISBN 9780981416861. Everyday life in Mitchells Plain, a large township on the outskirts of Cape Town.^[11]
• le Cordeur, Michael; le Roux, Marlene (2013). Olivier, Ria (ed.). Die Wellingtonse klopse : 100 jaar se onvertelde stories. Tygervallei: Naledi. ISBN 9780987038821. About the minstrel history in the town of Wellington, Western Cape.^[12]

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^[5]
• Alumni of the Year 2003, University of Stellenbosch
• Western Cape Provincial Award, Arts & Culture, 2005
• Honorary Membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society at the University of Stellenbosch, 2007
• Alumnus of the Year 2007, for excellence in Management, University of Stellenbosch Business School, 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 from the French Government, 2012
• German Africa Prize from the German Government for work done in disadvantaged communities, 2012^[13]
• Honorary doctorate in education from Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017^[14]
• Commonwealth Point of Light Award, 2018.^[15]

References