Ronnie Govender

Ronnie Govender (1934 - ) was born in Cato Manor, Durban, in South Africa of Indian Tamil heritage and has strong feelings about this community as is evident in most of his 13 plays and his collection of stories.

During his eleven year teaching career, Govender wrote and directed his first play, "Beyond Calvary", which received critical acclaim. As a protest against bourgeois theatre he formed the Shah Theatre Academy to foster indigenous theatre and pioneer the cultural boycott.

In keeping with the cultural boycott "The Lahnee’s Pleasure", one of South Africa’s longest running plays, refused invitations to play at establishment venues and in London. His most well known play, "At the Edge", was invited to countries all over the world, and won Vita nominations for Best South African Playwright and Best Actor. The play also won Govender the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Africa region. In 1991, Govender was appointed Marketing Manager of the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, and two years later appointed director of Durban's Playhouse Theatre.

In 2000, Ronnie Govender was awarded a Medal by the English Academy of South Africa for his contribution to English literature. He is presently writing a book of personal experiences and reflections.