Cape Town author, artist, photographer, tour guide, graphic designer, YouTuber
https://www.instagram.com/xx_etienne_rossouw_xx/
PERSONAL DETAILS
Name: Etienne Rossouw
Date of birth: 1974
Languages: Afrikaans and English
TERTIARY EDUCATION
Livingstone Tourism Academy (2009)
Diploma in Film & Broadcasting – Allenby Campus (2003)
National Diploma in Graphic Design – Cape Technicon (1996)
SECONDARY EDUCATION
Matriculated at DF Malan High School in Bellville (1993)
(Primary Education at Welgemoed Primary School)
EMPLOYMENT
Chess lessons (2021 – )
Tygerbergstories.co.za (2016 – )
African End Tourism Assistance (2009- )
Arcus Gibb Engineering (2006-2007)
The MSC “Rhapsody of the Seas” (2005-2006)
Palace Productions (2003)
BKS Engineering (PTY) Ltd. (2001)
Boss Models, Beau Models (1996-1999)
Etienne Rossouw Productions (1998 -)
Butler’s Pizza (1995-98)
INTERESTS
Photography, graphic design, jogging, swimming, gym, chess, writing, reading and politics.
2005 – 2006: The MSC Rhapsody of the Sea cruise liner photographer
The MSC Rhapsody of the Sea is an Italian cruise liner that departs from Durban harbour to Mauritius every four
to seven days. I was one of the photographers on the ship and also responsible for the photographic sales.
Photography on the ship included:
Taking photos of passengers in front of the cruise liner.
The Sail Away Party – the ship leaving Durban harbour; party people party hard and I take hard party photos.
The ship safety drill – the passengers adorn life jackets and crew members go through the safety regulations with them.
During dinnertime I was Captain Hook. I had to entertain guests at the tables, while other photographers took
pictures of them with me in character as Captain Hook. Exotic dancers also visited the dinner tables and I
took photos of them posing with excited passengers.
At the Captain’s Ball I took photos of the guests posing with the captain.
I also took photos of passengers getting off the rubber ducks at the tropical islands.
Other photographic events on the ship included photos with newlyweds cutting wedding cake with the captain,
passengers swimming and tanning at the swimming pool on the cruise liner’s top deck, the late night cocktail
party, group photos and approximately three weddings a day!
Here I am doing my safety training in Durban before departing on the cruise liner.
https://www.youtube.com/@etiennerossouw/videos
2000 – 2001: BKS Property Valuator
I was employed on a project for the property valuation of houses to determine the new rates and taxes for 2002.
The project included the following:
Various residential areas were allocated to us to evaluate. We had to make the necessary changes to house
plans for future tax amendments. Dealing with property owners was at times a challenging job. If you weren’t
a people person you wouldn’t have been able to do THIS job. I pride myself on my customer relations.
This ensured that I was the top employee for the entire project.
The photo on top is the view from my Cape town office and on the bottom I am valuating a pretty boring house.
At the end of the project I received a certificate for best property valuator for the Property Valuation Project at BKS.
Local hero: Keeping the community save. This is a newspaper article (in the Afrikaans language) about
my bravery when I caught burglars in my community, back in 2001. “Superman’s got nothing on me!”
1995 – 1999: Butler’s Pizza
I was a pretty good pizza delivery driver at a then still new pizza parlour, Butler’s Pizzas, fulltime for four years.
I was employed at both the Bellville and Monte Vista branches.
Wearing an uncomfortable “penguin suit” in the summer, with temperatures sometimes souring
to an insane 40?C, was loads of fun. My highlight in 1997 came when I made it on to the front page
of the Cape Argus newspaper.
After approximately 4 000 pizza deliveries, I finally ended up on the colourful Butler’s Pizza menu.
“The quicker you deliver your costumer’s pizza, the bigger the tip,” was my motto. Known as the
Butler’s Hell Driver, I eventually totalled my car in Lincoln road, Boston, after several stern warnings
from Butler’s management to slow down.
Sport Achievements
My lean, athletic 13-year-old gymnast body in 1988. I received Western Province Gymnastics colours in 1986.
I did Kung-Fu fighting from 1988 till 1991. Even though I could kick some serious butt,
I wasn’t as good at Kung-Fu as I had assumed.
2009 – 2012: Western Cape tourist guide
In 2009 I studied at Livingstone Tourism Academy, received my well-deserved tourism diploma, got a job
around the corner at Tour Assist and worked there till 2012.
Being a tour guide during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in Cape Town was a blast! Hotels were fully
booked and the Cape Town International airport was bustling.
WTF?! Getting a speeding fine for driving too fast to the airport.
Dear President Nelson Mandela. I am writing a letter to you to tell you how wonderful our country is, since
apartheid has been abolished.
I am currently at page 23 of my thank you letter and the words of gratitude just won’t stop.
Tourists often ask me, how was it growing up during the apartheid era? And I often answer, well . . .
it was heaven on earth, because I am white.
Little did I know what apartheid really was. Now that we live in a democratic society, we all have a vote
and a voice to make South-Africa the best country on earth.
Ascending Table Mountain in an old cable car, all the way back in 1979. That little four year old on the
right is me. From a very young age, I have always loved to travel. And now that I am a tourist guide,
I have ascended Table Mountain with the current cable car more than 300 times . . . for free, because
us guides get lots of freebies. Heehaw! Up, up and away we go!