Background
Jacobus was born on January 31, 1938 in Vereeniging, South Africa. He was the son of Pieter L. Viviers (a police officer) and Maria Magdalena (a teacher, nee Erasmus) Viviers.
Jacobus was born on January 31, 1938 in Vereeniging, South Africa. He was the son of Pieter L. Viviers (a police officer) and Maria Magdalena (a teacher, nee Erasmus) Viviers.
Jacobus attended school in Heidelberg, Germany.
Jacobus was a journalist at Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg, South Africa during 1955-59. He also served at the United Press Institute during 1960-1961. Then, he was a journalist at Rand Daily Mail during 1962-71, a news editor during 1971-74, an assistant editor during 1974-77.
Jacobus worked as the deputy editor at Sunday Express, Johannesburg during 1977-81. For next two years he was the editor at Eastern Province Herald, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, later, he became the editor-in-chief there.
From 1987 he held a position of the editor at Cape Times, Cape Town, South Africa. During 1984-87 he worked as the editor-in-chief at Evening Post and Weekend Post.
Jacobus Cornelius married Marjorie Maureen (née Laatz) Viviers.