Italian South Africans

Italian South Africans

Total population
(Italian South Africans 20,000 - 75,000)
Regions with significant populations
Johannesburg, Umkomaas, Cape Town other main city centres.
Languages
South African English Italian other Italian dialects languages of Italian historical minorities
Religion
Prominently Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
Italian Americans, Italian Canadians, Italian British, Italian Australians, Mediterraneans Greek South Africans, Portuguese South Africans

Italian South Africans (Italian: Italo-sudafricanicode: it is deprecated ) refers to South Africans who have full or partial Italian heritage, especially those who identify with that ancestry, along with their cultural characteristics. The Italo-South Africans are the Italians who emigrated to South Africa in the last few centuries, and their descendants.

Language and religion

Most Italian South Africans, like other South Africans, are Christians. The majority of them are Roman Catholics although there is a Protestant minority.

All the remaining first-generation Italian South Africans speak Italian and also English or other South African languages as second language.

The Italian South Africans of the new generations are assimilated into South African society, and most of them speak mainly English as first language with a handful that speak Afrikaans and Zulu but still secondarily Italian (and sometimes French).

Notable Italian South Africans

Sport

• Carlo Del Fava, South African-born, Italian former rugby union player.
• Giulio Giuricich, South African footballer.
• Alessio Angelucci, South African Baseball player.
• Davide Somma, South African footballer and ex South African National Football player.
• Dino Quattrocecere, South African figure skater.
• Ramon di Clemente, South African rower and Olympic medalist.
• Dylan Frittelli, South African-born Golfer.
• Rory Sabbatini, South African-born Golfer.
• Hugh Baiocchi, South African-born Golfer.
• Orazio Cremona, South African shot putter.
• Giulio Zorzi, South African swimmer
• Andrew Northcote, South African-born Italian cricketer.(Born to an Italian-South African Mother)
• Angelo Gigli, South African-born Basketball player.
• Dario Chistolini, South African-born Italian Rugby player.
• Damian Crowley, South African-born Italian cricketer.(Born to an Italian-South African Mother)
• Eddie Firmani, South African-born, former Italian National football player.
• Marcello Fiasconaro, South African-born, former Italian Athlete and former 800m World record holder.
• Jade Dernbach, South African-born, English Cricketer.(Born to an Italian-South African Mother)
• Craig Bianchi, South African footballer and ex South African National Football player.
• JJ Gagiano, South African born, American rugby union player.
• Vince Pennazza, South African-born Italian cricketer. .

Business

• Laurie Chiappini, Co-founder of Mr Price.
• Desmond Sacco, Chairman and Managing Director of Assore Limited, worth just over $1.4 billion.
• Antonio Cimato, Chairman of Efficient Engineering.
• Gianni Ravazzotti, Chairman and Founder of the Italtile and Chairman of Ceramic Industries Limited, net worth R2.9 Billion.
• Domenico Cioffi, Co-Founder of Mimmos Family Restaurants.
• Salvatore Osato, Co-founder of Antimo Foods, Europa and Fego Caffe.
• Franco Osato, Co-founder of Antimo Foods, Europa and Fego Caffe.
• Fabrizio Lencioni, Co-founder of Antimo Foods, Europa and Fego Caffe.
• Mark Lamberti, Executive Officer of Transaction Capital,Director Council of South Africa, Executive Officer of IMPERIAL.
• Francesco Zanasi, Co-Founder of Primi Piatti Pizza Franchise.
• Franco Pisapia, Managing Director of Larimar Group and PUTCO buses.

Radio & TV

• Amor Vittone, Afrikaans singer and TV presenter (Italian father).
• Sasha Martinengo, Radio DJ, former 5FM radio DJ.
• Sade Giliberti, Actress, Voice Over Artist, former YoTv presenter (Italian father).
• Debora Patta , broadcast journalist and television producer.
• Tullio Moneta , Actor.
• Vittorio Leonardi ,South African stand-up comedian and actor.
• Karin Giannone , South African-born BBC English television newsreader.

Politics

• Mario Oriani-Ambrosini , constitutional lawyer and politician of the Inkatha Freedom Party.
• Elizabeth Maria Molteno
• John Charles Molteno
• John Charles Molteno, Jr.
• James Tennant Molteno

Other

• Don Mattera, Anti-apartheid activists, poet and author.
• Edoardo Villa, South African sculptor.
• Vittorio Meneghelli, Founder Totem Meneghelli, Art Collector.
• David Ferraris, Racehorse trainer.

See also

• Italian diaspora
• Italy–South Africa relations
• White South Africans
• Italian Americans
• Italian Canadians
• Italian Australians
• Italians
• White Africans

External links

• South African Chamber of Commerce
• Italian embassy in Pretoria
• Italian consulate in Cape Town
• South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Italy
• South African embassy in Rome