List of South Africans

This is a list of notable South Africans who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles.

Academics

Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr

Academics

Estian Calitz, academic (born 1949)
Jacobus Johannes Nicolaas (Koos) Cloete, Unisa, published author: Public Administration (1919-1915)
Miriam Green, academic now living in England
Adam Habib, political scientist
Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, academic and politician (1894–1948)
Tshilidzi Marwala, academic and businessman (born 1971)
Njabulo Ndebele, Principal of the University of Cape Town (born 1948)
D. C. S. Oosthuizen, philosopher, (1926–1968)
Adriaan N Pelzer, Historian and Vice-Principal University Pretoria (1915–1981)
Pierre de Villiers Pienaar, Pioneering role in speech language therapy and lexicography in South Africa (1904–1978)
Calie Pistorius, academic and Principal of the University of Pretoria (born 1958)
David Webster, anthropologist (1945–1989)

Medical and veterinary

Abraham Manie Adelstein, UK Chief Medical Statistician (1916–1992)
Christiaan Barnard, pioneering heart surgeon (1922–2001)
Wouter Basson, medical scientist (born 1950)
Patrick Soon-Shiong, surgeon, founder Abraxis BioScience, billionaire (born 1952)
Arnold Theiler, veterinarian (1867–1936)
Max Theiler, virologist, 1951 Nobel Prize winner (1899–1972)
John Borthwick (veterinary surgeon), (1867 - 1936) was a veterinary surgeon in the Cape Colony

Scientists

Andrew Geddes Bain, geologist (1797–1864)
Peter Beighton, geneticist (born 1934)
Wilhelm Bleek, linguist (1827–1875)
Robert Broom, palaeontologist (1866–1951)
Sydney Brenner, biologist, 2002 Physiology or Medicine Nobel Prize winner (born 1927)
Phillip Clancey, ornithologist (1918–2001)
Allan McLeod Cormack, physicist (1924–1998)
Clement Martyn Doke, linguist (1893–1980)
Mulalo Doyoyo, professor and inventor (born 1970)
Alexander du Toit, geologist (1878–1948)
Robert Allen Dyer, botanist (1900–1987))
J. W. B. Gunning, zoologist (1860–1913)
David Lewis-Williams, archaeologist (born 1934)
Lucy Lloyd, anthropologist (1834–1914)
Thebe Medupe, astrophysicist (born 1973)
Hans Merensky, geologist (1871–1952)
Austin Roberts, zoologist (1883–1948)
Peter Sarnak, mathematician (born 1953)
Ramotholo Sefako, astrophysicist (born 1971)
Buyisiwe Sondezi, physicist (born 1976)
Basil Schonland, physicist (1896–1972)
J.L.B. Smith, ichthyologist (1897–1968)
Phillip Tobias, palaeontologist (1925–2012)

Theologians

Also see: Prelates, clerics and evangelists

Ahmed Deedat (1918–2005)
David Bosch (1929–1992)
Dion Forster (born 1972)
Johan Heyns (1928–1994)
Andrew Murray (1828–1917)
Bhakti Narasimha Swami (born 1960)

Writers

Authors

John Maxwell Coetzee

Nadine Gordimer

Lady Anne Barnard, travel writer and artist (1750–1825)
Herman Charles Bosman, author (1905–1951)
André P. Brink, author (born 1935)
Justin Cartwright, novelist (born 1945)
John Maxwell Coetzee, 2003 Nobel Prize-winning author (born 1940)
K. Sello Duiker, novelist (1974–2005)
Sir Percy FitzPatrick, writer, businessman and politician (1862–1931)
Graeme Friedman, author and clinical psychologist
Damon Galgut, author (born 1963)
Nadine Gordimer, 1991 Nobel Prize-winning author (1923–2014)
C. J. Langenhoven, writer and poet (1873–1932)
Dalene Matthee, author (1938–2005)
Gcina Mhlope, author, storyteller, playwright, director, actor (born 1959)
Phaswane Mpe, novelist (1970–2004)
Alan Paton, author (1903–1988)
Karel Schoeman, novelist and historian (born 1939)
Olive Schreiner, author (1855–1920)
Etienne van Heerden, novelist (born 1956)
Marlene van Niekerk, novelist (born 1954)
Lyall Watson, writer (1939–2008)
Rachel Zadok, London-based South African writer (born 1972)
J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of The Rings (1892–1973)
Deon Meyer, author (born 1958)

Editors

John Tengo Jabavu, political activist and newspaper editor (1859–1921)
Aggrey Klaaste, journalist and editor (1940–2004)
Max du Preez, newspaper editor (born 1951)
Khanyi Dhlomo, magazine editor (born 1975)
Kojo Baffoe, magazine editor (born 1972)

Poets

Mongane Wally Serote

Roy Campbell, poet (1901–1957)
Sheila Cussons, poet (1922–2004)
Jakob Daniël du Toit, poet a.k.a. Totius (1877–1953)
Elisabeth Eybers, poet (1915–2007)
Ingrid Jonker, poet (1933–1965)
Antjie Krog, poet, novelist and playwright (born 1952)
Laurence Lerner, poet (born 1925)
Thomas Pringle, poet and journalist (1789–1834)
N. P. van Wyk Louw, poet (1906–1970)
Eugène Nielen Marais, poet, writer, lawyer and naturalist (1871–1936)
Mongane Wally Serote poet, activist and politician (born 1944)
Stephen Gray writer and poet (born 1941)
Chris Mann (poet)
Jonty Driver b 1939
Stephen Watson, poet (1954–2011)

Journalists

Sol Plaatje

Jani Allan, journalist and radio personality (born 1953)
John Charles Daly, television journalist, executive and game show host (1914–1991)
John Matisonn, print and radio journalist for both South African and United States broadcasters (born 1949)
Arthur Goldstuck, journalist (born 1959)
Lara Logan, CBS television reporter/correspondent (born 1971)
Sol Plaatje, journalist and political activist (1877–1932)
Percy Qoboza, journalist, editorial writer, and political activist (1938–1988)
Barry Streek, Journalist, political activist, author, parliamentary media manager (1948–2006)
Eric Lloyd Williams, journalist and war correspondent (1915–1988)
Donald Woods, journalist and anti-apartheid activist (1933–2001)

Artists

Dave Matthews

Performing artists

Actors/Actresses

Sandra Prinsloo, South African actress (born 1947) (The Gods Must Be Crazy, Quest for Love (1988 film)) stage(afrikaan adaption of Miss Julie which saw the first on-screen kiss between a black man and a white woman)
Peter Cartwright, actor (born 1935)
Sharlto Copley, actor, (District 9) (born 1973)
Tanit Phoenix, actress (Death Race: Inferno, Lord of War, Safe House, Femme Fatales, Mad Buddies) (born 1984)
Embeth Davidtz, actress (born 1965)
Willie Esterhuizen, actor
Brett Goldin, actor (1977–2006)
David James, actor (born 1972), stage, television, and film actor
Sid James, film & television actor (1913–1976)
Adhir Kalyan, actor (born 1983)
John Kani, actor, entertainer and writer (born 1943)
Alice Krige, actress (born 1954)
Sean Michael (South African actor), (born 1969)
Patrick Mynhardt, actor (1932–2007)
Winston Ntshona, actor (born 1941)
Sasha Pieterse, actress (born 1996)
Basil Rathbone, actor (1892–1967)
Stelio Savante, actor (born 1970)
Hennie Jacobs, actor (born 1981)
Antony Sher, actor, author and painter (born 1949)
Cliff Simon, actor (born 1962)
William Smith, TV teacher and presenter
Janet Suzman, actress (born 1939)
Charlize Theron, actress (born 1975)
Pieter-Dirk Uys, political satirist and entertainer (born 1945)
Musetta Vander, actress (born 1969)
Arnold Vosloo, actor (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, 24) (born 1962)

Dancers

Juliet Prowse, dancer (1936–1996)

Playwrights and film directors

Neill Blomkamp, director, District 9 (born 1979)
Lev David, writer and media consultant (born 1980)
Charles J. Fourie, playwright (born 1965)
Athol Fugard, playwright (born 1932)
Ronald Harwood, playwright and writer (born 1934)
Rob De Mezieres, film director and writer
Mbongeni Ngema, playwright, actor, choreographer and director (born 1955)
Mthuli ka Shezi, playwright and political activist (1947–1972)
Leon Schuster, filmmaker, comedian, actor and prankster (born 1951)
Jamie Uys, film director (1921–1996)
Gavin Hood, film director (born 1963), best known for writing and directing the Academy Award-winning Foreign Language Film, Tsotsi (2005)
Michael Oblowitz film director

Singers, musicians and composers

Zain Bhikha, world-renowned singer-songwriter of the Nasheed genre
Michael Blake, classical composer
Johan Botha, opera singer (born 1965)
Al Bowlly, popular singer (born 1898)
Johnny Clegg, musician (born 1953)
Mimi Coertse, opera singer (born 1932)
Fanie de Jager, operatic tenor (born 1949)
Lucky Dube, reggae singer (1964–2007)
Daniel Friedman (Deep Fried Man), musical comedian (born 1981)
Claire Johnston, singer
David Kramer, singer and playwright (born 1951)
Clare Loveday, classical composer
Winston Ngozi Mankunku tenor sax player (1943–2009)
Mahlathini, mbaqanga singer (1938–1999)
Miriam Makeba, singer and civil rights activist (born 1940)
Manfred Mann, musician (born 1940)
Hugh Masekela, jazz trumpeter and singer (born 1940)
Gwendolyn Masin, violinist, author, pedagogue (born 1977)
Aquiles Priester, drummer (born 1971)
Koos Ras, comedian, singer, writer, composer (1928–1997)
Enoch Sontonga, composer of national anthem (1873–1905)
Joseph Shabalala, founder and director of Ladysmith Black Mambazo (born 1941)
Shaun Morgan, lead singer of the award-winning band Seether (born c. 1978)
Dave Matthews, musician, Dave Matthews Band (born c. 1967)
ZP Theart, singer, ex Dragonforce (born c. 1974)
Hilda Tloubatla, lead singer of Mahotella Queens (born 1942)
Trevor Rabin, musician, composer, former member of progressive rock band Yes
Watkin Tudor Jones, rapper, performance artist, band member of Die Antwoord
Arnold van Wyk, classical composer
Yolandi Visser, rapper, performance artist, band member of Die Antwoord
Kevin Volans, classical composer

Tanit Phoenix

Supermodels, socialites and media personalities

Tanit Phoenix, Sports Illustrated model and actress
Jani Allan, radio personality, journalist (born 1953)
Riaan Cruywagen, TV news reader (born 1945)
Trevor Denman, horse racing announcer (born 1952)
Alan Khan, radio and television personality (born 1971)
Jeremy Mansfield, radio and TV personality
Candice Swanepoel, Victoria's Secret model
Gina Athans, model, international socialite
Charlize Theron
Megan McKenzie
Minki van der Westhuizen, model and TV presenter
Debora Patta, broadcast journalist and television producer
Jeremy Maggs, journalist, radio host and television presenter
Caspar Lee, YouTube Personality and Actor
Khanyi Mbau, Television Personality, Actress and Socialite.
Troye Sivan, YouTube Personality, Actor and Singer.
Trevor Noah, Comedian, Actor, Radio- and Television host.

Visual Artists

Cartoonists

T.O. Honiball, cartoonist (1905–1990)
Jeremy Nell, cartoonist (born 1979)
Zapiro, cartoonist (born 1958)

Ceramists and collage artists

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Painters

Thomas Baines

Thomas Baines, colonial painter and explorer (1820–1875)
Garth Erasmus, visual artist (born 1956)
Clinton Fein, artist, activist, photographer (born 1964)
C. G. Finch-Davies, painter and ornithologist (1875–1920)
Ronald Harrison, painter (died 2011)
William Kentridge, painter (born 1955)
Neville Lewis, artist (1895–1972)
Conor Mccreedy, artist (born 1987)
Brett Murray, artist (born 1961)
George Pemba, visual artist (1912–2001)
Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, artist (1886–1957)
Gerard Sekoto, artist and musician (1913–1993)
Cecil Skotnes, painter (1926–2009)
Irma Stern, painter (1894–1966)
Vladimir Tretchikoff, painter (1913–2006)
Maggie Laubser, painter (1886–1973)

Photographers

Kevin Carter (1961–1994)
Ernest Cole (1940–1990)
David Goldblatt, photographer (born 1930)
Bob Gosani (1934–1972)
Alf Kumalo (1930–2012)
Peter Magubane (born 1932)
Jürgen Schadeberg (born 1931)
Austin Stevens (born 1951)

Sculptors

Anton van Wouw (1862–1945)

Performance Artists

Steven Cohen (born 1962)
Tracey Rose (born 1974)

Architects

Herbert Baker, architect

Gerard Moerdijk (1890–1958)
Herbert Baker (1862–1946)

Business

Raymond Ackerman, businessman (born 1931)
Barney Barnato, mining magnate (1852–1897)
David Brink, businessman (born 1939)
John Fairbairn, founder of Mutual Life
Vanessa Gounden, South Africa's richest businesswoman (born 1961)
Sol Kerzner, hotel magnate (born 1935)
Basetsana Kumalo, former Miss South Africa, presenter and businesswoman (born 1974)
Sammy Marks, businessman (1844–1920)
Patrice Motsepe, businessman (born 1962)
Elon Musk, Internet and space launch entrepreneur (born 1971)
Harry Oppenheimer, businessman (1908–2000)
Charles Purdon, agricultural pioneer (1838–1926)
Mamphela Ramphele, political activist, academic, businesswoman and mother to the son of Steve Biko (born 1947)
Cyril Ramaphosa, politician and businessman (born 1952)
Cecil Rhodes, businessman (1853–1902)
Anton Rupert, businessman and conservationist (1916–2006)
Johann Rupert, businessman, son of Anton Rupert (born 1950)
Tokyo Sexwale, politician and businessman (born 1953)
Mark Shuttleworth, web entrepreneur, founder of Thawte and Ubuntu Linux, space tourist (born 1973)
Roelof Botha, is a venture capitalist and company director.
George Rex, pioneer entrepreneur of the Southern Cape (1765–1839)

Legal, police and military

Lourens Ackermann, constitutional court judge (born 1934)
Ismail Ayob, lawyer (born 1942)
George Bizos, lawyer (born 1928)
Louis Botha Boer War General, captured Winston Churchill during the Second Boer War, also one of the singnitaries of the Treaty of Vereeniging (1862–1919)
Arthur Chaskalson, judge (born 1931)
Piet Cronjé, boer general and commander-in-chief of ZAR's military forces (1840–1911)
Koos de la Rey, boer general (1847–1914)
Pierre de Vos, constitutional law scholar (born 1963)
Christiaan Rudolph de Wet, boer general and acting President of the Orange Free State (1854–1922)
Johannes Christiaan de Wet, legal academic (1912–1990)
Bram Fischer, advocate QC and political activist (1908–1975)
Richard Goldstone, ex-constitutional court judge (born 1938)
Harold Hanson, advocate QC (1904–1973)
Sydney Kentridge, former advocate of the Supreme Court and Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court (born 1922)
Mervyn E. King, former judge of the Supreme Court of South Africa and chairman of the King Committee on Corporate Governance
Pius Langa, chief justice of constitutional court (born 1939)
Magnus Malan, minister of defence and chief of the South African Defence Force (born 1930)
Cecil Margo, judge (1915–2000)
Mogoeng Mogoeng, Chief Justice of South Africa (born 1961)
Sandile Ngcobo, former Chief Justice of South Africa (born 1953)
Bulelani Ngcuka, director of public prosecutions (born 1954)
Marmaduke Pattle Highest scoring Allied Air Ace of World War Two (1914–1941)
Albie Sachs, justice in constitutional court (born 1935)
Jackie Selebi, national commissioner of police (born 1950)
Percy Sonn, former head of the Directorate of Special Operations (1947–2007)
Sir Robert Clarkson Tredgold, Chief Justice of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1899–1977)
Percy Yutar, South Africa's first Jewish attorney-general and prosecutor of Nelson Mandela in the 1963 Rivonia Treason Trial (1911–2002)

Political

Activists and trade unionists

Albertina Sisulu

Zackie Achmat, AIDS activist (born 1962)
Neil Aggett, political activist and trade unionist (c. 1953–1982)
Jeremy Baskin, trade unionist (born 1956)
Edward Bhengu, founder member of the PAC (1934–2010)
Steve Biko, nonviolent political activist (1946–1977)
John Langalibalele Dube, first president of the ANC (1871–1946)
Chris Hani, political activist (1942–1993)
Pregs Govender, human rights activist, former ANC MP, anti-apartheid campaigner (born 1960)
Irene Grootboom, housing rights activist (c. 1969–2008)
Ruth Hayman, anti-apartheid campaigner (died 1981)
Ahmed Kathrada, political activist (born 1929)
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (born 1936)
Adolph Malan, fighter pilot and civil rights activist (1910–1963)
Govan Mbeki, political activist and father of Thabo Mbeki (1910–2001)
Robert McBride, anti-apartheid assassin and later police chief (born 1963)
Fatima Meer, scientist and political activist (1928–2010)
Vuyisile Mini, unionist and Umkhonto we Sizwe activist (1920–1964)
Elias Motsoaledi, political activist (1924–1994)
Griffiths Mxenge, anti-apartheid activist (1935–1981)
Victoria Mxenge, anti-apartheid activist (1942–1985)
Lilian Ngoyi, anti-apartheid activist (1911–1980)
Reggie September, activist (1923–2013)
Rachel Simons, communist and trade unionist (1914–2004)
Albertina Sisulu, political activist and wife of Walter Sisulu (born 1919)
Walter Sisulu, political activist (1912–2003)
Robert Sobukwe, political activist (1924–1978)
Oliver Tambo, political activist (1917–1993)
Khoisan X, political activist (1955–2010)
Moses Chikane, political activist, founding members of UDF, Ambassador (born 1949)

Apartheid operatives

Wouter Basson, apartheid scientist (born 1950)
Dirk Coetzee, apartheid covert operative
Eugene de Kock, apartheid assassin
Clive Derby-Lewis, assassin and former parliamentarian (born 1936)
Jimmy Kruger, apartheid Minister of Justice and the Police (1917–1987)
Lothar Neethling, apartheid forensic scientist (1935–2005)
Barend Strydom, convicted murderer and white supremacist activist (born 1965)
Eugène Terre'Blanche, white supremacist activist (1941–2010)
Adriaan Vlok, apartheid Minister of Law and Order (born 1937)
Craig Williamson, apartheid spy (born 1949)

Colonial and Union Governors

George Grey, Cape governor (1812–1898)
Jan Willem Janssens, Cape Governor (1762–1838)
Benjamin d'Urban, Cape Governor (1834–1837)
Benjamin Pine, Natal governor (1809–1891)
Harry Smith, Cape governor 1847–52 (1787–1860)
Andries Stockenström, governor of British Kaffraria (1792–1964)
Simon van der Stel, first Cape governor (1639–1712)
Willem Adriaan van der Stel, second Cape governor (1664–1723)
Jan van Riebeeck, founder of Cape settlement (1619–1677)
Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet (1873–1960), Chief Justice of South Africa and acting Governor-General

Leaders and politicians

Patricia de Lille

Abba Eban

Winnie Mandela

Ken Andrew, politician (born 1943)
Kader Asmal, an activist, politician and professor of human rights (born 1934)
Sibusiso Bengu, politician (born 1934)
Thozamile Botha, politician (born 1948)
Cheryl Carolus, politician (born 1958)
Yusuf Dadoo, doctor and politician (1909–1983)
Patricia de Lille, politician (born 1951)
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, politician (born 1949)
Abba Eban, Israeli diplomat and politician (1915–2002)
De Villiers Graaff, United Party opposition leader (1913–1999)
Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, journalist and politician (1845–1909)
Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, academic and politician (1894–1948)
Danny Jordaan, politician and soccer administrator (born 1951)
Tony Leon, DA opposition leader (born 1956)
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, politician and 2nd wife of Nelson Mandela (born 1936)
Trevor Manuel, minister of finance (born 1956)
Lindiwe Mazibuko, current Parliamentary Leader for the opposition Democratic Alliance (born 1980)
Roelf Meyer, politician and businessman (born 1947)
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, deputy president (born 1955)
Pieter Mulder, leader of the Freedom Front Plus and former deputy minister of agriculture (born 1951)
Gagathura (Monty) Mohambry Naicker, medical doctor and politician (1910–1978)
Bulelani Ngcuka, politician (born 1954)
Dullah Omar, politician (1934–2004)
Andries Pretorius, Boer leader and commandant-general (1799–1853)
Deneys Reitz, boer commando, deputy Prime Minister and High Commissioner to London (1882–1944)
Pixley ka Isaka Seme, ANC founder member (1881–1951)
Mbhazima Shilowa, trade unionist and premier (born 1958)
Joe Slovo, politician (1926–1995)
Harry Schwarz, lawyer, politician, ambassador to United States and anti-apartheid leader (1924–2010)
Helen Suzman, politician (1917–2009)
Catherine Taylor, politician (1914–1992)
Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, PFP opposition leader (1940–2010)
Helen Zille, DA opposition leader, current Premier of the Western Cape (born 1951)
Jacob Zuma, current President (born 1942)

Prime Ministers and Presidents

Frederik de Klerk and Nelson Mandela

Thabo Mbeki

Jacobus Boshoff, 2nd President of the Orange Free State (1808–1881)
Louis Botha, Boer commander-in-chief and 1st Prime Minister of South Africa (1862–1919)
Pieter Willem Botha, 9th and last Prime Minister and 8th State President of South Africa (1916–2006)
Johannes Henricus Brand, 4th President of the Orange Free State (1823–1888)
Thomas François Burgers, 4th President of South African Republic (1871–1877)
Schalk Willem Burger, 6th and last President of South African Republic (1852–1918)
Frederik Willem de Klerk, 9th and last State President of South Africa (1990–1994) and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner (born 1936)
Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs, 4th State President of South Africa (1903–1978)
Jacobus Johannes Fouché, 3rd State President of South Africa (1898–1980)
James Barry Munnik Hertzog, Boer general and 3rd Prime Minister of South Africa (1866–1942)
Josias Hoffman, 1st President of the Orange Free State (1807–1879)
Petrus Jacobus Joubert, Boer general and member of the Troika in the South African Republic (1834–1900)
Paul Kruger, member of the Troika, 5th President of South African Republic (1825–1904)
Daniel François Malan, 5th Prime Minister of South Africa and is responsible for laying the groundwork for Apartheid (1874–1959)
Nelson Mandela, 1st democratically elected President of South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner (1918–2013)
Thabo Mbeki, 2nd post-apartheid President of South Africa (born 1942)
John X. Merriman, last prime minister of the Cape Colony (1841–1926)
Kgalema Motlanthe, 3rd post-apartheid President of South Africa (born 1949)
Jozua François Naudé, 2nd State President of South Africa (1889–1969)
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, 3rd President of the Orange Free State, 1st and 3rd President of the ZAR (1819–1901)
Francis William Reitz, 5th President of the Orange Free State (1844–1934)
Jan Smuts, Boer general, British field marshal, 2nd and 4th Prime Minister of South Africa (1870–1950)
Johannes Strijdom, 6th Prime Minister of South Africa (1893–1958)
Martinus Theunis Steyn, 6th and last President of the Orange Free State (1857–1916)
Charles Robberts Swart, last Governor-General of the Union of South Africa and 1st State President of the RSA (1894–1982)
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, 7th Prime Minister of South Africa and primary architect of Apartheid (1901–1966)
Marais Viljoen, 5th and 7th State President of South Africa (1915–2007)
Balthazar Johannes Vorster, 8th Prime Minister and 6th State President of South Africa (1915–1983)
Jacob Zuma, 4th post-apartheid President of South Africa (born 1942)

Royalty

Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo

Mzilikazi

Adam Kok

Cetshwayo kaMpande, 4th Zulu king (1826–1884)
Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, 7th Zulu king (1924–1945)
Goodwill Zwelethini, 8th and current king of the Zulu nation (born 1948)
Dingane kaSenzangakhona, 2nd Zulu king and half-brother of Shaka (1795–1840)
Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, 5th Zulu king (1868–1913) not officially recognized
Mangosuthu Buthelezi, politician and a Zulu prince (born 1928)
uZibhebhu kaMaphitha, Zulu prince and chief (1841–1904)
Masalanabo Modjadji, Balobedu's 2nd Rain Queen (died 1894)
Khetoane Modjadji, Balobedu's 3rd Rain Queen (1869–1959)
Makoma Modjadji, Balobedu's 4th Rain Queen (1905–1980)
Mokope Modjadji, Balobedu's 5th Rain Queen (1936–2001)
Makobo Modjadji, Balobedu's 6th Rain Queen (1978–2005)
Mpande, 3rd Zulu king and half-brother of Shaka (1798–1872)
Mzilikazi, king of the Matabele (c. 1790–1868)
Sekhukhune, king of the Marota (or Bapedi) (1814–1882)
Shaka, founder of the Zulu nation (1787–1828)
Solomon kaDinuzulu, 6th Zulu king (1891–1933) not officially recognized

Tribal leaders and prophets

Hintsa kaKhawuta, amaXhosa chief (1789–1835)
Khawuta kaGcaleka, amaXhosa chief (c. 1761–1804)
Adam Kok, Griqua leader (1811–1875)
Thandatha Jongilizwe Mabandla, amaBhele chief, Tyume Valley, Alice, Ciskei (born 1926)
Makhanda, amaXhosa prophet (died 1820)
Chief Mqalo, Amakhuze chief, Ciskei region (1916–2008)
Moshoeshoe I, Basotho chief (c. 1786–1870)
Ngubengcuka, prominent chief of the Thembu amaXhosa (died 1832)
Nongqawuse, millennialist amaXhosa prophetess (c. 1840s – 1898)
Sarili kaHintsa, amaXhosa chief (c. 1810–1892)
Sigananda kaSokufa, Zulu aristocrat (c. 1815–1906)
Hendrik Spoorbek, prophet and magician (died 1845)

Atheists

Zackie Achmat, AIDS activist, (born 1962)
David Benatar, professor of philosophy
Barry Duke, activist, journalist, editor of The Freethinker (born 1947)
Nadine Gordimer, activist, writer, Nobel laureate (1923–2014)
Ronnie Kasrils, politician
Jacques Rousseau, secular activist, social commentator (born 1971)
Harold Rubin, visual artist, musician (born 1932)
Joe Slovo, politician (1926–1995)
Lewis Wolpert, author, biologist, broadcaster (born 1929)

Prelates, clerics and evangelists

Desmond Tutu

William Anderson, missionary (1769–1852)
Allan Boesak, cleric and anti-apartheid activist (born 1945)
Angus Buchan, evangelist (born 1947)
Frank Chikane, cleric and anti-apartheid activist (born 1951)
John William Colenso, Anglican bishop of Natal (1814–1883)
S.J. du Toit, cleric, Afrikaans language pioneer and founder member of the Genootskap vir Regte Afrikaners (1847–1911)
Allan Hendrickse, cleric and MP (1927–2005)
Denis Hurley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Durban (1915–2004)
Albert Luthuli, cleric, politician and 1960 Nobel Peace Prize winner (c. 1898–1967)
Thabo Makgoba, current Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (born 1960)
Charlotte Maxeke, religious leader and political activist (1874–1939)
Ray McCauley, head of Rhema church (born 1949)
Robert Moffat, missionary, Bible translator and founder of Kuruman (1795–1883)
Wilfrid Napier, cardinal of the Catholic Church (born 1941)
Beyers Naudé, cleric and anti-apartheid activist (1915–2004)
Albert Nolan, Catholic priest (born 1934)
John Philip, missionary (1775–1851)
Desmond Tutu, cleric and Nobel Peace Prize winner (born 1931)
William Cullen Wilcox, missionary (1850–1928)

Sport

American Football

Gary Anderson, kicker for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Minnesota and Tennessee (born 1959)
Ezra Butler, linebacker for the New York Jets (born 1984)
Jerome Pathon, wide receiver for Indianapolis, New Orleans and Atlanta (born 1975)
Naas Botha, placekicker for Dallas Cowboys (born 1958)

Athletics

L. J. van Zyl

Carle Pace, marathon runner, 400m and 800m record holder, cyclist (born 1918)
Okkert Brits, pole-vaulter (born 1973)
Zola Budd, marathon and long-distance runner (born 1966)
Hestrie Cloete, high jumper (born 1978)
Bruce Fordyce, ultra-marathon runner (born 1955)
Jacques Freitag, high jumper (born 1982)
Llewellyn Herbert, 400m hurdles, Olympic bronze medallist (born 1977)
Frantz Kruger, discus thrower (born 1975)
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, middle distance runner, Olympic silver medallist (born 1980)
Oscar Pistorius, disabled runner (born 1986)
Hezekiél Sepeng, middle distance runner, Olympic silver medallist (born 1974)
Josia Thugwane, marathon runner, Olympic gold medallist (born 1971)
Louis Jacob van Zyl, 400m hurdles, Commonwealth Games gold medallist (born 1985)

Baseball

Barry Armitage, pitcher (born 1979)
Gavin Fingleson, second baseman (born 1979), silver medalist for Australia in 2004 Athens Olympics^[1]

Basketball

Steve Nash

Steve Nash, point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers (born 1974)
Thabo Sefolosha, shooting guard for Chicago and Oklahoma City (born 1984)
Irene van Dyk, played for South Africa and New Zealand (born 1972) Netball Player

Boxing

Cassius Baloyi, featherweight boxer (born 1974)
Mike Bernardo, boxer, kickboxer, mixed martial arts fighter (born 1969)
Francois Botha, heavyweight boxer (born 1968)
Vuyani Bungu, IBF Super Bantamweight Champion 1994–1999 (born 1967)
Gerrie Coetzee, World Boxing Association heavyweight champion (born 1955)
Pierre Coetzer, heavyweight boxer, (born 1961)
Thomas Hamilton-Brown, 1936 Summer Olympics lightweight (born 1916)
Kallie Knoetze, heavyweight boxer (born 1953)
Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, IBF Super Bantamweight Champion 1999–2001 (born 1971)
"Baby" Jakes Matlala, junior flyweight champion (born 1962)
Brian Mitchell, WBA Super Featherweight Champion 1986–1991, IBF Super Featherweight Champion 1991
Welcome Ncita, IBF Super Bantamweight Champion 1990–1992 (born 1965)
Corrie Sanders, heavyweight boxer (1966–2012)
Mzukisi Sikali, flyweight boxer (1971–2005)
Pierre Fourie, middle and light heavyweight boxer (1943–1980)

Canoe

Shaun Rubenstein

Shaun Rubenstein, canoer (born 1983), World Marathon champion 2006

Cricket

Shafiek Abrahams, right-arm spin bowler (born 1968)
Paul Adams, left-arm spin bowler (born 1977)
Adam Bacher, right-handed batsman (born 1973)
Ali Bacher, right-handed batsman and administrator (born 1942); (relative of Adam Bacher)
Edgar John Barlow, right-arm fast bowler and coach (1940–2005)
Nicky Boje, all-rounder (born 1973)
Tertius Bosch, right-arm fast bowler (1966–2000)
Johan Botha, right-arm spin bowler (born 1982)
Mark Boucher, wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman (born 1976)

Mark Boucher

Jean-Paul Duminy

David Callaghan, all-rounder (born 1965)
Jimmy Cook, right-handed batsman (born 1953)
Hansie Cronje, Proteas captain, all-rounder (1969–2002)
Daryll Cullinan, right-handed batsman (born 1967)
Basil D'Oliveira, right-handed batsman (born 1931)
Alan Dawson, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1969)
Abraham de Villiers, wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman (born 1984)
Fanie de Villiers, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1964)
Matthew Dennington, cricketer (born 1982)
Boeta Dippenaar, right-handed batsman (born 1977)
Allan Donald, right-arm fast bowler (born 1966)
Jean-Paul Duminy, left-handed batsman (born 1984)
Clive Eksteen, left-arm spin bowler (born 1966)
Steve Elworthy, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1965)
Dennis Gamsy, Test wicket-keeper (born 1940)
Herschelle Gibbs, right-handed batsman (born 1974)
Norman Gordon, fast bowler (born 1911)
Tony Greig, right-handed batsman and commentator (born 1946)
Andrew Hall, all-rounder (born 1975)
Nantie Hayward, right-arm fast bowler (born 1977)
Claude Henderson, left-arm spin bowler (born 1972)
Omar Henry, left-arm spin bowler (born 1952)
Steven Herzberg, (born 1967)
Andrew Hudson, right-handed opening batsman (born 1952)
Martin van Jaarsveld, right-handed batsman (born 1974)
Steven Jack, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1970)
Jacques Kallis, all-rounder (born 1975)
Chad Keegan, cricketer (born 1979)
Justin Kemp, all-rounder (born 1977)
Jon Kent, cricketer (born 1979)
Gary Kirsten, left-handed opening batsman (born 1967)
Peter Kirsten, right-handed batsman (born 1955)
Lance Klusener, all-rounder (born 1971)
Garnett Kruger, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1977)
Adrian Kuiper, all-rounder (born 1959)
Charl Langeveldt, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1974)
Gerhardus Liebenberg, right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper (born 1972)
Allan Lamb, right-hand batsman (born 1954)
Craig Matthews, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1965)
Neil McKenzie, right-handed batsman (born 1975)
Brian McMillan, all-rounder (born 1963)
Albie Morkel, right-handed batsman (born 1981)
Morné Morkel,cricketer(born 1984)
Victor Mpitsang, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1980)
André Nel, fast bowler (born 1977)
Makhaya Ntini, fast bowler (born 1977)
Justin Ontong, right-arm spin bowler (born 1980)
Hugh Page, right arm fast bowler (born 1961)
Robin Peterson, left-arm spin bowler (born 1979)
Kevin Pietersen, right-handed batsman (born 1980)
Graeme Pollock, left-handed batsman (born 1944)
Shaun Pollock, Proteas captain, fast-medium bowler, nephew of Graeme (born 1973)
Nic Pothas, right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper (born 1973)
Ashwell Prince, left-handed batsman (born 1977)
Meyrick Pringle, right-arm fast medium swing bowler (born 1966)
Andrew Puttick, cricketer (born 1980)
Jonty Rhodes, right-handed batsman (born 1969)
Clive Rice, all-rounder (born 1949)
Dave Richardson, right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper (born 1959)
Jacques Rudolph, left-handed batsman (born 1981)
Mark Rushmere, right-handed batsman (born 1965)
Brett Schultz, left-arm fast bowler (born 1970)
Lawrence Seeff, batsmen (born 1959)
Graeme Smith, Proteas captain, batsman (born 1981)
Greg Smith, cricketer (born 1971)
Errol Stewart, right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper (born 1969)
Dale Steyn, right-arm fast bowler (born 1983)
Rudi Steyn, cricketer (born 1967)
Pieter Strydom, cricketer (born 1969)
Fred Susskind, Test batsman (born 1891)
Pat Symcox, right-arm spin bowler (born 1960)
Percy Sonn, sixth president of the International Cricket Council, first ICC president from Africa (1949–2007)
Roger Telemachus, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1973)
David Terbrugge, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1977)
Kepler Wessels, Proteas captain, left-handed batsman (born 1957)
Henry Williams, right-arm fast medium bowler (born 1967)
Charl Willoughby, cricketer (born 1974)
Mandy Yachad, cricketer (born 1960)
Monde Zondeki, right-arm fast bowler (born 1982)

Cycling

Carla Swart (1987–2011)
Daryl Impey (born 1984)
David George (born 1976)
John-Lee Augustyn (born 1986)
Robbie Hunter (born 1977)
Ryan Cox (born 1979)
Burry Stander (1987–2013)

Golf

Gary Player

Ernie Els (born 1969)
Retief Goosen (born 1969)
Trevor Immelman (born 1979)
Gary Player (born 1936)
Rory Sabbatini (born 1976)
Charl Schwartzel (born 1984)
Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum (1930–1978)
David Frost (born 1959)
Barry Franklin (born 1943)

Motorsport

Greg Albertyn, World and American Motocross Champion
Rory Byrne, Racing car designer for Ferrari and others
Giniel de Villiers, rally raid driver, 2009 Dakara Rally winner.
Grant Langston, World and American Motocross Champion
Gordon Murray, Grand Prix car designer (born 1946)
Tyla Rattray, World Motocross Champion
Ian Scheckter, Formula One driver (brother of Jody Scheckter)
Jody Scheckter, 1979 Formula One world champion (born 1950)
Wayne Taylor, sports car driver and team owner, 1994 IMSA GT champion.
Tomas Scheckter, South Africa, Indy Racing League driver
Dave Charlton, Formula One driver

Poker

Raymond Rahme, the first African to reach a final table at a World Series of Poker Main Event, finishing third (born 1945)

Rugby

Bakkies Botha

John Smit

François Steyn

Louis Babrow, national team
Bakkies Botha, Springbok, lock (born 1979)
Naas Botha, Springbok, flyhalf and TV presenter (born 1958)
Schalk Burger, Springbok, flank (born 1983)
Kitch Christie, Springboks coach (1940–1998)
Danie Craven, Springbok, scrumhalf and administrator (1910–1994)
Jean de Villiers, Springbok, centre and wing (born 1981)
Peter de Villiers, Springbok coach (born 1957)
Morne du Plessis, Springbok, eight man (born 1949)
Frik du Preez, Springbok, lock/flank (born 1935)
Os du Randt, Springbok, prop (born 1972)
Okey Geffin, forward, national team (1921–2004)
Danie Gerber, Springbok, centre (born 1958)
Bryan Habana, Springbok, wing (born 1983)
Butch James, Springbok, flyhalf (born 1979)
Joe Kaminer, national team (born 1934)
Shawn Lipman, US national team
Victor Matfield, Springbok, lock (born 1977)
Alan Menter, national team
Percy Montgomery, Springbok, fullback (born 1974)
Cecil Moss, national team
Sydney Nomis, national team (1901–1962)
Bennie Osler, Springbok, fly-half (1901–1962)
Francois Pienaar, Springbok, flank (born 1967)
Myer Rosenblum, flanker, South Africa national team (1907–2002)
John Smit, Springbok, hooker (born 1978)
Fred Smollan, national team (1908–1998)
François Steyn, Springbok, flyhalf/fullback (born 1987)
Joel Stransky, Springbok, flyhalf, kicked winning points in 1995 Rugby World Cup, played by Scott Eastwood in Invictus (born 1967)
Gary Teichmann, Springbok, number 8 (born 1967)
Joost van der Westhuizen, Springbok, scrum-half (born 1971)
Jake White, Springbok coach (born 1963)
Chester Williams, Springbok, wing (born 1970)
Morris Zimerman (1911–1992)

Soccer

Quinton Fortune

Benni McCarthy

Gary Bailey, goalkeeper for England and Manchester United (born 1958)
Shaun Bartlett, striker (born 1972)
Kagisho Dikgacoi, midfielder for Fulham and Crystal Palace (born 1984)
Mark Fish, defender for Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Jomo Cosmos (born 1974)
Siboniso Gaxa, defender for Lierse S.K. (born 1984)
Quinton Fortune, midfielder and defender for Manchester United (born 1977)
Dean Furman, midfielder (born 1988) (Oldham Athletic)^[2]
Doctor Khumalo, midfielder (born 1967)
Benni McCarthy, striker (born 1977)
Aaron Mokoena, defender, most capped player on the national team (born 1980)
Steven Pienaar, Everton F.C. midfielder (born 1982)
Lucas Radebe, Bafana Bafana captain, defender (born 1969)
Jomo Sono, midfielder and coach (born 1955)
Siyabonga Nomvete, striker (born 1977)

Surfing

John Whitmore, father of South African surfing (1929–2001)
Shaun Tomson, former world champ (born 1955)
Grant Baker, winner of the Mavericks Big Wave contest in California
Martin Potter (surfer), 1989 world champ (born 1965)
Jordy Smith, winner of the 2010 and 2011 ASP World Tour Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay events (born 1988)

Swimming

Charlene Wittstock

Natalie du Toit, disabled swimmer (born 1984)
Lyndon Ferns, Olympic gold medallist (born 1983)
Penny Heyns, breaststroke, Olympic gold medallist (born 1974)
Ryk Neethling, freestyle, Olympic gold medallist (born 1977)
Sarah Poewe, Olympic bronze medallist (4x100 medley relay) (born 1983)
Roland Mark Schoeman, freestyle, Olympic gold medallist (born 1980)
Darian Townsend, Olympic gold medallist (born 1984)
Charlene Wittstock, backstroke swimmer (born 1978)
Karen Muir, backstroke, youngest world record holder in any sport in 1965 at 12 years old (born 1952)
Chad le Clos, Olympic gold medallist (born 1992)

Tennis

Ilana Kloss

Neil Broad, seven ATP tour doubles titles and Olympic doubles silver medallist (born 1966)
Amanda Coetzer, 1998 Family Circle Cup (born 1971)
Kevin Curren, four Grand Slam doubles titles (born 1958)
Cliff Drysdale, player and television commentator (born 1941)
Roger Federer, holds both Swiss and South African citizenship (born 1981)
Wayne Ferreira, 1996 Canada Masters, 2000 Eurocard Open and Olympic doubles silver medallist (born 1971)
Ian Froman, South African-born Israeli tennis player and patron
Bob Hewitt, men's doubles champion: Wimbledon, French and US Open (born 1940)
Ilana Kloss, won 1976 US Open Women's Doubles (w/Linky Boshoff), highest world doubles ranking # 1 (born 1956)
Johan Kriek, 1981 and '82 Australian Open champion (born 1958)
Frew McMillan, men's doubles champion at Wimbledon, French and US Open (born 1942)

Triathlon

Conrad Stoltz (born 1973)
Dan Hugo (born 1985)

Conservationists

Ian Player (born 1927)
James Stevenson-Hamilton (1867–1957)
John Varty (born 1950)

Travelers, adventurers and pioneers

James Edward Alexander

Alexander Biggar, colonial pioneer (1781–1838)
William John Burchell, naturalist traveler (1781–1863)
Francisco de Almeida, adventurer buried in Cape Town (c. 1450–1510)
Bartolomeu Dias, explorer who reached eastern Cape (c. 1450–1500)
John Dunn, colonial pioneer (1833–1895)
Robert Jacob Gordon, explorer, soldier, naturalist (1743–1795)
Emil Holub, explorer (1847–1902)
Nathaniel Isaacs, Natal traveler (1808–1872)
Dick King, colonial pioneer (1813–1871)
François Levaillant, Cape naturalist traveler (1753–1824)
Karl Mauch, traveling geologist (1873–1875)
Harriet A. Roche, Transvaal traveler (1835–1921)
Carl Peter Thunberg, Cape naturalist traveler (1743–1828)
Sibusiso Vilane, first black African to summit Mount Everest (born 1970)
Kingsley Holgate, traveler and pioneer
Mike Horn, explorer, traveler, environmentalist, adventurer
James Alexander Explorer of the west coast and Namibia

Criminals

Schabir Shaik, convicted fraudster
Moses Sithole, convicted serial rapist and murderer (born 1964)
Rashied Staggie, crime boss
Andre Stander, gang member (1946–1984)
Gert van Rooyen, pedophile (died 1990)
Bulelani Vukwana, spree killer (c. 1973–2002)
Daisy de Melker, murderer (1886–1932)
William Foster, leader of the Foster Gang

Other

Sir Herbert Baker, influential in South African architecture (1862–1946)
Denise Darvall, donor for the first human heart transplant (1943–1967)
Emily Hobhouse, welfare campaigner for South Africans (1860–1926)
John Hutchinson, contributor to South African botany (1884–1972)
Nkosi Johnson, child who died of AIDS (1989–2001)
Sandra Laing, victim of racial classification (born 1955)
Paul Lloyd Jr, first South African wrestler to wrestle in WWE, son of successful SA wrestling promoter Paul Lloyd (born 1981)
Breaker Morant, Boer War soldier (1864–1902)
Napoléon Eugène, last of Napoleons who died in Zulu war (1856–1879)
Hector Pieterson, poster victim of the Soweto riots (1964–1976)
Mrs. Ples, homonid fossil (born c. 2.6 to 2.8 million years ago)
Willem Ratte, soldier and criminal (born 1948)
Rosenkowitz sextuplets, first known set of sextuplets to survive their infancy (born 1974)
Adam Tas, colonial activist (1668–1722)
Taung Child, homonid fossil (born c. 2.5 million years ago)
Louis Washkansky, recipient of first human heart transplant (1913–1967)
Wolraad Woltemade, colonial hero figure (c. 1708–1773)

References

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[1]

[2]

List of South Africans

Contents

Academics

Academics

Medical and veterinary

Scientists

Theologians

Writers

Authors

Editors

Poets

Journalists

Artists

Performing artists

Actors/Actresses

Dancers

Playwrights and film directors

Singers, musicians and composers

Supermodels, socialites and media personalities

Visual Artists

Cartoonists

Ceramists and collage artists

Painters

Photographers

Sculptors

Performance Artists

Architects

Business

Legal, police and military

Political

Activists and trade unionists

Apartheid operatives

Colonial and Union Governors

Leaders and politicians

Prime Ministers and Presidents

Royalty

Tribal leaders and prophets

Atheists

Prelates, clerics and evangelists

Sport

American Football

Athletics

Baseball

Basketball

Boxing

Canoe

Cricket

Cycling

Golf

Motorsport

Poker

Rugby

Soccer

Surfing

Swimming

Tennis

Triathlon

Conservationists

Travelers, adventurers and pioneers

Criminals

Other

See also

References

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