List of South Africans

This is a list of notable South Africans with Wikipedia articles.

Academics, Medical and Scientists

• Wouter Basson, Scientist
• Estian Calitz, academic (1949 - )
• Clement Martyn Doke, linguist (1893 - 1980)
• Allan McLeod Cormack, physicist (1924 - 1998)
• Abraham Manie Adelstein, UK Chief Medical Statistician (1916 - 1992)
• Christiaan Barnard, pioneering heart surgeon (1922 - 2001)
• Peter Beighton, geneticist (1934 - )
• Sydney Brenner, biologist (1927 - )
• Phillip Clancey, ornithologist (1918 - 2001)
• Thebe Medupe, astrophysicist
• Calie Pistorius, academic and Principal of the University of Pretoria
• Basil Schonland, physicist (1896 - 1972)
• James Leonard Brierley Smith, ichthyologist (1897 - 1968)
• Tshilidzi Marwala, academic and businessman
• Dion Forster, theologian and minister (1972 - )

See also Category:South African scientists

Artists

Actors, Playwrights, Dancers, TV and Radio personalties

• Peter Cartwright, actor (1935 - )
• Patti LaBelle, musician, actress, businesswoman, realty show host and Fashion Guru
• Lev David, writer and media consultant (1980 - )
• Embeth Davidtz, actress
• Trevor Denman, horse racing announcer
• Athol Fugard, playwright (1932 - )
• Ronald Harwood, playwright and writer (1934 - )
• Sid James, film & television actor (1913-1976)
• John Kani, actor, entertainer and writer
• Alan Khan, radio personality (1971 - )
• Alice Krige, actress
• Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, talk show host, public speaker and businesswoman
• Jeremy Mansfield, radio and TV personality
• Mbongeni Ngema, playwright, actor, choreographer and director
• Koos Ras, comedian, singer, writer, composer (1928-1997)
• Basil Rathbone, actor, famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes (1892-1967)
• Leon Schuster, filmmaker, comedian, actor and prankster
• Antony Sher, actor, author and painter (1949 - )
• Mthuli ka Shezi, playwright and political activist (1947 - 1972)
• Cliff Simon, actor
• William Smith, TV teacher and presenter
• Janet Suzman, actress (1939 - )
• Charlize Theron, actress (1975 - )
• Pieter Dirk Uys political satirist and entertainer
• Jamie Uys, film Director (1921 - 1996)
• Musetta Vander, actress (1969 - )
• Arnold Vosloo, actor (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, 24)
• Jani Allan, radio personality, journalist (1953- )

Authors, Editors, Poets and Journalists

See also: List of South African writers

• Patti LaBelle, NAACP Image Award winning author
• Herman Charles Bosman, author (1905 - 1951)
• Roy Campbell, poet (1901 - 1957)
• John Michael Coetzee, 2003 Nobel Prize-winning author (1940 - )
• Sheila Cussons, poet (1922 - 2004)
• K. Sello Duiker, novelist (1974-2005)
• Jakob Daniël du Toit, poet aka Totius (1877 - 1953)
• Elisabeth Eybers, poet
• Damon Galgut, author (1963 - )
• Arthur Goldstuck, journalist (1959 - )
• Nadine Gordimer, 1991 Nobel Prize-winning author (1923 - )
• John Tengo Jabavu, political activist and newspaper editor (1859 - 1921)
• Ingrid Jonker, poet (1933 - 1965)
• Aggrey Klaaste, journalist and editor
• Antjie Krog, poet, novelist and playwright
• Laurence Lerner, poet (1925-)
• David Robert Lewis, writer, editor and playwright (1968-)
• Lara Logan, CBS television reporter/correspondent (1971 - )
• Eugène Nielen Marais, lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer (1871 - 1936)
• Dalene Matthee, author (1938 - 2005)
• Gcina Mhlope, storyteller, author, playwright, director, actor (1959 - )
• Phaswane Mpe, novelist (1970 - 2004)
• Alan Paton, author (1903 - 1988)
• Sol Plaatje, journalist and political activist (1877 - 1932)
• Karel Schoeman, novelist and historian (1939 - )
• Olive Schreiner, author (1855 - 1920)
• J. R. R. Tolkien, author (1892 - 1973)
• Etienne van Heerden, novelist (1956 - )
• Marlene van Niekerk, novelist (1954 - )
• Donald Woods, journalist and anti-apartheid activist (1933 - 2001)
• Rachel Zadok, London-based South African writer (1972- )
• Jani Allan, Journalist and radio personality (1953- )

Musicians

See: List of South African musicians for full list.

• Patti LaBelle, Grammy Award winning superstar

Composers

See: List of South African composers

• Patti LaBelle, Grammy Award winning composer

Visual Artists, Cartoonists, Ceramists, Collage Artists, Painters, Sculptors

See:List of South African Artists

• Annette du Plessis, South African Visual Artist (1955 - )
• T.O. Honiball, cartoonist (1905-1990)
• Clinton Fein, artist, activist, photographer (1964- )
• Neville Lewis, artist (1895 - 1972)
• Garth Erasmus, Visual Artist
• George Pemba, famous South African Visual Artist
• Rexon Mathebula, artist (1926 - )
• Brett Murray, artist (1961 - )
• Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, artist
• Gerard Sekoto, artist and musician (1913 - 1993)
• Aquiles Priester, drummer

Photographers

• Kevin Carter, (1961 – 1994)
• David Goldblatt, photographer (1930 - )
• Jürgen Schadeberg (1931 - )
• Bob Gosani (1934 - 1972)
• Ernest Cole (1940 - 1990)
• Peter Magubane (1932 - )
• Alf Khumalo (1930 - )
• Lien Botha

Business

• Patti LaBelle, Businesswoman
• Raymond Ackerman, businessman (1931 - )
• David Brink, businessman (1939 - )

• Basetsana Kumalo, former Miss South Africa, presenter and businesswoman
• Sammy Marks, businessman (1844 - 1920)
• Patrice Motsepe, businessman (1962 - )
• Elon Musk, Internet and space launch entrepreneur (1971 - )
• Harry Oppenheimer, businessman (1908 - 2000)
• Mamphela Ramphele, political activist, academic, businesswoman and mother to the son of Steve Biko (1947 - )
• Cyril Ramaphosa, politician and businessman (1952 - )
• Cecil Rhodes, businessman (1853 - 1902)
• Anton Rupert, businessman (1916 - 2006)
• Johann Rupert, businessman, son of Anton Rupert (1950 - )
• Tokyo Sexwale, politician and businessman (1953 - )
• Mark Shuttleworth, web entrepreneur, founder of Thawte and Ubuntu Linux, astronaut (1973 - )

Legal

• Lourens Ackermann, constitutional court judge (1934 - )
• George Bizos, lawyer
• Arthur Chaskalson, judge (1931 - )
• Harold Hanson, advocate QC (1904 - 1973)
• Bram Fischer, advocate QC and political activist
• Richard Goldstone, ex-constitutional court judge
• Cecil Margo, judge (1915 - 2000)
• Percy Yutar, chief prosecutor (1911 -2002)
• Sir Robert Clarkson Tredgold, Chief Justice of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

Political

Activists and trade unionists

• Patti LaBelle, AIDS, DIABETES & CANCER ACTIVIST
• Zackie Achmat, AIDS activist
• Neil Aggett, political activist and trade unionist († 1982)
• Jeremy Baskin, trade unionist (1956 - )
• Steve Biko, nonviolent political activist (1946 - 1977)
• Chris Hani, political activist (1942 - 1993)
• Ahmed Kathrada, political activist
• Adolph Malan, fighter pilot and civil rights activist (1910 - 1963)
• Govan Mbeki, political activist and father of Thabo Mbeki
• Fatima Meer, scientist and political activist
• Elias Motsoaledi, political activist (1924 - 1994)
• Victoria Mxenge, anti-apartheid activist (1942 - 1985)
• Lilian Ngoyi, anti-apartheid activist (1911 - 1980)
• Rachel Simons, communist and trade unionist (1914 - 2004)
• Albertina Sisulu, political activist and wife of Walter Sisulu (1919 - )
• Walter Sisulu, political activist (1912 - 2003)
• Robert Sobukwe, political activist (1924 - 1978)
• Oliver Tambo, political activist (1917 - 1993)
• Eugène Terre'Blanche, white supremacist activist
• Richard Turner, academic and political activist {1941 - 1978}

Leaders and Politicians

• Ken Andrew, politician (1943 - )
• Kader Asmal, an activist, politician and professor of human rights (1934 -)
• Sibusiso Bengu, politician (1934 - )
• Thozamile Botha, politician (1948 - )
• Cheryl Carolus, politician (1958 - )
• Piet Cronje, boer general and commander-in-chief the South African Republic's military forces (1840 - 1911)
• Yusuf Dadoo, doctor and politician
• Patricia de Lille, politician
• Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, politician
• De Villiers Graaff, leader of United Party ( 1913 - 1999)
• Danny Jordaan, politician and soccer administrator
• Tony Leon, politician (1956 - )
• Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, politician and 2nd wife of Nelson Mandela (1936 - )
• Magnus Malan, minister of defence and chief of the South African Defence Force (1930 - )
• Trevor Manuel, minister of finance
• Roelf Meyer, politician and businessman
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, current deputy president (1955 - )
• Gagathura (Monty) Mohambry Naicker, medical doctor and politician (1910 - 1978)
• Bulelani Ngcuka, politician
• Dullah Omar, politician
• Andries Pretorius, Boer leader and commandant-general (1799 - 1853)
• Deneys Reitz, boer commando, former deputy Prime Minister and South African High Commissioner to London (1882 - 1944)
• Mbhazima Shilowa, trade unionist and premier (1958 - )
• Joe Slovo, politician (1926 - 1995)
• Harry Schwarz MP and ambassador to the United States
• Helen Suzman, politician (1917 - )
• Catherine Taylor politician (1914 - 1992)
• Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, politician
• Helen Zille, current mayor of Cape Town
• Jacob Zuma, former deputy president (1942 - )

Prime Ministers and Presidents

• 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
• Thomas Francois Burgers, 4th President of South African Republic (1871 - 1877)
• Frederik Willem de Klerk, 9th and last State President of South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner (1936 - )
• Christiaan Rudolph de Wet, Boer general and acting President of the Orange Free State
• 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
• Petrus Jacobus Joubert, Boer general and member of the Troika in the South African Republic
• Paul Kruger, member of the Troika, 5th and last 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 - )
• Thabo Mbeki, 2nd and current President of South Africa (1942 - )
• Jozua François Naudé, 2nd State President of South Africa
• Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, 3rd President of the Orange Free State, 1st and 3rd President of the South African Republic (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 the 1st State President of the Republic of South Africa (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)
• Nelson Mandela, first black South African president (1994 - 2002)

Royalty

• Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu, 8th and current king of the Zulu nation (1948 - )
• Mangosuthu Buthelezi, politician and a Zulu prince (1928 - )
• Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, 5th Zulu king (1868 - 1913) not officially recognized
• Solomon kaDinuzulu, 6th Zulu king (1891 - 1933) not officially recognized
• uZibhebhu kaMaphitha, Zulu prince and chief (1841 - 1904)
• Khetoane Modjadji, Balobedu's 3th 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)
• Cetshwayo kaMpande, 4th Zulu king (1826 - 1884)
• Dingane kaSenzangakhona, 2nd Zulu king and half-brother of Shaka (1795 - 1840)
• Shaka, founder of the Zulu nation (1787 - 1828)
• Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, 7th Zulu king (1924 - 1945)

Prelates

• Stephanus Jacobus du Toit, cleric, pioneer of the recognition of the Afrikaans language and one of the founder members of the Genootskap vir Regte Afrikaners (1847 - 1911)
• Albert Luthuli, cleric, politician and 1960 Nobel Peace Prize winner († 1967)
• Charlotte Maxeke, religious leader and political activist (1874 - 1939)
• Beyers Naudé, cleric and anti-apartheid activist (1915 - 2004)
• Desmond Tutu, cleric and Nobel Peace Prize winner (1931 - )
• Allan Boesak, cleric and anti-apartheid activist (1945 - )

Sport

Athletics

• Okkert Brits, pole-vaulter (1973 - )
• Zola Budd, marathon and long-distance runner (1966 - )
• Bruce Fordyce, ultra-marathon runner
• Jacques Freitag, high jumper (1982 - )
• Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, middle distance runner (1980 - )

Basketball

• Steve Nash, NBA player (1974 - )

Boxing

• Mike Bernardo, boxer, kickboxer, mixed martial arts fighter
• Francois Botha
• Gerrie Coetzee, World Boxing Association heavyweight champion (1955 - )
• "Baby" Jakes Matlala, junior flyweight champion
• Mzukisi Sikali (1971 - 2005)

Cricket

• Shafiek Abrahams, right-arm spin bowler (1968 - )
• Paul Adams, left-arm spin bowler (1977 - )
• Adam Bacher, right-handed batsman (1973 - )
• Ali Bacher, right-handed batsman and administrator (1942 - )
• Edgar John Barlow, right-arm fast bowler and coach (1940 - 2005)
• Nicky Boje, all-rounder (1973 - )
• Tertius Bosch, right-arm fast bowler (1966 - 2000)
• Johan Botha, right-arm spin bowler (1982 - )
• Mark Boucher, wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman (1976 - )
• David Callaghan, all-rounder (1965 - )
• Jimmy Cook, right-handed batsman (1953 - )
• Hansie Cronje, Proteas captain, all-rounder (1969 - 2002)
• Daryll Cullinan, right-handed batsman (1967 - )
• Basil D'Oliveira, right-handed batsman (1931 - )
• Alan Dawson, right-arm fast medium bowler (1969 - )
• Abraham de Villiers, wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman (1984 - )
• Fanie de Villiers, right-arm fast medium bowler (1964 - )
• Matthew Dennington, cricketer (1982 - )
• Boeta Dippenaar, right-handed batsman (1977 - )
• Allan Donald, right-arm fast bowler (1966 - )
• Jean-Paul Duminy, left-handed batsman (1984 - )
• Clive Eksteen, left-arm spin bowler (1966 - )
• Steve Elworthy, right-arm fast medium bowler (1965 - )
• Herschelle Gibbs, right-handed batsman (1974 - )
• Tony Greig, right-handed batsman and commentator (1946 - )
• Andrew Hall, all-rounder (1975 - )
• Nantie Hayward, right-arm fast bowler (1977 - )
• Claude Henderson, left-arm spin bowler (1972 - )
• Omar Henry, left-arm spin bowler (1952 - )
• Andrew Hudson, right-handed opening batsman (1952 - )
• Martin van Jaarsveld, right-handed batsman (1974 - )
• Steven Jack, right-arm fast medium bowler (1970 - )
• Jacques Kallis, all-rounder (1975 - )
• Chad Keegan, cricketer (1979 - )
• Justin Kemp, all-rounder (1977 - )
• Jon Kent, cricketer (1979 - )
• Gary Kirsten, left-handed opening batsman (1967 - )
• Peter Kirsten, right-handed batsman (1955 - )
• Lance Klusener, all-rounder (1971 - )
• Garnett Kruger, right-arm fast medium bowler (1977 - )
• Adrian Kuiper, all-rounder (1959 - )
• Charl Langeveldt, right-arm fast medium bowler (1974 - )
• Gerhardus Liebenberg, right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper (1972 - )
• Allan Lamb, right-hand batsman (1954 - )
• Craig Matthews, right-arm fast medium bowler (1965 - )
• Neil McKenzie, right-handed batsman (1975 - )
• Brian McMillan, all-rounder (1963 - )
• Albie Morkel, right-handed batsman (1981 - )
• Victor Mpitsang, right-arm fast medium bowler (1980 - )
• Andre Nel, fast bowler (1977 - )
• Makhaya Ntini, fast bowler (1977 - )
• Justin Ontong, right-arm spin bowler (1980 - )
• Hugh Page, right arm fast bowler (1961-)
• Robin Peterson, left-arm spin bowler (1979 - )
• Kevin Pietersen, right-handed batsman (1980 - )
• Shaun Pollock, Proteas captain, fast-medium bowler (1973 - )
• Nic Pothas, right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper (1973 - )
• Ashwell Prince, left-handed batsman (1977 - )
• Meyrick Pringle, right-arm fast medium swing bowler (1966 - )
• Andrew Puttick, cricketer (1980 - )
• Jonty Rhodes, right-handed batsman (1969 - )
• Clive Rice, all-rounder (1949 - )
• David Richardson, right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper (1959 - )
• Jacques Rudolph, left-handed batsman (1981 - )
• Mark Rushmere, right-handed batsman (1965 - )
• Brett Schultz, left-arm fast bowler (1970 - )
• Graeme Smith, Proteas captain, batsman (1981 - )
• Greg Smith, cricketer (1971 - )
• Errol Stewart, right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper (1969 - )
• Dale Steyn, right-arm fast bowler (1983 - )
• Rudi Steyn, cricketer (1967 - )
• Andrew Strauss, cricketer (1977 - )
• Pieter Strydom, cricketer (1969 - )
• Pat Symcox, right-arm spin bowler (1960 - )
• Roger Telemachus, right-arm fast medium bowler (1973 - )
• David Terbrugge, right-arm fast medium bowler (1977 - )
• Kepler Wessels, Proteas captain, left-handed batsman (1957 - )
• Henry Williams, right-arm fast medium bowler (1967 - )
• Charl Willoughby, cricketer (1974 - )
• Mandy Yachad, cricketer (1960 - )
• Monde Zondeki, right-arm fast bowler (1982 - )

Golf

• Ernie Els (1969 - )
• Retief Goosen (1969 - )
• Gary Player (1936 - )
• Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum

Motorsport

• Jody Scheckter, Formula One world champion (1950 - )

Rugby

• Bakkies Botha, Springbok, lock (1979 - )
• Naas Botha, Springbok, flyhalf and TV presenter (1958 - )
• Schalk Burger, Springbok, flank (1983 - )
• Kitch Christie, Springboks coach (1940 - 1998)
• Danie Craven, Springbok, scrumhalf (1910 - 1994)
• Jean de Villiers, Springbok, centre and wing (1981 - )
• Frik du Preez, rugby player (1935 - )
• Os du Randt, Springbok, prop (1972 - )
• Bryan Habana, Springbok, wing (1983 - )
• Victor Matfield, Springbok, lock (1977 - )
• Percy Montgomery, Springbok, fullback (1974 - )
• Francois Pienaar, Springbok, flank (1967 - )
• John Smit, Springbok, hooker (1978 - )
• Francois Steyn, Springbok, flyhalf/fullback (1987 - )
• Gary Teichmann, Springbok, number 8 (1967 - )
• Joost van der Westhuizen, Springbok, scrum-half (1971 - )

Soccer

• Shaun Bartlett, striker (1972 - )
• Doctor Khumalo, midfielder
• Benni McCarthy, striker (1977 - )
• Lucas Radebe, Bafana Bafana captain, defender
• Jomo Sono, midfielder and coach
• Gary Bailey, goalkeeper for England and Manchester United
• Quinton Fortune, midfielder and defender for Manchester United
• Mark Fish, defender for Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Jomo Cosmos

Surfing

• John Whitmore, father of South African surfing
• Shaun Tomson, former world champ
• Grant Baker, winner of the Mavericks Big Wave contest in California
• Martin Potter (surfer), 1989 world champ

Swimming

• Natalie du Toit, disabled swimmer
• Lyndon Ferns
• Penny Heyns, breaststroke, Olympic gold medallist
• Ryk Neethling, freestyle, Olympic gold medallist
• Roland Mark Schoeman, freestyle, Olympic gold medallist
• Darian Townsend, Olympic gold medallist
• Charlene Wittstock

Tennis

• Kevin Curren (1958 - )
• Cliff Drysdale, player and television commentator (1941 - )
• Johan Kriek (1958 - )
• Amanda Coetzer, (1971- )
• Neil Broad, (1966- )

Winter Sports

• Alexander Heath, Alpine skier (1978-)

Other

• Denise Darvall donor for the first human heart transplant
• Nkosi Johnson, child who died of AIDS (1989 - 2001)
• Nongqawuse, millennialist Xhosa prophetess
• Hector Pieterson, young boy whose death became a symbol of the Soweto riots (1964 - 1976)
• Mrs. Ples, homonid fossil (born circa 2.6 to 2.8 million years ago)
• Rosenkowitz sextuplets, first known set of sextuplets to survive their infancy (1974 - )
• Louis Washkansky, recipient of first human heart transplant
• Sibusiso Vilane, first black African to summit Mount Everest

See also

• List of people by nationality
• List of South African artists
• List of South African politicians
• SABC3's Great South Africans, a television program listing the 100 greatest South Africans as voted for by viewers