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 - )

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- )

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

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

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

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

Academics, Medical and Scientists

Artists

Actors, Playwrights, Dancers, TV and Radio personalties

Authors, Editors, Poets and Journalists

Musicians

Composers

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

Photographers

Business

Legal

Political

Activists and trade unionists

Leaders and Politicians

Prime Ministers and Presidents

Royalty

Prelates

Sport

Athletics

Basketball

Boxing

Cricket

Golf

Motorsport

Rugby

Soccer

Surfing

Swimming

Tennis

Winter Sports

Other

See also