List of South Africans

Academics

Academics

• Estian Calitz, academic
• Miriam Green, academic now living in England
• Adam Habib, political scientist
• Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, academic and politician
• Thamsanqa Kambule, South African Mathematician and Educator
• Tshilidzi Marwala, academic and businessman
• Njabulo Ndebele, Principal of the University of Cape Town
• D. C. S. Oosthuizen, philosopher,
• Adriaan N Pelzer, historian and Vice-Principal University Pretoria
• Pierre de Villiers Pienaar, pioneering role in speech language therapy and lexicography in South Africa
• Calie Pistorius, academic and Principal of the University of Pretoria
• Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, author, educator, and first black South African to receive a Ph.D.
• David Webster, anthropologist

  Medical and veterinary

• Abraham Manie Adelstein, UK Chief Medical Statistician
• Christiaan Barnard, pioneering heart surgeon
• Wouter Basson, medical scientist
• John Borthwick, veterinary surgeon in the Cape Colony
• Joan Morice, first female veterinary surgeon in South Africa
• Anna Coutsoudis, public health scientist
• Patrick Soon-Shiong, surgeon, founder Abraxis BioScience, billionaire
• Arnold Theiler, veterinarian
• Max Theiler, virologist, 1951 Nobel Prize winner
• Lindiwe Sidali, surgeon

  Scientists

• Andrew Geddes Bain, geologist
• Peter Beighton, geneticist
• Wilhelm Bleek, linguist
• Robert Broom, palaeontologist
• Sydney Brenner, biologist, 2002 Physiology or Medicine Nobel Prize winner
• Phillip Clancey, ornithologist
• Allan McLeod Cormack, physicist
• Zodwa Dlamini, biochemist
• Clement Martyn Doke, linguist
• Mulalo Doyoyo, professor and inventor
• Alexander du Toit, geologist
• Robert Allen Dyer, botanist
• Melville Edelstein, sociologist, killed due to Soweto Uprising
• Wendy Foden, conservation biologist
• J. W. B. Gunning, zoologist
• Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Scientific Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa
• Salim Abdool Karim, is a South African epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist
• David Lewis-Williams, archaeologist
• Lucy Lloyd, anthropologist
• Thebe Medupe, astrophysicist
• Hans Merensky, geologist
• Austin Roberts, zoologist
• Peter Sarnak, mathematician
• Ramotholo Sefako, astrophysicist
• Buyisiwe Sondezi, physicist
• Basil Schonland, physicist
• J.L.B. Smith, ichthyologist
• Phillip Tobias, palaeontologist

  Theologians

• David Bosch
• John W. de Gruchy
• Dion Forster
• Johan Heyns

Writers

Authors

• Lady Anne Barnard, travel writer and artist
• Herman Charles Bosman, author
• André P. Brink, author
• Justin Cartwright, novelist
• John Maxwell Coetzee, 2003 Nobel Prize-winning author
• K. Sello Duiker, novelist
• Sir Percy FitzPatrick, writer, businessman and politician
• Graeme Friedman, author and clinical psychologist
• Damon Galgut, author
• Nadine Gordimer, 1991 Nobel Prize-winning author
• Alfred Hutchinson, South African author, teacher and activist
• C. J. Langenhoven, writer and poet
• Pule Lechesa, essayist, literary critic, and poet
• Dalene Matthee, author
• Gcina Mhlope, author, storyteller, playwright, director, actor
• Phaswane Mpe, novelist
• Deon Meyer, author
• Alan Paton, author
• Margaret Roberts, herbalist and writer
• Karel Schoeman, novelist and historian
• Olive Schreiner, author
• Mongane Wally Serote, poet and writer
• Wilbur Smith, novelist
• J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of The Rings
• Etienne van Heerden, novelist
• Marlene van Niekerk, novelist
• Lyall Watson, writer
• David Yudelman, writer
• Rachel Zadok, London-based South African writer

  Editors

• Kojo Baffoe, magazine editor
• Khanyi Dhlomo, magazine editor
• Laurence Gandar, Rand Daily Mail editor
• Niel Hammann, editor of magazines
• John Tengo Jabavu, political activist and newspaper editor
• Aggrey Klaaste, journalist and editor
• Max du Preez, newspaper editor

  Poets

• Roy Campbell, poet
• Judy Croome, poet
• Sheila Cussons, poet
• Jonty Driver
• Jakob Daniël du Toit, poet a.k.a. Totius
• Elisabeth Eybers, poet
• Stephen Gray, writer and poet
• Ingrid Jonker, poet
• Antjie Krog, poet, novelist and playwright
• Laurence Lerner, poet
• Lucas Malan, Afrikaans academic and poet
• Chris Mann, poet
• Eugène Nielen Marais, poet, writer, lawyer and naturalist
• Thomas Pringle, poet and journalist
• N. P. van Wyk Louw, poet
• Mongane Wally Serote, poet, activist and politician
• Stephen Watson, poet

  Journalists

• Jani Allan, journalist and radio personality
• George Claassen, journalist
• Robyn Curnow, CNN television reporter and anchor
• John Charles Daly, television journalist, executive and game show host
• Arthur Goldstuck, journalist
• Niel Hammann, journalist
• Archibald Campbell Jordan
• Lara Logan, CBS television reporter/correspondent
• Peter Magubane, South African photographer
• John Matisonn, print and radio journalist for both South African and United States broadcasters
• Zakes Mda, journalist
• Sam Nzima, South African photographer, who took image of Hector Pieterson for the Soweto uprising
• Henry Nxumalo, investigative journalist under apartheid
• Sol Plaatje, journalist and political activist
• Percy Qoboza, journalist, editorial writer, and political activist
• Barry Streek, journalist, political activist, author, parliamentary media manager
• Redi Tlhabi, journalist and broadcaster
• Eric Lloyd Williams, journalist and war correspondent
• Donald Woods, journalist and anti-apartheid activist

  Artists

Performing artists

Actors / Actresses

• Anel Alexander, actress, producer
• Lesley - Ann Brandt, South African born actress, notable for her role as Mazikeen in the show Lucifer
• Presley Chweneyagae, actor
• Peter Cartwright, actor
• Sharlto Copley, actor,
• Embeth Davidtz, actress
• Gopala Davies, actor and director
• Sindi Dlathu, actress
• Pallance Dladla, actor
• Kim Engelbrecht, actress
• Willie Esterhuizen, actor
• Connie Ferguson, actress
• Shona Ferguson, actor
• Brett Goldin, actor
• Zoe Gail, actress
• Roxane Hayward, actress
• Hennie Jacobs, actor
• David James, actor, stage, television, and film actor
• Sid James, film & television actor
• Adhir Kalyan, actor
• Atandwa Kani, actor
• John Kani, actor, entertainer and writer
• Alice Krige, actress
• Sello Maake Ka-Ncube,actor
• Gail Mabalane, actress
• Joe Mafela, actor, writer and singer
• Maps Maponyane, actor
• Khanyi Mbau, radio & television personality and actress notable for Happiness Is a Four-letter Word
• Nomzamo Mbatha, actress
• Michelle Mosalakae, actress
• Thuso Mbedu, actress
• Sean Michael,
• Patrick Mynhardt, actor
• Themba Ndaba, actor
• Menzi Ngubane, actor
• Jessica Nkosi, actress
• Winston Ntshona, actor
• Tanit Phoenix, actress
• Terry Pheto, actress
• Sasha Pieterse, actress
• Madelaine Petsch, actress
• Sandra Prinsloo, South African actress
• Basil Rathbone, actor
• Jo-anne Reyneke, actress
• Ian Roberts, actor, playwright, singer
• Angelique Rockas pioneer of multi-racial theatre in the UK
• Buhle Samuels
• Stelio Savante, actor
• Clive Scott, actor
• Rapulana Seiphemo, actor
• Antony Sher, actor, author and painter
• Cliff Simon, actor
• William Smith, TV teacher and presenter
• Janet Suzman, actress
• Reine Swart, actress, producer
• Charlize Theron, actress
• Pearl Thusi, actress, model, MC
• Pieter-Dirk Uys, political satirist and entertainer
• Musetta Vander, actress
• Arnold Vosloo, actor
• Brümilda van Rensburg, actress

  Dancers

• Juliet Prowse, dancer

  Playwrights and film directors

• Neill Blomkamp, director, District 9
• Lev David, writer and media consultant
• Charles J. Fourie, playwright
• Athol Fugard, playwright
• Ronald Harwood, playwright and writer
• Gavin Hood, film director, wrote and directed the Academy Award-winning Tsotsi
• Rob De Mezieres, film director and writer
• Mbongeni Ngema, playwright, actor, choreographer and director
• Michael Oblowitz film director
• Mthuli ka Shezi, playwright and political activist
• Leon Schuster, filmmaker, comedian, actor and prankster
• Jamie Uys, film director

  Singers, musicians and composers

• Zain Bhikha, world-renowned singer-songwriter of the Nasheed genre
• Michael Blake, classical composer
• Johan Botha, opera singer
• Al Bowlly, popular singer
• Don Clarke, Singer-songwriter
• Johnny Clegg, musician
• Mimi Coertse, opera singer
• Fanie de Jager, operatic tenor
• Lucky Dube, reggae singer
• Daniel Friedman, comedian, musical comedian
• Steve Kekana, singer and songwriter
• Claire Johnston, singer
• David Kramer, singer and playwright
• Clare Loveday, classical composer
• Lira, singer
• Sipho Mabuse, singer
• Winston Ngozi Mankunku, tenor sax player
• Mahlathini, mbaqanga singer
• Miriam Makeba, singer and civil rights activist
• Manfred Mann, musician
• Hugh Masekela, jazz trumpeter and singer
• Gwendolyn Masin, violinist, author, pedagogue
• Dave Matthews, leader of the Dave Matthews Band
• Shaun Morgan, lead singer of the award-winning band Seether
• Ray Phiri, jazz, fision and mbhaqanga musician
• Aquiles Priester, drummer
• Rex Rabanye, jazz, fusion and soulful pop musician
• Trevor Rabin, musician, composer, former member of progressive rock band Yes
• Koos Ras, comedian, singer, writer, composer
• Charles Segal, composer, arranger, Guinness World Record holder
• Enoch Sontonga, composer of national anthem
• Joseph Shabalala, founder and director of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• ZP Theart, singer, ex Dragonforce
• Hilda Tloubatla, lead singer of Mahotella Queens
• Watkin Tudor Jones, rapper, performance artist, band member of Die Antwoord
• Arnold van Wyk, classical composer
• Jason van Wyk, musician, composer, producer
• Yolandi Visser, rapper, performance artist, band member of Die Antwoord
• Kevin Volans, classical composer

Models, socialites and media personalities

• Jani Allan, radio personality, journalist
• Gina Athans, model, international socialite
• Riaan Cruywagen, TV news reader
• Trevor Denman, horse racing announcer
• Minnie Dlamini, TV presenter, TV personality, model and actress
• Jade Fairbrother, model, fitness bikini competitor, Playboy Playmate
• Watkin Tudor Jones singer, rapper, actor, director
• Alan Khan, radio and television personality
• Caspar Lee, YouTube personality and actor
• Megan McKenzie, model
• Jeremy Maggs, journalist, radio host and television presenter
• Jeremy Mansfield, radio and TV personality
• Maps Maponyane, media socialite, model and actor
• Trevor Noah, comedian, actor, radio- and television host
• Debora Patta, broadcast journalist and television producer
• Tanit Phoenix, Sports Illustrated model and actress
• Lunga Shabalala, TV presenter, model and actor
• Linda Sibiya, radio personality, radio producer, television host, television producer and broadcaster.
• Troye Sivan, YouTube personality, actor and singer
• Reeva Steenkamp, model
• Candice Swanepoel, Victoria's Secret model
• Charlize Theron, actress, film producer
• Lesego Tlhabi, comedian and satirist
• Yolandi Visser singer, rapper, actor
• Minki van der Westhuizen, model and TV presenter

  Visual Artists

Cartoonists

• T.O. Honiball, cartoonist
• Jeremy Nell, cartoonist
• Zapiro, cartoonist

  Painters

• Thomas Baines, colonial painter and explorer
• Leon Botha, painter and disc jockey
• Garth Erasmus, visual artist
• Clinton Fein, artist, activist, photographer
• C. G. Finch-Davies, painter and ornithologist
• Ronald Harrison, painter
• William Kentridge, painter
• Maggie Laubser, painter
• Neville Lewis, artist
• Esther Mahlangu, painter
• Conor Mccreedy, artist
• Brett Murray, artist
• George Pemba, visual artist
• Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, artist
• Gerard Sekoto, artist and musician
• Cecil Skotnes, painter
• Irma Stern, painter
• Vladimir Tretchikoff, painter

  Photographers

• Kevin Carter
• Ernest Cole
• Caroline Gibello
• David Goldblatt, photographer
• Bob Gosani
• Alf Kumalo
• Peter Magubane
• Jürgen Schadeberg
• Austin Stevens

  Sculptors

• Anton van Wouw

  Performance Artists

• Steven Cohen
• Tracey Rose

  Architects

• Herbert Baker
• Gerard Moerdijk

  Business

• Raymond Ackerman, businessman
• Barney Barnato, mining magnate
• Roelof Botha, is a venture capitalist and company director
• David Brink, businessman
• John Fairbairn, founder of Mutual Life
• Vanessa Gounden, South Africa's richest businesswoman
• Morris Kahn, Israeli billionaire, founder and chairman of Aurec Group
• Sol Kerzner, hotel magnate
• Basetsana Kumalo, former Miss South Africa, presenter and businesswoman
• Richard Maponya, richest business man, former owner of Maponya Mall; founder and first president of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce
• Stan Medalie, CEO of Leonmed Investments
• Sammy Marks, businessman
• Bridgette Motsepe, businesswoman
• Patrice Motsepe, businessman
• Elon Musk, Internet and space launch entrepreneur
• Phiwa Nkambule, Co-founder and CEO of Riovic, founder of Cybatar
• Harry Oppenheimer, businessman
• William G. Pietersen, international businessman, CEO, author, professor
• Charles Purdon, agricultural pioneer
• Mamphela Ramphele, political activist, academic, businesswoman and mother to the son of Steve Biko
• Cyril Ramaphosa, politician and businessman
• George Rex, pioneer entrepreneur of the Southern Cape
• Cecil Rhodes, businessman
• Anton Rupert, businessman and conservationist
• Johann Rupert, businessman, son of Anton Rupert
• Tokyo Sexwale, politician and businessman
• Mark Shuttleworth, web entrepreneur, founder of Thawte and Ubuntu Linux, space tourist
• Nicky Newton-King, first female CEO of JSE from 2012–2019

  Legal, police and military

• Lourens Ackermann, constitutional court judge
• Ismail Ayob, lawyer
• Vernon Berrangé, human rights advocate
• George Bizos, lawyer
• Louis Botha, Boer War General, captured Winston Churchill during the Second Boer War, also one of the singnitaries of the Treaty of Vereeniging
• Arthur Chaskalson, judge
• Piet Cronjé, Boer general and commander-in-chief of ZAR's military forces
• Beric John Croome, Chartered Accountant, Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, PhD, tax law author and pioneer in taxpayers' rights in South Africa
• Koos de la Rey, Boer general
• Pierre de Vos, constitutional law scholar
• Christiaan Rudolph de Wet, Boer general and acting President of the Orange Free State
• Johannes Christiaan de Wet, legal academic
• Bram Fischer, advocate QC and political activist
• Richard Goldstone, ex-constitutional court judge
• Harold Hanson, advocate QC
• Sydney Kentridge, former advocate of the Supreme Court and Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court
• Mervyn E. King, former judge of the Supreme Court of South Africa and chairman of the King Committee on Corporate Governance
• Joel Joffe, Baron Joffe, CBE lawyer and Labour peer in the House of Lords
• Pius Langa, former chief justice of constitutional court
• Magnus Malan, minister of defence and chief of the South African Defence Force
• Cecil Margo, judge
• Richard Mdluli, head of Police Crime Intelligence
• Dunstan Mlambo, Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa
• Mogoeng Mogoeng, Chief Justice of South Africa
• Phetogo Molawa, first black female helicopter pilot in the South African Air Force and the South African National Defence Force
• Sandile Ngcobo, former Chief Justice of South Africa
• Bulelani Ngcuka, director of public prosecutions
• Marmaduke Pattle, highest scoring Allied Air Ace of World War Two
• Riah Phiyega, national police commissioner
• Albie Sachs, justice in constitutional court
• Harry Heinz Schwarz, lawyer
• Jackie Selebi, national commissioner of police
• Thembile Skweyiya, South African Constitutional Court judge
• Percy Sonn, former head of the Directorate of Special Operations
• Sir Robert Clarkson Tredgold, Chief Justice of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
• Percy Yutar, South Africa's first Jewish attorney-general and prosecutor of Nelson Mandela in the 1963 Rivonia Treason Trial
• Barry Roux, defence advocate who has represented Oscar Pistorius, Dave King and Lothar Neethling

  Political

Activists and trade unionists

• Zackie Achmat, AIDS activist
• Neil Aggett, political activist and trade unionist
• Neville Alexander, revolutionary and proponent of a multilingual South Africa
• Abdul Kader Asmal, South African politician
• Abu Baker Asvat, founding member of Azapo
• Zainab Asvat, South African anti-apartheid activist
• Jeremy Baskin, trade unionist
• Lionel Bernstein, anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner
• Edward Bhengu, founder member of the PAC
• Steve Biko, nonviolent political activist
• Amina Cachalia, South African anti-Apartheid activist, women's rights activist, and politician
• Ismail Ahmed Cachalia, South African political activist and a leader of Transvaal Indian Congress and the African National Congress
• Fort Calata, political activist and one of The Cradock Four
• James Calata, political activist and ANC secretary
• Collins Chabane, South African Minister of Public Service and Administration
• Laloo Chiba, South African politician and revolutionary
• Yusuf Mohamed Dadoo, South African Communist and an anti-apartheid activist
• Eddie Daniels, anti-apartheid activist
• Nosipho Dastile, community and anti-Apartheid activist
• Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, political activist
• Lilian Diedricks, South African activist
• Lucinda Evans, women's right activist
• Ruth First, South African anti-apartheid activist, scholar and wife to Joe Slovo
• Pregs Govender, human rights activist, former ANC MP, anti-apartheid campaigner
• Irene Grootboom, housing rights activist
• Denis Goldberg, political activist
• Arthur Goldreich, abstract painter and anti-apartheid
• John Gomomo, South African Unionist and activist
• Matthew Goniwe, political activist and one of the Cradock four
• Joe Nzingo Gqabi, political activist
• Josiah Tshangana Gumede, political activist
• Harry Gwala, revolutionary leader in the African National Congress and South African Communist Party
• Nkululeko Gwala, prominent member of the shackdwellers' social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo
• Chris Hani, political activist
• Harold Hanson, politician and advocate
• Ruth Hayman, anti-apartheid campaigner
• Alexander Hepple, trade unionist, politician, anti-apartheid activist and author and the last leader of the original South African Labour Party
• Bob Hepple, political activist, leader in the fields of labour law, equality and human rights
• Bavelile Gloria Hlongwa, South African chemical engineer and politician
• Bantu Holomisa, political activist
• Helen Joseph, anti-apartheid activist
• Mthuli ka Shezi, South African playwright, political activist
• James Kantor, politician, lawyer and writer
• Ahmed Kathrada, political activist
• Philip Kgosana, political activist
• Moses Kotane, anti-apartheid activist
• Ashley Kriel, South African activist
• Ellen Kuzwayo, political activist
• Timothy Peter Jenkin, anti-apartheid activist, political prisoner and writer
• Stephen Bernard Lee, anti-apartheid and political prisoner
• Anton Lembede, political activist
• Moses Mabhida, anti-apartheid activist
• Phakamile Mabija, anti-apartheid activist
• Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, political activist and former 2nd wife to Nelson Mandela
• Zacharias Richard Mahabane, political activist
• Solomon Mahlangu, Umkhonto we Sizwe operative
• Vusumzi Make, political activist
• Sefako Makgatho, political activist
• Mbuyisa Makhubo, anti-Apartheid activist
• Clarence Makwetu, political activist
• Adolph Malan, fighter pilot and civil rights activist
• Zollie Malindi, political activist
• Nelson Mandela, political activist and first President of South Africa
• Isaac Lesiba Maphotho, political activist
• J. B. Marks, politician activist
• Jafta Jeff Masemola, political activist
• Tsietsi Mashinini, South African anti-Apartheid activis and student leader of the Soweto Uprising in June 16, 1976
• Joseph Mathunjwa, Trade union leader and the head of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union
• Florence Matomela, South African anti-pass law activist
• Joe Matthews, political activist and son of ZK Matthews
• Z. K. Matthews, political activist
• Seth Mazibuko, youngest member of the South African Students' Organisation that planned and led the Soweto uprising
• Epainette Mbeki, political activist, mother of Thabo Mbeki and wife to Govan Mbeki
• Govan Mbeki, political activist and father of Thabo Mbeki
• Robert McBride, anti-apartheid assassin and later police chief
• A. P. Mda, co-founder of the African National Congress Youth League and Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
• Fatima Meer, scientist and political activist
• Raymond Mhlaba, political activist and the former Premier of the Eastern Cape
• Sicelo Mhlauli, political activist and one of the Cradock four
• Clarence Mini, anti-apartheid activist
• Vuyisile Mini, unionist and Umkhonto we Sizwe activist
• Sparrow Mkhonto, political activist and one of the Cradock four
• Wilton Mkwayi, political activist
• Johnson Mlambo, political activist
• Andrew Mlangeni, political activist
• Thamsanga Mnyele, anti-apartheid
• Billy Modise, political activist
• Joe Modise, political activist
• Thabo Edwin Mofutsanyana, political activist
• Mapetla Mohapi, political activist
• Moosa Moolla, political activist
• Rahima Moosa, anti-apartheid activist
• Peter Mokaba, political activist
• Priscilla Mokaba, political activist and mother of Peter Mokaba
• Ruth Mompati, political activist
• James Moroka, political activist
• Caroline Motsoaledi, political activist and wife to Elias Motsoaledi
• Elias Motsoaledi, political activist
• Zephania Mothopeng, political activist
• James Mpanza, political activist
• Oscar Mpetha, political activist and unionist
• Griffiths Mxenge, anti-apartheid activist
• Victoria Mxenge, anti-apartheid activist
• Monty Naicker, medical doctor and a South African anti-apartheid activist of Indian Tamil descent
• Billy Nair, political activist
• Rita Ndzanga, anti-apartheid activist and trade unionist
• Lilian Ngoyi, anti-apartheid activist
• Looksmart Ngudle, political activist
• Vernon Nkadimeng, political activist
• Nkwenkwe Nkomo, SASO nine member
• William Frederick Nkomo, medical doctor, community leader, political activist and teacher
• Duma Nokwe, political activist
• Jabulile Nyawose, trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist
• Alfred Nzo, political activist
• Albert Nzula, political activist
• Abdullah Mohamed Omar, anti-Apartheid activist and lawyer
• Aziz Pahad, political activist
• Essop Pahad, political activist
• Sabelo Phama, revolutionary
• Motsoko Pheko, politician, lawyer, author, historian, theologian and academic
• Sol Plaatje, political activist
• John Nyathi Pokela, political activist
• Maggie Resha, political activist and wife of Robert Resha
• Robert Resha, political activist
• Walter Rubusana, first deputy president of the ANC
• Harry Schwarz, South African lawyer, statesman and long-time political opposition leader against apartheid in South Africa
• Gert Sibande, political activist
• Jackie Sedibe, South African National Defence Force Major General and politician activist and wife to Joe Modise
• Molefi Sefularo, Deputy Minister of Health
• James Seipei, teenage United Democratic Front activist
• Reggie September, activist
• Archie Sibeko, political activist and trade unionist
• David Sibeko, South Africa politian and journalist
• Letitia Sibeko, political activist and wife to Archie Sibeko
• Jack Simons, political activist
• Rachel Simons, communist and trade unionist and wife to Jack Simons
• Albertina Sisulu, political activist and wife of Walter Sisulu
• Walter Sisulu, political activist
• Zola Skweyiya, political activist
• Joe Slovo, South African politician, and an opponent of the apartheid system
• Robert Sobukwe, political activist and founder of PAC
• Veronica Sobukwe, political activist and wife to Robert Sobukwe
• Makhenkesi Stofile, political activist
• Harold Strachan, anti-apartheid activist
• Adelaide Tambo political activist and wife to Oliver Tambo
• Oliver Tambo, political activist
• Ahmed Timol, anti-apartheid activist, political leader and activist in the underground South African Communist Party
• Abram Onkgopotse Tiro, South African student political activist
• Steve Tshwete, political activist
• Ben Turok, anti-apartheid activist and Economics Professor
• Moses Twebe, South African politician
• Zwelinzima Vavi, former general secretary of COSATU, and Trade union leader SAFTU
• Harold Wolpe, lawyer, sociologist, political economist and anti-apartheid activist
• Khoisan X, political activist
• Alfred Xuma, political activist and ANC president

  Apartheid operatives

• Wouter Basson, apartheid scientist
• Dirk Coetzee, apartheid covert operative
• Eugene de Kock, apartheid assassin
• Clive Derby-Lewis, assassin and former parliamentarian
• Jimmy Kruger, apartheid Minister of Justice and the Police
• Lothar Neethling, apartheid forensic scientist
• Barend Strydom, convicted murderer and white supremacist activist
• Eugène Terre'Blanche, white supremacist activist
• Adriaan Vlok, apartheid Minister of Law and Order
• Craig Williamson, apartheid spy

  Colonial and Union Governors

• George Grey, Cape governor
• Jan Willem Janssens, Cape Governor
• Benjamin d'Urban, Cape Governor
• Benjamin Pine, Natal governor
• Harry Smith, Cape governor 1847–52
• Andries Stockenström, governor of British Kaffraria
• Simon van der Stel, first Cape governor
• Willem Adriaan van der Stel, second Cape governor
• Jan van Riebeeck, founder of Cape settlement
• Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet, Chief Justice of South Africa and acting Governor-General

  Leaders and politicians

• Ken Andrew, politician
• Kader Asmal, an activist, politician and professor of human rights
• Sibusiso Bengu, politician
• Steve Biko, nonviolent political activist
• Thozamile Botha, politician
• Cheryl Carolus, politician
• Yusuf Dadoo, doctor and politician
• Patricia de Lille, politician
• Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, politician
• John Langalibalele Dube, founder and first president of ANC
• Abba Eban, Israeli diplomat and politician, and President of the Weizmann Institute of Science
• De Villiers Graaff, United Party opposition leader
• Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, journalist and politician
• Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, academic and politician
• Danny Jordaan, politician and soccer administrator
• Tony Leon, DA opposition leader
• Albert Luthuli, President of the African National Congress, 1952–67
• Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, politician and second wife of Nelson Mandela
• Trevor Manuel, minister of finance
• Lindiwe Mazibuko, former Parliamentary Leader for the opposition Democratic Alliance
• Govan Mbeki, political activist and father of Thabo Mbeki
• Roelf Meyer, politician and businessman
• Raymond Mhlaba, political activist and the former Premier of the Eastern Cape
• Vuyisile Mini, unionist and Umkhonto we Sizwe activist
• Johnson Mlambo, political activist
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, deputy president
• Pieter Mulder, leader of the Freedom Front Plus and former deputy minister of agriculture
• Gagathura Mohambry Naicker, medical doctor and politician
• Bulelani Ngcuka, politician
• Dullah Omar, politician
• Andries Pretorius, Boer leader and commandant-general
• Deneys Reitz, boer commando, deputy Prime Minister and High Commissioner to London
• Pixley ka Isaka Seme, ANC founder member
• Mbhazima Shilowa, trade unionist and premier
• Walter Sisulu, political activist
• Ruth First-Slovo, political activist and wife to Joe Slovo
• Joe Slovo, politician
• Harry Schwarz, lawyer, politician, ambassador to United States and anti-apartheid leader
• Robert Sobukwe, political activist and founder of PAC
• Helen Suzman, politician
• Oliver Tambo, political activist
• Catherine Taylor, politician
• Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, PFP opposition leader
• Helen Zille, former DA opposition leader, former Premier of the Western Cape
• Jacob Zuma, former President

  Prime Ministers and Presidents

• Jacobus Boshoff, 2nd President of the Orange Free State
• Louis Botha, Boer commander-in-chief and 1st Prime Minister of South Africa
• Pieter Willem Botha, 9th and last Prime Minister and 8th State President of South Africa
• Johannes Henricus Brand, 4th President of the Orange Free State
• Thomas François Burgers, 4th President of South African Republic
• Schalk Willem Burger, 6th and last President of South African Republic
• Frederik Willem de Klerk, 9th and last State President of South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner
• Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs, 4th State President of South Africa
• Jacobus Johannes Fouché, 3rd State President of South Africa
• James Barry Munnik Hertzog, Boer general and 3rd Prime Minister of South Africa
• 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 President of South African Republic
• Daniel François Malan, 5th Prime Minister of South Africa and is responsible for laying the groundwork for Apartheid
• Nelson Mandela, 1st democratically elected President of South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner
• Thabo Mbeki, 2nd post-apartheid President of South Africa
• John X. Merriman, last prime minister of the Cape Colony
• Kgalema Motlanthe, 3rd post-apartheid President of South Africa
• Tom Naudé, 2nd State President of South Africa
• Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, 3rd President of the Orange Free State, 1st and 3rd President of the ZAR
• Cyril Ramaphosa, 5th post-apartheid President of South Africa
• Francis William Reitz, 5th President of the Orange Free State
• Jan Smuts, Boer general, British field marshal, 2nd and 4th Prime Minister of South Africa
• Johannes Strijdom, 6th Prime Minister of South Africa
• Martinus Theunis Steyn, 6th and last President of the Orange Free State
• Charles Robberts Swart, last Governor-General of the Union of South Africa and 1st State President of the RSA
• Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, 7th Prime Minister of South Africa and primary architect of Apartheid
• Marais Viljoen, 5th and 7th State President of South Africa
• Balthazar Johannes Vorster, 8th Prime Minister and 6th State President of South Africa
• Jacob Zuma, 4th post-apartheid President of South Africa

  Provincial Premiers

• Nosimo Balindlela, 3rd Premier of the Eastern Cape
• Lynne Brown, 6th Premier of the Western Cape
• Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, 2nd Premier of the Free State
• Grizelda Cjiekella, Premier of the Northern Cape
• Manne Dipico, 1st Premier of the Northern Cape
• Winkie Direko, 3rd Premier of the Free State
• Noxolo Kiviet, 5th Premier of the Eastern Cape
• Hernus Kriel, 1st Premier of the Western Cape
• Hazel Jenkins, 3rd Premier of the Northern Cape
• Mosiuoa Lekota, 1st Premier of the Free State
• Sylvia Lucas, 4th Premier of the Northern Cape
• David Mabuza, 4th Premier of Mpumalanga
• Ace Magashule, 5th Premier of the Free State
• Supra Mahumapelo, 5th Premier of North West
• David Makhura, 6th Premier of Gauteng
• Thabang Makwetla, 3rd Premier of Mpumalanga
• Peter Marais, 3rd Premier of the Western Cape
• Beatrice Marshoff, 4th Premier of the Free State
• Paul Mashatile, 4th Premier of Gauteng
• Stanley Mathabatha, 4th Premier of Limpopo
• Cassel Mathale, 3rd Premier of Limpopo
• Senzo Mchunu, 6th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
• Willies Mchunu, 7th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
• Frank Mdlalose, 1st Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
• Raymond Mhlaba, 1st Premier of the Eastern Cape
• Zweli Mkhize, 5th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
• Thandi Modise, 4th Premier of North West
• Maureen Modiselle, 3rd Premier of North West
• Job Mokgoro, 6th Premier of North West
• Nomvula Mokonyane, 5th Premier of Gauteng
• Popo Molefe, 1st Premier of North West
• Edna Molewa, 2nd Premier of North West
• Sello Moloto, 2nd Premier of Limpopo
• Gerald Morkel, 2nd Premier of the Western Cape
• Mathole Motshekga, 2nd Premier of Gauteng
• Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, 5th Premier of Mpumalanga
• S'bu Ndebele, 4th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
• Ben Ngubane, 2nd Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
• Sisi Ntombela, 6th Premier of the Free State
• Dipuo Peters, 2nd Premier of the Northern Cape
• Mathews Phosa, 1st Premier of Mpumalanga
• Ngoako Ramathlodi, 1st Premier of Limpopo
• Leonard Ramatlakane, Premier of the Western Cape
• Ebrahim Rasool, 5th Premier of the Western Cape
• Zamani Saul, 5th Premier of the Northern Cape
• Tokyo Sexwale, 1st Premier of Gauteng
• Mbhazima Shilowa, 3rd Premier of Gauteng
• Mbulelo Sogoni, 4th Premier of the Eastern Cape
• Makhenkesi Stofile, 2nd Premier of the Eastern Cape
• Marthinus van Schalkwyk, 4th Premier of the Western Cape
• Alan Winde, 8th Premier of the Western Cape
• Sihle Zikalala, 8th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
• Helen Zille, 7th Premier of the Western Cape

  Homelands Leaders

• Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Chief Executive Councillor and Chief Minister of KwaZulu
• Oupa Gqozo, President of Ciskei
• Gen. Bantu Holomisa, Prime Minister of Transkei
• Chief Thandatha Jongilizwe Mabandla, Chief Executive Officer; Chief Executive Councillor and Chief Minister of Ciskei
• Dr. Enos John Mabuza, Chief Minister of KaNgwane
• Rocky Malebane-Metsing, President of Bophuthatswana
• Kgosi Lucas Mangope, Chief Executive Officer; Chief Executive Councillor; Chief Minister and President of Bophuthatswana
• Chief George Matanzima, Prime Minister of Transkei
• Chief Kaiser Matanzima, Chief Minister; Prime Minister and President of Transkei
• Edward Mhinga, acting Chief Minister of Gazankulu
• Job Mokgoro, Administrator of Bophuthatswana
• Kenneth Mopeli, Chief Executive Councillor and Chief Minister of Qwaqwa
• Chief Patrick Mphephu, Chief Executive Officer; Chief Executive Councillor; Chief Minister and the President of Venda
• Hudson William Edison Ntsanwisi, Chief of Minister of Gazankulu
• Samuel Dickenson Nxumalo, Chief Minister of Gazankulu
• Dr. Cedric Phatudi, Chief Minister of Lebowa
• Gabriel Ramushwana, Head of State of Venda
• Lt. Gen. Charles Sebe, acting Chief Minister of Ciskei
• Lennox Sebe, Chief Minister and President of Ciskei
• Chief Botha Sigcau, President of Transkei and father of Stella Sigcau
• Stella Sigcau, Prime of Transkei
• Tjaart van der Walt, Administrator Transitional Executive Council of Bophuthatswana

  Administrators of former provinces

• Cornelius Botha, 12th and last Administrator of the Natal Province
• Stoffel Botha, 10th Administrator of the Natal Province
• Radclyffe Cadman, 11th Administrator of the Natal Province
• Dr Willem Adriaan Cruywagen, 10th Administrator of the Transvaal Province
• Nicolaas Frederic de Waal, 1st Administrator of the Cape Province
• Jim Fouché, 8th Administrator of the Orange Free State Province
• Theo Gerdener, 8th Administrator of the Natal Province
• Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, 3rd Administrator of the Transvaal Province
• Gene Louw, 13th Administrator of the Cape Province
• Nico Malan, 10th Administrator of the Cape Province
• William Nico, 7th Administrator of the Transvaal Province
• Frans Hendrik Odendaal, 8th Administrator of the Transvaal Province
• Denis Gem Shepstone, 6th Administrator of the Natal Province
• Alfred Ernest Trollip, 7th Administrator of the Natal Province
• Johannes Van Rensburg, 6th Administrator of the Orange Free State Province
• Gideon Brand van Zyl, 5th Administrator of the Cape Province
• Sir Cornelius Hermanus Wessels, 2nd Administrator of the Orange Free State Province

  Royalty

Kings and princes

• Cetshwayo kaMpande, 4th Zulu king
• Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, 7th Zulu king
• Goodwill Zwelethini, 8th and current king of the Zulu nation
• Mangosuthu Buthelezi, politician and a Zulu prince
• Ingwenyama Mayitjha III, 7th Ndebele king of Ndzundza-Mabhoko
• Dingane kaSenzangakhona, 2nd Zulu king and half-brother of Shaka
• Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo, 5th Zulu king, not officially recognized
• Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, Aa! Zwelibanzi! King of the abaThembu
• Sabata Dalindyebo, Aa! Jonguhlanga! King of the abaThembu
• Faku kaNgqungqushe, Mpondo king
• Langalibalele, Hlubi king
• Ngqungqushe kaNyawuza, Mpondo king
• Mgolombane Sandile, Aa! Mgolombane! Xhosa king of Rharhabes
• Zanesizwe Sandile, Aa! Zanesizwe! Xhosa king of Rharhabes
• Xolilizwe Sigcawu, Aa! Xolilizwe! Xhosa king of Gcalekas
• Zwelonke Sigcawu, Aa! Zwelonke! Xhosa king of Gcalekas
• uZibhebhu kaMaphitha, Zulu prince and chief
• Masalanabo Modjadji, Balobedu's 2nd Rain Queen
• Khetoane Modjadji, Balobedu's 3rd Rain Queen
• Makoma Modjadji, Balobedu's 4th Rain Queen
• Mokope Modjadji, Balobedu's 5th Rain Queen
• Makobo Modjadji, Balobedu's 6th Rain Queen
• Mpande, 3rd Zulu king and half-brother of Shaka
• Mzilikazi, king of the Matabele
• Sekhukhune, king of the Marota
• Shaka, founder of the Zulu nation
• Solomon kaDinuzulu, 6th Zulu king, not officially recognized

  Tribal leaders and prophets

• Hintsa ka Khawuta, Aa! Zanzolo! amaXhosa chief of Gcalekas
• Khawuta kaGcaleka, amaXhosa chief of Gcalekas
• Chief Albert Luthuli, Zulu chief and political activist
• Adam Kok, Griqua leader
• David Stuurman, Khoi chief and political activist
• Thandatha Jongilizwe Mabandla, amaBhele chief, Tyume Valley, Alice, Ciskei
• Makhanda, amaXhosa prophet
• Maqoma, Aa! Jongumsobomvu! amaRharhabe chief
• Chief Mqalo, Amakhuze chief, Ciskei region
• Moshoeshoe I, Basotho chief
• Ngubengcuka, Aa! Ndaba! prominent chief of the Thembu amaXhosa
• Nongqawuse, millennialist amaXhosa prophetess
• Ntsikana, amaXhosa prophet
• Sarili kaHintsa, Aa! Kreli! amaXhosa chief of Gcalekas
• Sigananda kaSokufa, Zulu aristocrat
• Hendrik Spoorbek, prophet and magician

  Atheists

• Zackie Achmat, AIDS activist,
• David Benatar, professor of philosophy
• Barry Duke, activist, journalist, editor of The Freethinker
• Nadine Gordimer, activist, writer, Nobel laureate
• Ronnie Kasrils, politician
• Jacques Rousseau, secular activist, social commentator
• Harold Rubin, visual artist, musician
• Joe Slovo, politician
• Lewis Wolpert, author, biologist, broadcaster

  Prelates, clerics and evangelists

• William Anderson, missionary
• Nicholas Bhengu, evangelist and founder of Assemblies of God
• Allan Boesak, cleric and anti-apartheid activist
• Angus Buchan, evangelist
• Frank Chikane, cleric and anti-apartheid activist
• John William Colenso, Anglican bishop of Natal
• Ahmed Deedat
• S.J. du Toit, cleric, Afrikaans language pioneer and founder member of the Genootskap vir Regte Afrikaners
• Allan Hendrickse, cleric and MP
• Denis Hurley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Durban
• Albert Luthuli, cleric, politician and 1960 Nobel Peace Prize winner
• Thabo Makgoba, current Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa
• Charlotte Maxeke, religious leader and political activist
• Ray McCauley, head of Rhema church
• Robert Moffat, missionary, Bible translator and founder of Kuruman
• Andrew Murray
• Wilfrid Napier, cardinal of the Catholic Church
• Beyers Naudé, cleric and anti-apartheid activist
• Jozua Naudé, pastor, school founder and co-founder of the Afrikaner Broederbond
• Albert Nolan, Catholic priest
• John Philip, missionary
• Desmond Tutu, cleric and Nobel Peace Prize winner
• William Cullen Wilcox, missionary

  Sport

Conservationists

• Ian Player
• James Stevenson-Hamilton
• John Varty

  Travelers, adventurers and pioneers

• Alexander Biggar, colonial pioneer
• William John Burchell, naturalist traveler
• Francisco de Almeida, adventurer buried in Cape Town
• Bartolomeu Dias, explorer who reached eastern Cape
• John Dunn, colonial pioneer
• Robert Jacob Gordon, explorer, soldier, naturalist
• Emil Holub, explorer
• Nathaniel Isaacs, Natal traveler
• Dick King, colonial pioneer
• François Levaillant, Cape naturalist traveler
• Karl Mauch, traveling geologist
• Harriet A. Roche, Transvaal traveler
• Carl Peter Thunberg, Cape naturalist traveler
• Sibusiso Vilane, first black African to summit Mount Everest
• Kingsley Holgate, traveler and pioneer
• Mike Horn, explorer, traveler, environmentalist, adventurer
• James Alexander, explorer of the west coast and Namibia
• Saray Khumalo, explorer and mountaineer

  Criminals

• Daisy de Melker, murderer
• William Foster, leader of the Foster Gang
• Allan Heyl, Stander Gang member and bank robber
• Bulelani Mabhayi, serial killer
• Lee McCall, Stander Gang member and bank robber
• Nicholas Lungisa Ncama, a rapist and serial killer
• Butana Almond Nofomela, murder
• Gert van Rooyen, paedophile
• Schabir Shaik, convicted fraudster
• Moses Sithole, convicted serial rapist and murderer
• Rashied Staggie, crime boss
• Andre Stander, gang member
• Thozamile Taki, serial killer
• Dorethea van der Merwe, first woman to be hanged for murder under the Union of South Africa
• Bulelani Vukwana, spree killer
• Elias Xitavhudzi, serial killer

  Other

• Sir Herbert Baker, influential in South African architecture
• Denise Darvall, donor for the first human heart transplant
• Ncoza Dlova, first black female head of University of KwaZulu-Natal's School of Clinical Medicine
• Emily Hobhouse, British welfare campaigner for South Africans
• John Hutchinson, contributor to South African botany
• Nkosi Johnson, child who died of AIDS
• Isabel Jean Jones, consumer advocate journalist
• Sandra Laing, victim of racial classification
• Paul Lloyd Jr, first South African wrestler to wrestle in WWE, son of successful SA wrestling promoter Paul Lloyd
• Asnath Mahapa, first female South African pilot
• Joe Mamasela, former Apartheid government spy
• Nomkhitha Virginia Mashinini, South African apartheid detainee, the mother of political figure Tsietsi Mashinini, and a community worker
• Breaker Morant, Australian Boer War soldier executed by the British Army
• Napoléon Eugène, last of Napoleons who died in Zulu war
• Hastings Ndlovu, poster victim of the Soweto riots
• Hector Pieterson, poster victim of the Soweto riots
• Mrs. Ples, hominid fossil
• Raymond Rahme, first African to reach a final table at a World Series of Poker Main Event, finishing third
• Willem Ratte, soldier and criminal
• Rosenkowitz sextuplets, first known set of sextuplets to survive their infancy
• Maki Skosana, necklaced due to be suspected as a police infomer 
• Adam Tas, colonial activist
• Andries Tatane, Ficksburg activist killed by police
• Taung Child, homonid fossil
• Louis Washkansky, recipient of first human heart transplant
• Wolraad Woltemade, colonial hero figure