33.9250° S, 18.4249° E

CAPE TOWN

Most Famous People Born in Cape Town, South Africa

Notable people
1,062
Peak decade
1980s
Median birth year
1970
Most distinctive
Cricket 10.4×

A city whose leaderboard is almost entirely cricket, and then everything else. The long shadow of South African Test cricket fills most of the top of the list — Newlands is one of the oldest Test grounds in the world and it shows — but the names that travel furthest come from the quieter corners: J. M. Coetzee, the 2003 Nobel laureate in literature; Abdullah Ibrahim, the pianist whose 'Mannenberg' became an unofficial anthem of the anti-apartheid movement; and Marlene Dumas, one of the highest-priced living painters anywhere. A surprising density of botanists too, drawn in by Kirstenbosch and the Cape Floral Kingdom on the city's doorstep.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Cape Town during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1980s with 230 notable births.

What Cape Town Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Player is Cape Town's biggest profession — 16% of all notables (166).

Cape Town over-indexes on cricket10.4× the global rate.

Cape Town under-produces politician — only 0.5× the global rate.

  1. Player166
  2. Cricket141
  3. Football136
  4. Politician61
  5. Actor38
  6. Sport25
  7. Writer22
  8. Singer22
  1. Cricket14110.4×
  2. Player1668.0×
  3. Botanist143.3×
  4. Judge132.6×
  5. Swimmer122.3×
  1. Politician610.5×
  2. Writer220.6×
  3. Actor380.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Cape Town's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

16501700175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Music
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Film & TV
  • Other
All1,062
Sort By

1,062 notable people

0301 POLITICIAN

Peter Marais

Born 1948

Preview
0302 ACTIVIST

Eddie Daniels (political activist)

1928 - 2017

Preview
0303 PLAYER

Lourens Adriaanse

Born 1988

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0304 FOOTBALL

Frank Schoeman

Born 1975

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0305 SKIER

Alexander Heath

Born 1978

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0306 FOOTBALL

Mihlali Mayambela

Born 1996

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0307 POET

I. D. du Plessis

1900 - 1981

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0308 ASTRONOMER

Gerrit Verschuur

Born 1937

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0309 CRICKET

Dane Piedt

Born 1990

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0310 ATHLETIC

Dominique Scott-Efurd

Born 1992

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0311 BOTANIST

John Phillip Harison Acocks

1911 - 1979

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0312 SINGER

Steve Newman (musician)

Born 1952

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0313 TRUMPET

Claude Deppa

Born 1958

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0314 POLITICIAN

Dan Plato

Born 1960

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0315 GUITAR

Errol Dyers

1952 - 2017

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0316 POLITICIAN

Charles Groves Wright Anderson

1897 - 1988

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0317 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Carmel Schrire

Born 1941

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0318 MUSIC

Brian Abrahams

Born 1947

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0319 BALLET

Maude Lloyd

1908 - 2004

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0320 CRICKET

Stiaan van Zyl

Born 1987

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0321 ATHLETIC

Geraldine Pillay

Born 1977

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0322 CELEBRITY

Prue Leith

Born 1940

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0323 ACTOR

Oliver Hermanus

Born 1983

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0324 WRITER

Marita van der Vyver

Born 1958

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0325 ANTHROPOLOGIST

Hilary Deacon

1936 - 2010

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0326 FOOTBALL

Thato Mokeke

Born 1990

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0327 SCULPTOR

Jack Penn

1909 - 1996

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0328 SINGER

Matthew Mole

Born 1991

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0329 POLITICIAN

James Tennant Molteno

1865 - 1936

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0330 BIOLOGIST

Jennifer Thomson

Born 1947

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0331 ACTIVIST

Abdullah Haron

1924 - 1969

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0332 GEOLOGIST

Gerard V. Middleton

Born 1931

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0333 FOOTBALL

Lyle Lakay

Born 1991

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0334 ARTIST

Conrad Botes

Born 1969

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0335 ACTOR

Bill Flynn

1948 - 2007

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0336 FOOTBALL

Riyaad Norodien

Born 1995

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0337 POLITICIAN

Gerald Morkel

1941 - 2018

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0338 CRICKET

Rory Kleinveldt

Born 1983

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0339 ROWER

Nick Porzig

Born 1972

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0340 EXPLORER

Charles R. Burton

1942 - 2002

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0341 WRITER

Pamela Jooste

Born 1946

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0342 WRITER

Wessel Ebersohn

Born 1940

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0343 POLITICIAN

Alec Erwin

Born 1948

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0344 ARCHAEOLOGIST

Janette Deacon

Born 1939

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0345 LAWYER

Percy Yutar

1911 - 2002

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0346 BOTANIST

Edna P. Plumstead

1903 - 1989

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0347 COMPUTER SCIENTIST

Hilary Kahn

1943 - 2007

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0348 CRICKET

Jack Cheetham

1920 - 1980

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0349 BOTANIST

Elsie Elizabeth Esterhuysen

1912 - 2006

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0350 FOOTBALL

Mark Mayambela

Born 1987

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0351 FOOTBALL

Cheyne Fowler

Born 1982

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0352 GOLF

Paula Reto

Born 1990

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0353 SKIER

Peter Scott (skier)

Born 1990

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0354 CRICKET

Craig Matthews

Born 1965

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0355 PLAYER

Eddie Andrews

Born 1977

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0356 CRICKET

Michael Rippon

Born 1991

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0357 MINISTER

Michael Wenning

1935 - 2011

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0358 GOLF

Sally Little

Born 1951

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0359 PLAYER

Guy Millar

Born 1992

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0360 FOOTBALL

Grant Young (footballer)

Born 1971

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0361 PLAYER

Nizaam Carr

Born 1991

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0362 FOOTBALL

Asanda Sishuba

Born 1980

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0363 PLAYER

Thomas du Toit

Born 1995

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0364 FOOTBALL

Ricardo Katza

Born 1978

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0365 SPORT

Douglas Ryder

Born 1971

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0366 PIANIST

Yonty Solomon

1937 - 2008

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0367 JUDGE

John Gilbert Kotzé

1849 - 1940

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0368 CRICKET

Charl Willoughby

Born 1974

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0369 ACTOR

Bianca Amato

-

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0370 BADMINTON

Alan Phillips (baseball)

Born 1956

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0371 PLAYER

Brian Levine

Born 1958

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0372 SINGER

Wendy Oldfield

Born 1964

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0373 FOOTBALL

Rowan Hendricks

Born 1979

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0374 PLAYER

Ryno Barnes

Born 1981

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0375 FOOTBALL

Eleazar Rodgers

Born 1985

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0376 BOTANIST

Louise Guthrie

1879 - 1966

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0377 CRICKET

Dane Paterson

Born 1989

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0378 CRICKET

H. D. Ackerman

Born 1973

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0379 PLAYER

Anton van Zyl

Born 1980

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0380 ARCHAEOLOGIST

Elizabeth Anne Voigt

1944 - 2010

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0381 POLITICIAN

Percy Molteno

1861 - 1937

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0382 POLITICIAN

Nomaindia Mfeketo

Born 1952

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0383 FOOTBALL

Wayne Roberts (soccer)

Born 1977

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0384 ACTOR

Alex McGregor (actress)

Born 1993

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0385 CAMPAIGN

Andreas Bummel

Born 1976

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0386 CRICKET

Thami Tsolekile

Born 1980

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0387 CHESS

David Friedgood

Born 1946

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0388 FOOTBALL

Taariq Fielies

Born 1992

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0389 ACTOR

Noel Drayton

1913 - 1981

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0390 PLAYWRIGHT

Paul Herzberg

Born 1953

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0391 WRITER

Tim Jenkin

Born 1948

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0392 WRITER

S.A. Partridge

Born 1982

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0393 POLITICIAN

Hendrik Swellengrebel

1700 - 1760

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0394 HOCKEY

Austin Smith (field hockey)

Born 1985

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0395 OCEANOGRAPHER

Athelstan Spilhaus

1911 - 1998

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0396 PAINTER

Nicky Hoberman

Born 1967

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0397 PLAYER

Jean Andersen

Born 1988

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0398 SPORT

Jayde Julius

Born 1993

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0399 PLAYER

Craig Campbell (tennis)

Born 1963

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0400 CRICKET

Alicia Smith

Born 1984

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0401 CRICKET

Gareth Berg

Born 1981

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0402 DRIVER

Chris Vlok

Born 1992

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0403 ARTIST

Faith47

Born 1979

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0404 ATHLETIC

Stefan Brits

Born 1992

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0405 PLAYER

Gerry Brand

1906 - 1996

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0406 AUTHOR

Willem Steenkamp

Born 1940

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0407 CRITIC

Clive Wake

-

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0408 PLAYER

Freedom Chiya

Born 1979

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0409 ACTOR

Olivia Jackson

Born 1983

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0410 ATHLETIC

Elinda Vorster

Born 1965

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0411 CRICKET

Neil Carter (cricketer)

Born 1975

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0412 GRAND PRIX

Greg Mills

Born 1962

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0413 BADMINTON

Johanita Scholtz

Born 2000

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0414 POLITICIAN

Lynne Brown

Born 1961

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0415 LINGUIST

Ruth A. Berman

-

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0416 PLAYER

Dylan des Fountain

Born 1985

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0417 ATHLETE

Vaughn Scott

Born 1990

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0418 CRICKET

Shandre Fritz

Born 1985

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0419 SWIMMER

Achmat Hassiem

Born 1982

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0420 COMPOSER

Jason van Wyk

Born 1990

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0421 DIPLOMAT

Gawain Westray Bell

1909 - 1995

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0422 SCULPTOR

Sean Slemon

Born 1978

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0423 JUDGE

Albert van der Sandt Centlivres

1887 - 1966

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0424 PLAYER

Leon Karemaker

Born 1985

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0425 NOVELIST

Marié Heese

Born 1942

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0426 PLAYER

Grant Goldschmidt

Born 1983

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0427 PLAYER

Gershon Rorich

Born 1973

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0428 PLAYER

Alan Skene

1932 - 2001

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0429 ARCHITECT

Clive Wilkinson

Born 1954

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0430 POLITICIAN

Christoffel Brand

1797 - 1875

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0431 CRICKET

Alan Dawson (cricketer)

Born 1969

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0432 COMPOSER

Michael Blake (composer)

Born 1951

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0433 ASTRONOMER

Alan William James Cousins

1903 - 2001

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0434 FOOTBALL

Clayton Daniels

Born 1984

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0435 FOOTBALL

Gavin Hunt

Born 1964

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0436 PLAYER

Lynn Kiro

Born 1995

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0437 FOOTBALL

Wayne Arendse

Born 1984

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0438 SINGER

Jody Williams (Afrikaans singer)

Born 1990

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0439 PLAYER

Shaun Le Roux

Born 1986

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0440 FOOTBALL

Thando Mngomeni

Born 1983

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0441 WRITER

Nadia Davids

Born 1977

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0442 ATHLETIC

Paul Gorries

Born 1981

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0443 ENTREPRENEUR

Brent Hoberman

Born 1968

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0444 JUDGE

John Wessels

1862 - 1936

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0445 CRICKET

Eric Simons

Born 1962

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0446 IMMUNOLOGIST

Mark Pepys

-

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0447 CONCERTMASTER

Hyman Bress

1931 - 1995

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0448 BUSINESS

Marius Kloppers

Born 1962

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0449 PLAYER

Mathew Turner

Born 1988

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0450 CRICKET

Andrew Puttick

Born 1980

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0451 FOOTBALL

Kurt Abrahams

Born 1996

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0452 FOOTBALL

Robyn Johannes

Born 1986

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0453 FOOTBALL

Grant Margeman

Born 1998

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0454 ARTIST

Lisa Swerling

Born 1972

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0455 FOOTBALL

William Rawson

1854 - 1932

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0456 PLAYER

Milnay Louw

Born 1988

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0457 PLAYER

Mark Vos

Born 1983

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0458 POLITICIAN

Theo Gerdener

1916 - 2013

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0459 FOOTBALL

Bantu Mzwakali

Born 1996

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0460 FOOTBALL

Craig Bianchi

Born 1978

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0461 NOVELIST

Maxine Case

Born 1974

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0462 SPORT

Martin Wesemann

Born 1984

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0463 FOOTBALL

Erwin Isaacs

Born 1986

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0464 LAWYER

Peter Flack

Born 1948

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0465 FOOTBALL

John Paskin

Born 1962

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0466 PLAYER

Martin Muller (rugby union)

Born 1988

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0467 ANNOUNCER

Graham Spanier

Born 1948

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0468 POLITICIAN

Rahima Moosa

1922 - 1993

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0469 PLAYER

Wilf Rosenberg

1934 - 2019

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0470 FOOTBALL

Tyren Arendse

Born 1980

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0471 PRIEST

Stephen Naidoo

1937 - 1989

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0472 FOOTBALL

Ashley Hartog

Born 1982

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0473 PAINTER

Thilo Heinzmann

Born 1969

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0474 FOOTBALL

Cecil Lolo

1988 - 2015

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0475 SPORT

Aaron Wise (golfer)

Born 1996

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0476 SKATER

Abigail Pietersen

Born 1984

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0477 CARTOONIST

Jeremy Nell

Born 1979

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0478 HOCKEY

Tarryn Bright

Born 1983

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0479 FOOTBALL

Leroy Maluka

Born 1985

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0480 POLITICIAN

Henry Juta

1857 - 1930

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0481 SINGER

Brequette Cassie

Born 1984

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0482 FOOTBALL

Andre Petim

Born 1985

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0483 ICHTHYOLOGIST

Cecil von Bonde

1895 - 1983

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0484 ACADEMIC

Jonathan M. Dorfan

Born 1947

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0485 PLAYER

Glenn Gelderbloom

Born 1969

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0486 ECONOMIST

Angela Hawken

Born 1971

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0487 MUSIC

Victor Ntoni

1947 - 2013

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0488 ARCHER

Karen Hultzer

Born 1965

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0489 RACER

Tyler Botha

Born 1980

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0490 FOOTBALL

Ryan Chapman

Born 1987

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0491 JUDO

Ruan Potts

Born 1977

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0492 PLAYER

Alexandra Fuller (squash player)

Born 1993

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0493 PLAYER

Lionel Wilson (rugby union)

1933 - 2017

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0494 CHESS

Melissa Greeff

Born 1994

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0495 POET

Tyrone Appollis

Born 1957

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0496 FOOTBALL

Ruzaigh Gamildien

Born 1989

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0497 ENTREPRENEUR

David Gonski

Born 1953

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0498 CHIEF EXECUTIVE

David O. Sacks

Born 1972

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0499 FOOTBALL

Jerome Pathon

Born 1975

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0500 WRITER

Patrick O'Meara

Born 1947

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0501 KILLER

Norman Afzal Simons

Born 1967

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0502 CRICKET

Grahame Chevalier

1937 - 2017

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0503 JUDGE

Eldred Tabachnik

Born 1943

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0504 PIANIST

Kyle Shepherd

Born 1987

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0505 FOOTBALL

Stuart Leary

1933 - 1988

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0506 SPORT

Robert Bodley

1878 - 1956

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0507 PHOTOGRAPHER

George Hallett (photographer)

1942 - 2020

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0508 FOOTBALL

Travis Graham

Born 1993

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0509 FARMER

William Mein Smith

1798 - 1869

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0510 POLITICIAN

Gideon Brand van Zyl

1873 - 1956

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0511 BALLET

David Poole (dancer)

1925 - 1991

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0512 ARTIST

Henry Warre

1819 - 1898

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0513 ACTOR

Faye Smythe

Born 1985

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0514 FOOTBALL

Fadlu Davids

Born 1981

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0515 LAWYER

Oliver Schreiner

1890 - 1980

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0516 WRITER

Ronnie Apteker

Born 1967

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0517 SWIMMER

Darren Murray (swimmer)

Born 1991

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0518 PLAYER

Willie Britz

Born 1988

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0519 PLAYER

Clinton Leeuw

Born 1982

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0520 PLAYER

Jannie Engelbrecht

Born 1938

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0521 PLAYER

Nick Fenton-Wells

Born 1986

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0522 POLITICIAN

Charles Ebden

1811 - 1867

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0523 FOOTBALL

Cole Alexander

Born 1989

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0524 LITERARY

Gabriele Kämper

Born 1960

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0525 OPERA

Golda Schultz

Born 1984

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0526 PLAYER

Garth April

Born 1991

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0527 ARCHAEOLOGIST

Christopher Henshilwood

Born 2007

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0528 CRICKET

Jack Nel

1928 - 2018

Preview
0529 ARTIST

Karlien de Villiers

Born 1975

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0530 JUDGE

Johannes Andreas Truter

1763 - 1845

Preview
0531 PLAYER

Hennie Daniller

Born 1984

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0532 CRICKET

Zubayr Hamza

Born 1995

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0533 SINGER

Bonita Jeanetta Louw

Born 1977

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0534 PLAYER

Tony Jantjies

Born 1992

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0535 FOOTBALL

Aidan Jenniker

Born 1989

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0536 POLITICIAN

Gene Louw

Born 1931

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0537 CRICKET

Maurits van Nierop

1983 - 2008

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0538 ACADEMIC

Jacques Rousseau (secular activist)

Born 1971

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0539 WRITER

Ann Peacock

Born 1945

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0540 GOVERNOR

Richard Luyt

1915 - 1994

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0541 POLITICIAN

Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen

Born 1964

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0542 FILM

Daniel Krige

Born 1970

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0543 PLAYER

Stephan Greeff

Born 1989

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0544 ACADEMIC

Anette Horn

Born 1963

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0545 SPORT

Gary Gold

Born 1967

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0546 CRICKET

Damian Crowley

Born 1989

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0547 ARTIST

Ethel May Dixie

1876 - 1973

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0548 CRICKET

Johann Louw

Born 1979

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0549 AUTHOR

Tracy Splinter

Born 1971

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0550 FOOTBALL

Angelos Messaris

1910 - 1978

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0551 HOCKEY

Timothy Drummond

Born 1988

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0552 BOTANIST

John Patrick Rourke

Born 1942

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0553 GUITAR

Roy Courtnall Summerfield

Born 1953

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0554 ARTIST

Julia Rosa Clark

Born 1975

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0555 RAPPER

Ono Ngcala

Born 1974

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0556 PHOTOGRAPHER

Carla Liesching

Born 1985

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0557 COOK

Faldela Williams

1952 - 2014

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0558 PRIEST

Lawrence Patrick Henry

1934 - 2014

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0559 PHYSICIAN

Sonia Machanick

1925 - 1977

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0560 MATHEMATICIAN

Mark Nigrini

-

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0561 PHOTOGRAPHER

Ashley Walters (artist)

Born 1983

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0562 PLAYER

Travis Ismaiel

Born 1992

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0563 SWIMMER

Jonty Skinner

Born 1954

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0564 BASSIST

Leon Bosch

Born 1961

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0565 POET

Henry Halloran (poet)

1811 - 1893

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0566 PLAYWRIGHT

Ashraf Johaardien

Born 1974

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0567 PLAYER

Jean-Luc du Plessis

Born 1994

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0568 POLITICIAN

Sheila Camerer

Born 1941

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0569 PLAYER

Toby Moll

1890 - 1916

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0570 CRICKET

Yolandi van der Westhuizen

Born 1981

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0571 WRITER

Cat Hellisen

Born 1977

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0572 FOOTBALL

Dominic Isaacs

Born 1982

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0573 JOURNALIST

Wayne Roberts (activist)

Born 1944

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0574 POLITICIAN

David Maynier

Born 1968

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0575 SINGER

Rowlene

Born 1997

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0576 SINGER

Karin Kortje

Born 1980

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0577 FOOTBALL

Peter Petersen (footballer)

Born 1981

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0578 BOXER

Thomas Hamilton-Brown

Born 1916

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0579 MUSIC

Ian Herman

-

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0580 ACTOR

Quanita Adams

-

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0581 MARTIAL ART

Irshaad Sayed

Born 1989

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0582 PAINTER

Bainbridge Copnall

1903 - 1973

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0583 MEDICAL

Michael Mol

Born 1971

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0584 ARTIST

Lionel Davis

Born 1936

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0585 PLAYER

Eric Melville

1961 - 2017

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0586 PLAYER

Matthew Rosslee

Born 1987

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0587 FOOTBALL

Lyle Peters

Born 1991

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0588 PLAYER

Egon Seconds

Born 1980

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0589 ARTIST

Gavin Rain

Born 1971

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0590 CRICKET

James Fuller (cricketer, born 1990)

Born 1990

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0591 FILM

Tarina Patel

-

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0592 DIPLOMAT

Meron Reuben

Born 1961

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0593 CRICKET

Andrew Northcote

Born 1983

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0594 LINGUIST

Anthony Aristar

Born 1948

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0595 RUGBY

Marius van der Westhuizen

Born 1984

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0596 FITNESS

Jade Fairbrother

Born 1986

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0597 CRICKET

Adrian Holdstock

Born 1970

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0598 FOOTBALL

Alton Meiring

Born 1976

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0599 PLAYER

Deon Carstens

Born 1979

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0600 POLITICIAN

Richard Stuttaford

1870 - 1945

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