26.2026° S, 28.0412° E

JOHANNESBURG

Most Famous People Born in Johannesburg, South Africa

Notable people
1,234
Peak decade
1980s
Median birth year
1967
Most distinctive
Golf 14.8×

A young city with an old sporting establishment. Johannesburg's notables are dominated by cricketers, golfers, and rugby players at concentrations that, given the city's size, look almost statistical — the legacy of an English-speaking sporting culture that organised itself around the gold rush of the 1880s. There is almost no pre-20th-century tail at all; the entire bench fits inside the lifetime of the city itself.

Through the Decades

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

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1980s with 247 notable births.

What Johannesburg Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Cricket is Johannesburg's biggest profession — 13% of all notables (156).

Johannesburg over-indexes on golf14.8× the global rate.

Johannesburg under-produces politician — only 0.2× the global rate.

  1. Cricket156
  2. Player153
  3. Football110
  4. Actor65
  5. Sport50
  6. Politician32
  7. Golf31
  8. Singer28
  1. Golf3114.8×
  2. Cricket1569.9×
  3. Player1536.4×
  4. Swimmer254.2×
  5. Rower153.3×
  6. Boxer153.1×
  7. Sport502.4×
  8. Photographer132.2×
  1. Politician320.2×
  2. Writer280.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

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

19001925195019752000
  • Sports
  • Film & TV
  • Writing
  • Music
  • Science
  • Politics & Law
  • Other
All1,234
Sort By

1,234 notable people

0901 WRITER

Michelle Nkamankeng

Born 2000

Preview
0902 JOURNALIST

Beverley O'Connor

Born 1973

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0903 PLAYER

Terry Ryan (tennis)

Born 1942

Preview
0904 DRIVER

Cristiano Morgado

Born 1979

Preview
0905 PLAYER

Willem Stoltz

Born 1975

Preview
0906 JOURNALIST

Julie Kavanagh

-

Preview
0907 CRICKET

Jayden Levitt

Born 1986

Preview
0908 PHOTOGRAPHER

Reshma Chhiba

Born 1983

Preview
0909 PLAYER

Ethienne Reynecke

Born 1982

Preview
0910 ACTIVIST

Sonia Bunting

1922 - 2001

Preview
0911 POLITICIAN

Annelie Lotriet

-

Preview
0912 BUSINESS

David Frankel (entrepreneur)

Born 1970

Preview
0913 BUSINESS

Felicia Mabuza-Suttle

Born 1950

Preview
0914 COSTUME DESIGNER

Yvonne Caffin

1904 - 1985

Preview
0915 ARTIST

Neil Abramson (filmmaker)

Born 1963

Preview
0916 PLAYER

Shawn Lipman

Born 1964

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0917 CRICKET

Gareth Harte

Born 1993

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0918 PLAYER

Inny Radebe

Born 1995

Preview
0919 FILM

Sibs Shongwe-La Mer

Born 1991

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0920 FENCER

Adele du Plooy

Born 1980

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0921 ACTOR

Candice Nunes

Born 1988

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0922 FARMER

Faanya Rose

Born 1938

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0923 CRICKET

Sam Black (cricketer)

Born 1947

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0924 DRIVER

Jimmy Auby

Born 1986

Preview
0925 POLITICIAN

Michael Sutherland

Born 1954

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0926 PLAYER

Simon Kerrod

Born 1992

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0927 WRESTLER

Tornado (wrestler)

Born 1966

Preview
0928 FILM

Mayuren Naidoo

Born 1996

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0929 SINGER

Gareth Lubbe

Born 1976

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0930 FOOTBALL

George Wright (footballer, born 1969)

Born 1969

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0931 CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Oliver Proske

Born 1971

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0932 GYMNAST

Kirsten Beckett

Born 1996

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0933 CRICKET

Ryan Corns

Born 1990

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0934 BUSINESS

Anton Levy

Born 1974

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0935 GRANDFATHER

Arthur W. Walker

1953 - 2016

Preview
0936 MODEL

Gina Athans

Born 1984

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0937 PLAYER

Justin Ackerman

Born 1992

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0938 PRIEST

Edward Gabriel Risi

Born 1949

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0939 SPORT

Jade Stighling

Born 1993

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0940 PLAYER

François du Toit

Born 1990

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0941 SPORT

Koch Marx

Born 1994

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0942 CRICKET

Robert Mutch

Born 1984

Preview
0943 TEORETIKER

Frithiof Niordson

1922 - 2009

Preview
0944 WRITER

Linzi Glass

Born 1958

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0945 CRICKET

Uzair Mahomed

Born 1987

Preview
0946 FOOTBALL

Shane McGregor

Born 1963

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0947 CANOE

Dave Manby

Born 1954

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0948 CRICKET

Noel Day

Born 1953

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0949 OFFICER

Gilbert Ramano

Born 1939

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0950 SPORT

Tristan Blewett

Born 1996

Preview
0951 METEOROLOGIST

Ivor van Heerden

Born 1950

Preview
0952 BUSINESS

Bobby Godsell

Born 1952

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0953 BOXER

Jake Tuli

1931 - 1998

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0954 PRESENTER

Jeremy Maggs

Born 1961

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0955 SINGER

Dave van Vuuren

Born 1980

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0956 RACING

Gavin Cronje

Born 1979

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0957 WRITER

Neville Frankel

Born 1948

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0958 MUSIC

Ryan Riback

Born 1981

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0959 PLAYER

Brian Skosana

Born 1991

Preview
0960 WRESTLER

Steve Simpson (wrestler)

Born 1963

Preview
0961 HOCKEY

Jonathan Robinson (field hockey)

Born 1986

Preview
0962 FOOTBALL

Lance Carr

1910 - 1983

Preview
0963 FOOTBALL

Thomas Johnson (South African footballer)

1942 - 2011

Preview
0964 SPORT

Tshilidzi Nephawe

Born 1989

Preview
0965 ATHLETIC

Harold Jeppe

1899 - 1975

Preview
0966 CRICKET

Carmi le Roux

Born 1993

Preview
0967 ACTOR

Garth Meade

1930 - 2002

Preview
0968 RACING

Etienne van der Linde

Born 1978

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0969 SPORT

Neil MacDonald

Born 1977

Preview
0970 MUSIC

Sol Phenduka

Born 1987

Preview
0971 PLAYER

Gareth Milasinovich

Born 1992

Preview
0972 JOURNALIST

David Sibeko

1938 - 1979

Preview
0973 DRUMMER

Early Mabuza

Died 1969

Preview
0974 BUSINESS

Graham Mackay (businessman)

1949 - 2013

Preview
0975 CRICKET

Marques Ackerman

Born 1996

Preview
0976 CRICKET

Andre de Lange

Born 1984

Preview
0977 CRITIC

Mark Shenton

Born 1962

Preview
0978 WRESTLER

Danie Voges

Born 1954

Preview
0979 FOOTBALL

Ted Garside

1904 - 1983

Preview
0980 RACING

Rad Dougall

Born 1951

Preview
0981 ACTOR

Jonathan Roxmouth

Born 1987

Preview
0982 FOOTBALL

Cavin Johnson

Born 1958

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0983 OFFICER

Roy Andersen (South Africa)

Born 1948

Preview
0984 CRICKET

Warren Barnes (cricketer)

Born 1992

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0985 TEACHER

Ryan Goodman

-

Preview
0986 FOOTBALL

Ted Purdon

1930 - 2007

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0987 ADVISOR

Larraine Segil

Born 1948

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0988 CRICKET

Bruce Kerr

Born 1996

Preview
0989 CRICKET

Ray White (cricketer)

Born 1941

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0990 PLAYER

Cheyna Tucker

Born 1990

Preview
0991 CRICKET

Yaseen Valli

Born 1995

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0992 HOCKEY

Ryan Ravenscroft

Born 1981

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0993 PLAYER

Victor Sekekete

Born 1994

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0994 CRICKET

Pumelela Matshikwe

Born 1984

Preview
0995 FOOTBALL

Enrico Adolph

Born 1992

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0996 COMMANDER

Lennox Lagu

1938 - 2011

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0997 COACH

David Sammel

Born 1961

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0998 BOTANIST

Roger Pearson Ellis

Born 1944

Preview
0999 CRYSTALLOGRAPHER

Leslie Leiserowitz

Born 1934

Preview
1000 DIPLOMAT

Antony Phillipson

Born 1971

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1001 PLAYER

Clive Ulyate

1933 - 2018

Preview
1002 PLAYER

Russell Winter (rugby union)

Born 1975

Preview
1003 ARTIST

Stasha Palos

Born 1972

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1004 ACTOR

Ronald Mkwanazi

Born 1959

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1005 JOURNALIST

John Matisonn

Born 1949

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1006 WRESTLER

Shaun Simpson (wrestler)

Born 1966

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1007 OPERATOR

Dereck Joubert

Born 1956

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1008 SPORT

Tracy-Lee Botha

Born 1988

Preview
1009 CRICKET

Farhaan Sayanvala

Born 1997

Preview
1010 FOOTBALL

Peter Matshitse

Born 1971

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1011 ACTOR

Kosie Smith

Born 1946

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1012 SPORT

Allan Dipple

Born 1956

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1013 RACER

Byron Bekker

Born 1987

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1014 PLAYER

Wiseman Kamanga

Born 1991

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1015 BUSINESS

Gordon Schachat

Born 1952

Preview
1016 CONGRESS

Aubrey Mokoape

Born 1944

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1017 SURGEON

Jonathan Drummond-Webb

1959 - 2004

Preview
1018 PLAYER

Kevin Foote (rugby union)

Born 1979

Preview
1019 ARTS

Michael Allemeier

Born 1968

Preview
1020 CRICKET

Lloyd Ferreira

Born 1974

Preview
1021 PLAYER

Robert Andrew (rugby)

Born 1987

Preview
1022 BOXER

Dennis Adams (boxer)

1934 - 1971

Preview
1023 ENTREPRENEUR

Robert Hersov

Born 1960

Preview
1024 CRICKET

Shaylen Pillay

Born 1994

Preview
1025 FOOTBALL

Bruce Clarke (footballer)

1910 - 1954

Preview
1026 FOOTBALL

Gareth Williams (footballer, born 1982)

Born 1982

Preview
1027 NOVELIST

Lisa de Nikolits

Born 1966

Preview
1028 CRICKET

Johan Fourie (cricketer)

Born 1982

Preview
1029 BUSINESS

Desmond Sacco

-

Preview
1030 PLAYER

Robert de Bruyn

Born 1991

Preview
1031 ASTRONOMER

Bernie Fanaroff

Born 1947

Preview
1032 CRICKET

Andy Dindar

Born 1942

Preview
1033 PLAYER

Danie Jordaan

Born 1991

Preview
1034 PLAYER

Devlin Hope

Born 1990

Preview
1035 PLAYER

Jacques Alberts

Born 1991

Preview
1036 GUITAR

Oli Steadman

Born 1987

Preview
1037 PLAYER

Reg Muller

Born 1986

Preview
1038 PLAYER

Des Sinclair

1927 - 1996

Preview
1039 CRICKET

Joseph Milner (cricketer)

1937 - 1993

Preview
1040 ACTIVIST

Gertrude Shope

Born 1925

Preview
1041 FOOTBALL

Phathizwe Sacolo

Born 1991

Preview
1042 COMMANDER

Charles G. Ross (SAAF officer)

Born 1892

Preview
1043 CRICKET

Liam Smith (cricketer)

Born 1997

Preview
1044 ARTIST

Tamlin Blake

Born 1974

Preview
1045 PLAYER

Dolph Botha

Born 1993

Preview
1046 FLYING ACE

John Henry Tudhope

1891 - 1956

Preview
1047 ACTIVIST

Sadie Forman

1929 - 2014

Preview
1048 SWIMMER

Jon Jon Park

Born 1957

Preview
1049 LAWYER

Simon Meyer Kuper

1906 - 1963

Preview
1050 CRICKET

Barry Lambson

Born 1958

Preview
1051 FOOTBALL

Warren Goodhind

Born 1977

Preview
1052 CRICKET

Matt McGillivray

Born 1990

Preview
1053 PLAYER

Warren Seals

Born 1992

Preview
1054 HOCKEY

Joshua Reinecke

Born 1987

Preview
1055 WRITER

Mark Winkler

Born 1966

Preview
1056 PLAYER

Dean Grant

Born 1989

Preview
1057 JOURNALIST

Lionel Morrison

1935 - 2016

Preview
1058 FOOTBALL

Ryan Hodgskin

Born 1977

Preview
1059 PLAYER

Etienne Oosthuizen (rugby union, born 1994)

Born 1994

Preview
1060 MISSING

Neil Smuts

Born 1898

Preview
1061 PLAYER

Sabelo Nhlapo

Born 1988

Preview
1062 DRIVER

Gary Formato

Born 1974

Preview
1063 FOOTBALL

Gerry Francis (footballer, born 1933)

Born 1933

Preview
1064 SPORT

Daniel Spence

Born 1979

Preview
1065 ROWER

John Callie

Born 1971

Preview
1066 POLITICIAN

Joe Nhlanhla

1936 - 2008

Preview
1067 FOOTBALL

Ivan McKinley

Born 1969

Preview
1068 CRICKET

Savanna Cordes

Born 1994

Preview
1069 ROWER

Gregory Bayne

Born 1972

Preview
1070 ROWER

Helen Fleming

Born 1973

Preview
1071 ROWER

Colleen Orsmond

Born 1973

Preview
1072 ROWER

Mark Rowand

Born 1968

Preview
1073 PLAYER

Brett Herron

Born 1993

Preview
1074 BUSINESS

Marthinus Strydom

Born 1965

Preview
1075 SPORT

Aubrey Burton-Durham

1906 - 1959

Preview
1076 ROWER

Roger Tobler

Born 1973

Preview
1077 ROWER

Gareth Costa

Born 1964

Preview
1078 CRICKET

Russell Withey

Born 1991

Preview
1079 PLAYER

Luvuyo Pupuma

Born 1992

Preview
1080 ROWER

John Stocchi

Born 1937

Preview
1081 SPORT

Andrew Randell

Born 1974

Preview
1082 PLAYER

Rudi Keil

Born 1977

Preview
1083 CRICKET

Masilo Ramothata

Born 1989

Preview
1084 BIOLOGIST

M. Corrie Schoeman

-

Preview
1085 CRICKET

Leonard Cullen

1914 - 1984

Preview
1086 CRICKET

Kagiso Rapulana

Born 1991

Preview
1087 FOOTBALL

Gavin Nebbeling

Born 1963

Preview
1088 STUDIES

Zachariah Matthews

-

Preview
1089 SWIMMER

Murray McLachlan (swimmer)

Born 1941

Preview
1090 CRICKET

Archibald Sim

Born 1942

Preview
1091 ACTOR

Sandi Schultz

Born 1964

Preview
1092 NOVELIST

Kenneth Bonert

-

Preview
1093 PLAYER

Brendon Groenewald

Born 1991

Preview
1094 CRICKET

Waseem Tajbhay

Born 1993

Preview
1095 POLITICIAN

Johnson Mlambo

Born 1940

Preview
1096 FOOTBALL

Desmond Backos

Born 1950

Preview
1097 PLAYER

Ockie Oosthuizen

1955 - 2019

Preview
1098 CRICKET

Ian Fullerton

Born 1935

Preview
1099 CRICKET

Brian Barnard

Born 1989

Preview
1100 CRICKET

Steven Trenchard

Born 1983

Preview
1101 SPORT

Adrian Vermeulen

Born 1990

Preview
1102 CRICKET

Tshepang Dithole

Born 1993

Preview
1103 PLAYER

Tommy Gentles

1934 - 2011

Preview
1104 CRICKET

Ndumiso Mvelase

Born 1996

Preview
1105 CRICKET

Myles Conte

1947 - 2014

Preview
1106 PLAYER

Drew van Coller

Born 1987

Preview
1107 CRICKET

Keith Dudgeon (South African cricketer)

Born 1995

Preview
1108 SPORT

Wandisile Simelane

Born 1998

Preview
1109 CRICKET

Sizwe Masondo

Born 1987

Preview
1110 PLAYER

Nick Trenkel

Born 1987

Preview
1111 CRICKET

McGregor Billing

1887 - 1965

Preview
1112 CRICKET

Brian Bath

1947 - 2014

Preview
1113 CRICKET

Grant Roelofsen

Born 1996

Preview
1114 CRICKET

Graham Hume

Born 1990

Preview
1115 OFFICER

Gerrit Opperman

Born 1945

Preview
1116 FOOTBALL

Doug Rudham

1926 - 1991

Preview
1117 ENGINEER

Francis Tucker

1923 - 2008

Preview
1118 CRICKET

Israel Hlengani

Born 1988

Preview
1119 CRICKET

Vusumuzi Mazibuko

Born 1984

Preview
1120 FOOTBALL

C.R. Julian

Born 1899

Preview
1121 CRICKET

Brandon Glover

Born 1997

Preview
1122 RUGBY

Chad London

Born 1988

Preview
1123 SPORT

Jared Poulton

Born 1994

Preview
1124 FOOTBALL

Billy Arnison

1924 - 1996

Preview
1125 FOOTBALL

Brian Peterson (footballer)

1936 - 2020

Preview
1126 HOCKEY

Ian Ashworth

Born 1987

Preview
1127 PLAYER

Wayne Swart

Born 1986

Preview
1128 CEO

Paul Theron

Born 1966

Preview
1129 CRICKET

Matthew Street

Born 1978

Preview
1130 SPORT

Mees Erasmus

Born 1994

Preview
1131 HOCKEY

Gareth Reinecke

Born 1987

Preview
1132 LINGUIST

Eduard Hovy

-

Preview
1133 PAINTER

Jules Sher

Born 1934

Preview
1134 DIPLOMAT

Arthur Lourie

1903 - 1978

Preview
1135 ARTIST

Gordon Froud

Born 1963

Preview
1136 CRICKET

Rudi Birkenstock

Born 1963

Preview
1137 ARCHITECT

Sarah Calburn

Born 1964

Preview
1138 CRICKET

Peter Needham

1932 - 2013

Preview
1139 DANCER

Florence Waren

1917 - 2011

Preview
1140 CRICKET

Lance Humphrey

Born 1994

Preview
1141 CRICKET

Nonkhululeko Thabethe

Born 1992

Preview
1142 CRICKET

Melissa Smook

Born 1989

Preview
1143 PLAYER

Kyle Steyn

Born 1994

Preview
1144 AUTHOR

Kim Bailie

1929 - 2008

Preview
1145 PLAYER

Trevor Hall

Born 1978

Preview
1146 SPORT

Wim Peeters

1925 - 2011

Preview
1147 PLAYER

André De Bonis

Born 1986

Preview
1148 CRICKET

Sam Bulbulia

1933 - 2015

Preview
1149 SWIMMER

Aubrey Bürer

Born 1939

Preview
1150 LAWYER

Lazar Sidelsky

1911 - 2002

Preview
1151 CRICKET

Bruce Groves

1947 - 2014

Preview
1152 RADIO

Tamara Taylor (conduttrice radiofonica)

-

Preview
1153 SWIMMER

Dottie Sutcliffe

Born 1946

Preview
1154 COACH

Andrea Cristoforetti

Born 1974

Preview
1155 CRICKET

David Mogotlane

Born 1992

Preview
1156 CRICKET

Dylan Stanley

Born 1991

Preview
1157 PLAYER

George Bertolis

Born 1991

Preview
1158 CRICKET

Kabelo Sekhukhune

Born 1997

Preview
1159 PLAYER

Crisjan Van der Westhuizen

Born 1976

Preview
1160 RABBI

Barry Marcus

-

Preview
1161 CRICKET

Gerrie Pienaar

Born 1959

Preview
1162 SPRINT

Alfred Visagie

Born 1972

Preview
1163 ACCOUNTANT

Erich Bloch (economist)

1939 - 2014

Preview
1164 CRICKET

Marc Rosenberg (cricketer)

Born 1982

Preview
1165 DRIVER

Leeroy Poulter

Born 1981

Preview
1166 PLAYER

Reece Hewat

Born 1995

Preview
1167 VIOLIN

Sarah Oates

Born 1976

Preview
1168 PLAYER

Eben Joubert

Born 1983

Preview
1169 CRICKET

John Cole (cricketer)

1933 - 2014

Preview
1170 SCULPTOR

Ruann Coleman

Born 1988

Preview
1171 ART HISTORIAN

Esmé Berman

1929 - 2017

Preview
1172 FOOTBALL

Gregory Mulamba

Born 1986

Preview
1173 CRICKET

Faizel Samsoodien

Born 1958

Preview
1174 CRICKET

Gerald Cresswell

1928 - 2014

Preview
1175 CRICKET

Imran Manack

Born 1991

Preview
1176 SWIMMER

Laura Ranwell

Born 1941

Preview
1177 RIDER

Richard Walker (equestrian)

Born 1950

Preview
1178 GENETICIST

Denise Sheer

-

Preview
1179 SPRINT

Ron Wilkie

Born 1927

Preview
1180 CRICKET

Joseph Blewett

1925 - 2013

Preview
1181 ARTIST

Robyn Nesbitt

Born 1984

Preview
1182 CRICKET

Derrick Townshend

1944 - 2013

Preview
1183 SPORT

Keith James (athlete)

Born 1934

Preview
1184 CRICKET

Lazarus Mokoena

Born 1990

Preview
1185 SINGER

Langa Mavuso

Born 1994

Preview
1186 SPORT

Francis Irvine

1899 - 1969

Preview
1187 PLAYER

Mark Tucker (rugby union)

Born 1980

Preview
1188 ARCHITECT

Michael David Kirchmann

Born 1972

Preview
1189 RAPPER

Diz Live

Born 1994

Preview
1190 SPORT

Jennifer Abbot

Born 1998

Preview
1191 SCIENTIST

Derek Keir

Born 1979

Preview
1192 STUDIES

Michael Berning

1941 - 2006

Preview
1193 MILITAR

Stephanus Biermann

1918 - 2003

Preview
1194 FOOTBALL

Jimmy Woolf

1916 - 2003

Preview
1195 FOOTBALL

Charlie Thompson (footballer, born 1909)

1909 - 1979

Preview
1196 CAMPAIGN

Edwin Hayne

1895 - 1919

Preview
1197 FOOTBALL

Allan Brown (soccer)

Born 1984

Preview
1198 PLAYER

Evan Botha

Born 1983

Preview
1199 JOURNALIST

Arthur Gavshon

1916 - 1995

Preview
1200 POLITICIAN

Sam de Beer

Born 1944

Preview