Most Famous People from South Africa

100 South Africans in view out of 632

All 152,953
South Africa 631
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela South African Politician 1918 – 2013
#15
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron South African Actor Born 1975
#827
Elon Musk
Elon Musk South African Magnate Born 1971
#925
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu South African Priest Born 1931
#968
J. M. Coetzee
J. M. Coetzee South African Novelist Born 1940
#1,997
MM
Miriam Makeba South African Singer 1932 – 2008
#2,033
Steve Biko
Steve Biko South African Civil Rights 1946 – 1977
#2,638
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma South African Politician Born 1942
#2,953
Oscar Pistorius
Oscar Pistorius South African Athletic Born 1986
#3,090
Nadine Gordimer
Nadine Gordimer South African Poet 1923 – 2014
#3,557
Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts South African Minister 1870 – 1950
#3,813
Christiaan Barnard
Christiaan Barnard South African Surgeon 1922 – 2001
#3,826
Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger South African Politician 1825 – 1904
#4,590
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki South African Politician Born 1942
#5,192
Shaka
Shaka South African Roi 1787 – 1828
#7,191
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela South African Politician 1936 – 2018
#7,696
Hugh Masekela
Hugh Masekela South African Trumpet 1939 – 2018
#7,766
P. W. Botha
P. W. Botha South African Politician 1916 – 2006
#8,567
Alice Krige
Alice Krige South African Actor Born 1954
#10,889
Sydney Brenner
Sydney Brenner South African Biologist 1927 – 2019
#11,203
Alan Paton
Alan Paton South African Writer 1903 – 1988
#12,465
Oliver Tambo
Oliver Tambo South African Politician 1917 – 1993
#12,628
Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube South African Singer 1964 – 2007
#13,496
Caster Semenya
Caster Semenya South African Runner Born 1991
#13,539
Louis Botha
Louis Botha South African Politician 1862 – 1919
#16,785
André Brink
André Brink South African Novelist 1935 – 2015
#16,903
Johnny Clegg
Johnny Clegg South African Music 1953 – 2019
#17,602
Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa South African Politician Born 1952
#18,327
Sarah Baartman
Sarah Baartman South African Circus 1789 – 1815
#18,663
D. F. Malan
D. F. Malan South African Minister 1874 – 1959
#19,040
Walter Sisulu
Walter Sisulu South African Politician 1912 – 2003
#19,809
AF
Athol Fugard South African Writer Born 1932
#20,397
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Mangosuthu Buthelezi South African Politician Born 1928
#20,871
Peter Abrahams
Peter Abrahams South African Writer 1919 – 2017
#21,429
John Vorster
John Vorster South African Politician 1915 – 1983
#21,729
Breyten Breytenbach
Breyten Breytenbach South African Poet Born 1939
#22,239
Candice Swanepoel
Candice Swanepoel South African Mannequin Born 1988
#22,723
Laurens van der Post
Laurens van der Post South African Novelist 1906 – 1996
#22,984
Yolandi Visser
Yolandi Visser South African Actor Born 1984
#23,526
BF
Brenda Fassie South African Singer 1964 – 2004
#23,827
Cetshwayo kaMpande
Cetshwayo kaMpande South African Sovereign 1826 – 1884
#24,163
Julius Malema
Julius Malema South African Politician Born 1981
#24,620
J. B. M. Hertzog
J. B. M. Hertzog South African Politician 1866 – 1942
#25,571
Francois Pienaar
Francois Pienaar South African Player Born 1967
#26,607
JS
Joe Slovo South African Politician 1926 – 1995
#27,797
John McDowell
John McDowell South African Philosopher Born 1942
#29,574
Christiaan de Wet
Christiaan de Wet South African Politician 1854 – 1922
#29,681
Deon Meyer
Deon Meyer South African Writer Born 1958
#31,195
Eugène Terre'Blanche
Eugène Terre'Blanche South African Politician 1941 – 2010
#32,656
Sol Plaatje
Sol Plaatje South African Journalist 1876 – 1932
#34,396
Koos de la Rey
Koos de la Rey South African Militar 1847 – 1914
#36,400
Andrew Murray (minister)
Andrew Murray (minister) South African Writer 1828 – 1917
#36,782
John Kani
John Kani South African Author Born 1943
#38,592
Ingrid Jonker
Ingrid Jonker South African Poet 1933 – 1965
#40,351
Jody Scheckter
Jody Scheckter South African Driver Born 1950
#41,054
Ahmed Kathrada
Ahmed Kathrada South African Politician 1929 – 2017
#41,134
Mark Shuttleworth
Mark Shuttleworth South African Entrepreneur Born 1973
#42,147
Donald Woods
Donald Woods South African Journalist 1933 – 2001
#46,669
Zanele Muholi
Zanele Muholi South African Photographer Born 1972
#47,429
MR
Mamphela Ramphele South African Politician Born 1947
#48,266
Antjie Krog
Antjie Krog South African Poet Born 1952
#48,282
DG
David Goldblatt South African Photographer 1930 – 2018
#49,610
Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield South African Player Born 1977
#50,616
RS
Richard Stanley (director) South African Film Born 1966
#50,617
Tokelo Rantie
Tokelo Rantie South African Football Born 1990
#51,856
Louis Oosthuizen
Louis Oosthuizen South African Golf Born 1982
#52,039
Kagisho Dikgacoi
Kagisho Dikgacoi South African Football Born 1984
#54,695
TG
Tony Greig South African Cricket 1946 – 2012
#55,350
Percy Montgomery
Percy Montgomery South African Player Born 1974
#55,868
J. G. Strijdom
J. G. Strijdom South African Politician 1893 – 1958
#56,048
ZP Theart
ZP Theart South African Singer Born 1975
#57,791
Albertina Sisulu
Albertina Sisulu South African Activist 1918 – 2011
#58,359
May Mahlangu
May Mahlangu South African Football Born 1989
#60,152
Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Yvonne Chaka Chaka South African Singer Born 1965
#60,488
Mzilikazi
Mzilikazi South African King 1790 – 1868
#61,579
Piet Joubert
Piet Joubert South African Officer 1834 – 1900
#62,561
Mike Horn
Mike Horn South African Explorer Born 1966
#64,530
Maggie Laubser
Maggie Laubser South African Painter 1886 – 1973
#68,839
KS
Karel Schoeman South African Writer 1939 – 2017
#69,853
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi South African Runner 1980 – 2014
#70,497
WN
Winston Ntshona South African Playwright 1941 – 2018
#70,538
Kamohelo Mokotjo
Kamohelo Mokotjo South African Football Born 1991
#70,640
KM
Katlego Mphela South African Football Born 1984
#71,136
Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo
Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo South African King 1868 – 1913
#71,453
Leabua Jonathan
Leabua Jonathan South African Politician 1914 – 1987
#72,236
Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis South African Cricket Born 1975
#74,011
Cliff Drysdale
Cliff Drysdale South African Player Born 1941
#74,177
Os du Randt
Os du Randt South African Player Born 1972
#74,925
John Langalibalele Dube
John Langalibalele Dube South African Philosopher 1871 – 1946
#76,239
Lars Veldwijk
Lars Veldwijk South African Football Born 1991
#78,511
Marlene van Niekerk
Marlene van Niekerk South African Poet Born 1954
#79,041
AS
Akani Simbine South African Athletic Born 1993
#79,848
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma South African Politician Born 1949
#82,517
BN
Beyers Naudé South African Theologian 1915 – 2004
#82,916
Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu
Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu South African King Born 1948
#83,617
Esther Mahlangu
Esther Mahlangu South African Painter Born 1935
#84,110
AD
Alexander du Toit South African Geologist 1878 – 1948
#84,950
Mpande kaSenzangakhona
Mpande kaSenzangakhona South African Monarch 1798 – 1872
#85,150
Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven
Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven South African Poet 1873 – 1932
#85,922
Francis William Reitz
Francis William Reitz South African Lawyer 1844 – 1934
#86,552

By the numbers

Inside South Africa

631 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Decades

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

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births in South Africa peaked in the 1980s with 108 people.

What South Africa Is Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Sports is South Africa's biggest group — 41% of all notables (256).

South Africa over-indexes on sports — 1.9× the global rate.

South Africa under-produces other — only 0.4× the global rate.

  1. Sports256
  2. Politics & Law103
  3. Writing70
  4. Music53
  5. Science38
  6. Film & TV27
  7. Art & Design21
  8. Other20
  1. Sports2561.9×
  1. Other200.4×
  2. Religion170.5×
  3. Art & Design210.6×
  4. Military160.6×
  5. Film & TV270.6×

Profession Mix Over Time

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

18001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Music
  • Science
  • Film & TV
  • Other

Top Cities

Biggest birthplaces in this slice — click any to explore.