South Africa
Historical figures born in South Africa
6,474 notable historical figures were born in South Africa. These are the most notable:
South Africa ranks #26 of 197 countries by number of historical figures on Histiphy, just behind Austria, Belgium and Norway.
By era
- Early Modern: 1
- Modern: 39
By occupation
- Politician: 20
- Minister/Cabinet Official: 10
- Activist: 9
- Writer/Author: 9
- Head of State/President: 6
- Actor: 5
- Entrepreneur/Executive: 5
- Poet: 5
- Nelson Mandela (1918 to 2013, Politics)
- Elon Musk (born 1971, Politics)
- Charlize Theron (born 1975, Entertainment)
- J. R. R. Tolkien (1892 to 1973, Literature)
- Cyril Ramaphosa (born 1952, Politics)
- Desmond Tutu (1931 to 2021, Religion)
- Errol Musk (born 1946, Business)
- Jacob Zuma (born 1942, Politics)
- Shaka (1787 to 1828, Politics)
- F. W. de Klerk (1936 to 2021, Politics)
- Thabo Mbeki (born 1942, Politics)
- Steve Biko (1946 to 1977, Politics)
- Kevin Carter (1960 to 1994, Literature)
- Patrick Soon-Shiong (born 1952, Science)
- J. M. Coetzee (born 1940, Literature)
- Jan Smuts (1870 to 1950, Politics)
- P. W. Botha (1916 to 2006, Politics)
- Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark (1942 to 2026, Politics)
- Sid James (1913 to 1976, Entertainment)
- Nadine Gordimer (1923 to 2014, Literature)
- Kgalema Motlanthe (born 1949, Politics)
- Mark Shuttleworth (born 1973, Business)
- Oliver Tambo (1917 to 1993, Politics)
- Mangosuthu Buthelezi (1928 to 2023, Politics)
- John Vorster (1915 to 1983, Politics)
- Chris Hani (1942 to 1993, Politics)
- Leka, Prince of Albania (born 1982, Politics)
- Louis Botha (1862 to 1919, Politics)
- D. F. Malan (1874 to 1959, Politics)
- Cetshwayo (1826 to 1884, Politics)
- William Kentridge (born 1955, Arts & Music)
- Muhsin Hendricks (1967 to 2025, Religion)
- David Benatar (born 1966, Philosophy)
- Urzila Carlson (born 1976, Entertainment)
- Abba Eban (1915 to 2002, Politics)
- Zindzi Mandela (1960 to 2020, Politics)
- Breyten Breytenbach (1939 to 2024, Literature)
- J. B. M. Hertzog (1866 to 1942, Politics)
- Sydney Brenner (1927 to 2019, Science)
- Goodwill Zwelithini (1948 to 2021, Politics)
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