Zackie Achmat activist, film director
Greg Albertyn motocross racer
Jani Allan journalist, broadcaster
Gary Anderson placekicker for the NFL
Barry Armitage baseball pitcher
Kader Asmal politician
John-Lee Augustyn professional road racing cyclist
Adam Bacher cricketer
Andrew Geddes Bain geologist, road engineer, palaeontologist, explorer
Grant Baker professional surfer
Herbert Baker architect
Cassius Baloyi professional boxer
Edgar John Barlow cricketer
Christiaan Barnard cardiac surgeon, performed the world's first successful human-to-human heart transplant
Shaun Bartlett footballer (soccer)
Sibusiso Bengu politician
Mike Bernardo kickboxer, boxer
Zain Bhikha singer-songwriter
Steve Biko anti-apartheid activist
Neill Blomkamp director, writer, producer, animator
Nicky Boje cricketer
David Bosch missiologist, theologian
Jacobus Boshoff politician
Herman Charles Bosman writer
Bakkies Botha rugby union player
Francois Botha boxer
Johan Botha cricketer
Johan Botha operatic tenor
Louis Botha Boer War General
Naas Botha former Rugby union player
Pieter Willem Botha politician
Roelof Botha venture capitalist
Thozamile Botha politician
Mark Boucher cricketer
Wilhelm Bleek linguist (born in Germany)
Johannes Henricus Brand politician
Sydney Brenner biologist
André P. Brink novelist
Okkert Brits pole-vaulter
Neil Broad tennis player
Zola Budd track and field competitor
Vuyani Bungu boxer
Schalk Burger rugby union player
Schalk Willem Burger military leader, lawyer, statesman
Thomas François Burgers politician, former President of the South African Republic
Mangosuthu Buthelezi politician
Ezra Butler American football linebacker
Rory Byrne engineer and car designer
Kevin Carter photojournalist
Peter Cartwright actor
Arthur Chaskalson former Chief Justice of South Africa
Hestrie Cloete high jumper
Chad le Clos swimmer, Olympic gold medalist
Steven Cohen professional wrestler
Ernest Cole photographer
Sharlto Copley actor, director
Mimi Coertse soprano
Gerrie Coetzee former boxer
John Maxwell Coetzee novelist, essayist, literary critic, linguist, translator
Amanda Coetzer professional tennis player
Pierre Coetzer former heavyweight boxer
Allan McLeod Cormack physicist
Ryan Cox professional road racing cyclist
Danie Craven rugby union player
Hansie Cronje cricketer
Piet Cronjé soldier, politician (born in the UK)
Riaan Cruywagen news presenter
Kevin Curren professional tennis player
Lev David writer, radio producer and radio presenter, media consultant
Embeth Davidtz actress (born in Indiana)
Ahmed Deedat missionary, orator, public speaker, writer
Trevor Denman sports commentator
Abraham de Villiers cricketer
Jean de Villiers rugby union footballer
Peter de Villiers rugby union coach
Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs politician
Kagisho Dikgacoi footballer (soccer)
Boeta Dippenaar cricketer
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma politician
Clement Martyn Doke linguist (born in the UK)
Allan Donald cricketer
Cliff Drysdale professional tennis player, announcer
Lucky Dube musician
K. Sello Duiker novelist
Jean-Paul Duminy cricketer
Morne du Plessis rugby union player
Os du Randt rugby union loosehead prop
Natalie du Toit swimmer, Paralympic gold medalist
Robert Allen Dyer botanist, taxonomist
Abba Eban diplomat, politician
Ernie Els professional golfer
Steve Elworthy cricketer
Garth Erasmus artist
Clinton Fein artist, writer, activist
Lyndon Ferns swimmer, Olympic gold medalist
Wayne Ferreira former professional tennis player
C. G. Finch-Davies painter
Gavin Fingleson professional baseball player
Bram Fischer advocate
Mark Fish footballer (soccer)
Sir Percy FitzPatrick author, politician, mining financier, farmer
Bruce Fordyce marathon athlete (born in Hong Kong)
Jacobus Johannes Fouché politician, former President
Pierre Fourie boxer
Quinton Fortune footballer (soccer)
Jacques Freitag high jumper
Daniel Friedman "Deep Fried Man" musical comedian, writer
Graeme Friedman psychologist, writer
David Frost professional golfer
Athol Fugard playwright, novelist, actor, director
Dean Furman footballer (soccer)
Damon Galgut novelist, playwright
Dennis Gamsy cricketer
Okey Geffin rugby union player
David George cyclist
Herschelle Gibbs cricketer
David Goldblatt photographer
Brett Goldin actor
Richard Goldstone lawyer
Retief Goosen professional golfer
Nadine Gordimer writer, political activist, Nobel Prize winner
Norman Gordon cricketer
Bob Gosani photographer
Tony Greig commentator
Bryan Habana rugby union player
Andrew Hall cricketer
Thomas Hamilton-Brown boxer
Ronald Harrison artist
Ronald Harwood author, playwright and screenwriter
Nantie Hayward cricketer
Claude Henderson cricketer
Llewellyn Herbert athlete
Steven Herzberg cricketer
James Barry Munnik Hertzog Boer general, politician
Johan Heyns theologian
Penny Heyns swimmer, Olympic gold medalist
Josias Hoffman politician, statesman
Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr politician
T.O. Honiball cartoonists
Gavin Hood filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, actor
Dan Hugo triathlete
Robbie Hunte professional road racing cyclist
Trevor Immelman professional golfer
Daryl Impey road cyclist
Hennie Jacobs musician, songwriter, actor
Fanie de Jager operatic tenor, singer
Butch James rugby union player
David James actor
Sid James actor, comedian
Nkosi Johnson child known for raising awareness against AIDS
Claire Johnston musician
Danny Jordaan politician, president of SAFA
Petrus Jacobus Joubert soldier, politician
Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo former king of the Zulu nation
Solomon kaDinuzulu former Zulu king
Jacques Kallis cricketer
Adhir Kalyan actor
Zibhebhu kaMaphitha Zulu chief
Cetshwayo kaMpande former king of the Zulu kingdom
John Kani actor, director, playwright
Sigananda kaSokufa Zulu aristocrat
Dingane kaSenzangakhona former king of the Zulu kingdom
Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon former king of the Zulu nation
Ahmed Kathrada politician, anti-apartheid activist
William Kentridge artist
Alan Khan media and radio personality
Khoisan X political activist
Doctor Khumalo footballer (soccer)
Gary Kirsten cricketer
Peter Kirsten cricketer
Frederik Willem de Klerk politician
Ilana Kloss former professional tennis player, tennis coach
Lance Klusener cricketer
Kallie Knoetze retired heavyweight boxer
David Kramer singer, songwriter, playwright, director
Johan Kriek professional tennis player
Alice Krige actress, producer
Frantz Kruger discus thrower
Paul Kruger politician
Alf Kumalo photographer, photojournalist
Pius Langa judge
John Langalibalele Dube essayist, philosopher, educator, politician, publisher, editor, novelist, poet
C. J. Langenhoven author
Grant Langston motocross world champion
Maggie Laubser painter, printmaker
Tony Leon politician
Neville Lewis artist
David Lewis-Williams scholar
Patricia de Lille politician
Paul Lloyd Jr "Justin Gabriel" professional wrestler
Albert Luthuli politician
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela activist, politician
Jeremy Maggs journalist, television, radio host
Peter Magubane photographer
Mahlathini mbaqanga singer
Miriam Makeba singer, civil rights activist
Thabo Makgoba archbishop
Adolph Malan fighter pilot
Daniel François Malan soldier, politician, former Prime Minister
Magnus Malan politician, military chief
Nelson Mandela activist, politician, philanthropist, freedom fighter, lawyer
Winston Ngozi Mankunku musician
Manfred Mann musician
Jeremy Mansfield radio and television personality
Trevor Manuel politician
Hugh Masekela musician
Gwendolyn Masin violinist
Victor Matfield rugby union player
"Baby" Jakes Matlala boxer, junior flyweight champion
Dalene Matthee author
Dave Matthews singer-songwriter, musician, actor
Lindiwe Mazibuko politician
Thabo Mbeki politician, former President
Benni McCarthy footballer (soccer)
Conor Mccreedy artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, conservationist
Neil McKenzie cricketer
Frew McMillan former professional tennis player
Thebe Medupe astrophysicist
Fatima Meer writer, anti-apartheid activist
Hans Merensky geologist, prospector, scientist, conservationist, philanthropist (born in Germany)
John X. Merriman politician, former Prime Minister
Deon Meyer novelist
Roelf Meyer politician
Gcina Mhlope activist, actor, storyteller, poet, playwright, director, author
Sean Michael actor, writer, singer
Brian Mitchell former professional boxer
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka politician
Mpande monarch of the Zulu Kingdom
Makobo Modjadji Rain Queen
Gerard Moerdijk architect
Aaron Mokoena footballer (soccer)
Shaun Morgan musician
Albie Morkel cricketer
Morné Morkel cricketer
Kgalema Motlanthe politician, former President
Patrice Motsepe mining magnate
Elias Motsoaledi anti-apartheid activist
Phaswane Mpe poet, novelist
Chief Mqalo Amakhuze chief
Karen Muir swimmer
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi middle distance runner
Andrew Murray writer, teacher, minister
Brett Murray artist
Gordon Murray designer of Formula One race cars and the McLaren F1 road car
Elon Musk business magnate, investor, inventor
Victoria Mxenge anti-apartheid activist
Patrick Mynhardt actor
Mzilikazi king of Matabeleland
Steve Nash professional basketball player
Beyers Naudé cleric, theologian, leading Afrikaner anti-apartheid activist
Jozua François Naudé politician
Welcome Ncita former professional boxer
Jeremy Nell cartoonist, satirist, social commentator
Ryk Neethling swimmer, Olympic gold medalist
Mbongeni Ngema writer, lyricist, composer, director
Lilian Ngoyi politician, anti-apartheid activist
Sydney Nomis rugby union player
Siyabonga Nomvete footballer (soccer)
Winston Ntshona playwright, actor
Makhaya Ntini cricketer
Michael Oblowitz filmmaker
Justin Ontong cricketer
Harry Oppenheimer businessman
D. C. S. Oosthuizen philosopher
Bennie Osler rugby union player
Jerome Pathon American football coach, former wide receiver
Alan Paton author, anti-apartheid activist
Marmaduke Pattle aviator, fighter pilot
George Pemba painter, writer
Robin Peterson cricketer
Francois Pienaar rugby union player
Steven Pienaar footballer (soccer)
Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef landscape artist
Sasha Pieterse actress, singer
Kevin Pietersen cricketer
Oscar Pistorius sprint runner, Paralympic gold medalist
Gary Player professional golfer
Mrs. Ples nickname for the most complete skull of an Australopithecus africanus specimen ever found in South Africa
Sarah Poewe swimmer
Graeme Pollock cricketer
Shaun Pollock cricketer
Nic Pothas cricketer
Andries Pretorius Boer leader
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius first president of the South African Republic
Aquiles Priester musician, drummer
Ashwell Prince cricketer
Meyrick Pringle cricketer
Sandra Prinsloo actress
Trevor Rabin musician
Lucas Radebe footballer (soccer)
Mamphela Ramphele politician, activist
Cyril Ramaphosa businessman, trade unionist, politician
Koos Ras comedian, singer, composer, writer
Basil Rathbone actor
Tyla Rattray motocross world champion
Koos de la Rey Boer general
Deneys Reitz war soldier, politician
Francis William Reitz lawyer, politician, statesman, publicist, poet
Cecil Rhodes businessman, politician (born in the UK)
Jonty Rhodes cricketer
Austin Roberts zoologist
Tracey Rose artist
Shaun Rubenstein canoer
Harold Rubin visual artist, musician
Christiaan Rudolph de Wet Boer general, rebel leader, politician
Jacques Rudolph cricketer
Anton Rupert entrepreneur, businessman, conservationist
Johann Rupert business tycoon
Rory Sabbatini professional golfer
Albie Sachsb judge
Corrie Sanders former professional boxer
Peter Sarnak mathematician
Stelio Savante actor, producer, writer
Jürgen Schadeberg photographer, artist
Ian Scheckter former racing driver
Jody Scheckter former racing driver
Tomas Scheckter former racing driver
Karel Schoeman novelist, historian, translator
Roland Mark Schoeman swimmer
Olive Schreiner author
Leon Schuster filmmaker, comedian, actor, presenter, singer
Harry Schwarz political opposition leader against apartheid
Charl Schwartzel professional golfer
Gerard Sekoto artist, musician
Pixley ka Isaka Seme lawyer
Hezekiél Sepeng middle distance runner
Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum golfer
Tokyo Sexwale businessman, politician, anti-apartheid activist
Joseph Shabalala musical director
Shaka monarch of the Zulu Kingdom
Antony Sher actor, writer, theatre director
Mthuli ka Shezi playwright, political activist
Mark Shuttleworth entrepreneur, space tourist
Mzukisi Sikali boxer
Cliff Simon athlete, actor
Albertina Sisulu anti–apartheid activist
Walter Sisulu politician, anti-apartheid activist
Cecil Skotnes artist (born in London)
Joe Slovo politician
Greg Smith cricketer
J.L.B. Smith ichthyologist, organic chemist
Jordy Smith professional surfer
John Smit rugby union player
Jan Smuts politician
Robert Sobukwe politician, anti-apartheid activist
Jomo Sono footballer (soccer)
Enoch Sontonga music Composer
Irma Stern artist
Austin Stevens herpetologist, wildlife photographer, film maker, author
Dale Steyn cricketer
François Steyn rugby union player
Martinus Theunis Steyn politician
Conrad Stoltz triathlete
Joel Stransky rugby union player
Candice Swanepoel model
Charles Robberts Swart politician
Helen Suzman politician, anti-apartheid activist
Janet Suzman actress, director
Carla Swart cyclist
Oliver Tambo politician, anti-apartheid activist
ZP Theart singer, songwriter
Arnold Theiler father of veterinary science in South Africa
Max Theiler virologist, Nobel Prize winner for vaccine against yellow fever
Charlize Theron actress, producer, director, fashion model
Josia Thugwane athlete, Olympic gold medalist
Hilda Tloubatla singer
Phillip Tobias palaeoanthropologist
Alexander du Toit geologist
S.J. du Toit nationalist, theologian, journalist, politician
J. R. R. Tolkien author
Shaun Tomson professional surfer, environmentalist, actor, author, businessman
Darian Townsend swimmer, Olympic gold medalist
Vladimir Tretchikoff artist
Watkin Tudor Jones rapper, record producer, performance artist, satirist
Desmond Tutu social rights activist, former bishop
Jamie Uys director
Pieter-Dirk Uys satirist
Irene van Dyk netball player
Etienne van Heerden author
Marlene van Niekerk author
Anton van Wouw sculptor (born in the Netherlands)
Minki van der Westhuizen model, television presenter
Musetta Vander actress, model
Louis Jacob van Zyl athlete
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd politician, former Prime Minister
Marais Viljoen politician, former President
Pierre de Villiers Pienaar academic
Yolandi Visser singer, rapper
Balthazar Johannes Vorster politician, former Prime Minister
Arnold Vosloo actor
Lyall Watson botanist, zoologist, biologist, anthropologist, ethologist, author
Kepler Wessels cricketer
John Whitmore surfer, pioneered the sport of surfing in South Africa
Charl Willoughby cricketer
Charlene Wittstock swimmer, Princess of Monaco
Lewis Wolpert developmental biologist
Rachel Zadok writer
Zapiro cartoonist
Helen Zille politician
Monde Zondeki cricketer
Jacob Zuma politician, President
Goodwill Zwelethini king of the Zulu nation