SAHO global search

1926-2008

Michael Gagashe Zondi

Michael Zondi was born on 10 March 1926 in Msinga in Greytown, Natal. Zondi spent his childhood at a Swedish Lutheran mission station at Mtulwa, Natal. He…

B-0009261

Dr Gomolemo Mokae

Gomolemo Mokae was born in Ga-Mokopane. He was the last of the eight children born of a Methodist minister, Reverend Modisagarekwe Michael and Lotlamoreng…

B-0067979

Nontsizi (Cizama, Imbongikazi yakwaCizama) Mgqwetho

Virtually nothing is known about the life of the first and only major female poet to write in Xhosa, apart from what is revealed in her writings, almost all of…

B-0008554

1908-1982

Monica Hunter Wilson

Monica Wilson's parents, Scots Presbyterian missionaries, emigrated to Lovedale at the end of the 19th century; Monica was born there on January 3, 1908. From…

B-0009232

1958

Jonathan Shapiro

Born in Cape Town in 1958 and also known as Zapiro. Could not imagine a career in cartooning, so studied architecture at University of Cape Town. Could not…

B-0096423

1952

Andries Johannes Botha

He was born in Durban. He is a major SA sculptor who studied at the UN(P) obtaining a BA (FA). He has served on a number of important committees and in 1983…

B-0007875

1960

Steve Dyer

Steve Dyer was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1960. He taught himself to play the guitar at the age of eleven. He studied music at the University of Natal where…

B-0008037

1964

Petrus (Fanie) Stephanus De Villiers

Fanie de Villiers was born on the 13th October 1964 in Vereeniging. In 1985 he started playing for the Northern Transvaal cricket team and in the 1992/93…

B-0007995

Fani Mkhize

Fanio (also documented as Fanozi and called Chicken Man) Mkize was born in 1950. When Mkize was retrenched from Clover Dairies he earned a living dealing in…

B-0068769

1895-1960

Sam P. Sesedi

Sam P. Sesedi was born in 1895 in Kimberley and qualified as a teacher in 1916. He later obtained a B.A. degree by private study at the age of 50. After…

B-0009022

1932

Mimi Coertse

Mimi Coertse was South Africa's first operatic prima donna."Prima donna", in its true sense, properly indicates the chief female vocalist in an opera company…

B-0007947

1961

Graeme Williams

Williams completed his Bachelor of Science majoring in Geology and Statistics at the University of Cape Town. For him photography was a pass time activity…

B-0009228

1948-2002

Bonginhlanhla Plummer Mbokazi

He then started work in order to support his family. Plummer was never a full time artist. He studied art informally at the Community Arts Workshop, Durban,…

B-0008520

Unknown

Bransby Ndobe

Born 1927. With Elliot Tonjeni, Bransby Ndobe did much to organise African National Congress (ANC) branches between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and also to…

B-0068234

2012

Semi Jokanisi

Semi Jokanisi (29) was from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. On 13 August 2012 Semi was killed after being shot twice by the police, once in the abdomen and…

B-0121598

1926

Johannes Jacobus Degenaar

Johannes Jacobus Degenaar was born on 7 March 1926 in Ladysmith. As a young man he was sent to the Cape to study at the University of Stellenbosch, where he…

B-0007981

1912-2001

Milwa Mnyaluza “George” Pemba

Mnyaluza Pemba was born on 2 April 1912 at Hill’s Kraal in Korsten, Port Elizabeth. Although art classes were not offered at the Van der Kemp Mission Primary…

B-0008875

1955

Rafique (Rafs) Mayet

Rafique (Rafs) Mayet was born in 1955 in Durban, Natal (now Kwazulu-Natal). Mayet matriculated in Durban and worked at various jobs since completing school,…

B-0008506

1939-2024

Breyten Breytenbach

Breytenbach was an opponent of the apartheid regime, whose work represented a milestone in the development of Afrikaans poetry, formally and politically. His…

B-0007886

1935

Durant Basi Sihlali

Durant Basi Sihlali was born on 5 March 1935 in an industrial area, Germiston, Transvaal, now known as Gauteng Province. Due to harsh living conditions, his…

B-0098973

1935

Mzwakhe Mbatha

  Mzwakhe Mbatha was born in 1935 near Umnini Holiday Camp, Natal. Mbatha left school in Standard II. As a young boy he carved utilitarian objects such as…

B-0008514

1937

Benjamin Mzimkulu Macala

Benjamin Mzimkulu Macala was born on 21 April 1937 in Bloemfontein. As a young boy Macala tended cattle on a farm in the Orange Free State and passed the time…

B-0008355

1904

Simon Tyeku

Chairman of the Sophiatown African National Congress in the mid-1950s and a first-string accused in the Treason Trial of 1956-1961. Tyeku was born in 1904 and…

B-0009175

1966

James Hamakwayo

The early records that were kept by the Black Sash and South Africa Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR),Mr JH was detained in August 1966 under the 180-day…

B-0074801

2012

John Kutlwano Legingoane

John Kutlwano Legingoane (24) had worked at Lonmin for 5 years. On 16 August 2012 John was shot twice in the neck and head. The bullets were fired from an R4…

B-0121597

1981

Isaac Mofokeng

Isaac Mofokeng was born in Rustenburg in 1981. He attended the Mokutuli and Seipone primary schools in Sebokeng and Orange Farm respectively. Later he attended…

B-0008596

1972-2009

Thabo Motene Marera

Thabo Marera was born in Soweto on 18 September 1972 and matriculated at Anchor Orlando North High School.  After studying drama at the Natal Technikon he went…

B-0008445

1963

David Tsolwane Uhuru Hlongwane

David Hlongwane was born on 1 January 1963 in the Zwelethemba township of Worcester. He studied at Vuyisile High School, without completing Matric. Looking at…

B-0098953

1956

Dr Hersheela Narsee

Hersheela Narsee was born in Durban on the 23 of March 1956. Narsee grew up in a family of eight children. She attended the Gandhi Desai High School from 1967…

B-0008747

1940

Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali

Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali was born on 17 January 1940 in Vryheid, Natal, where he attended Inkmana High School. His parents were schoolteachers. He moved to…

B-0098835