SAHO global search

1916-1968

Leng Dixon

Leng Dixon was born in 1916 in Cape Town. He joined the New Group after his return from the Camberwell School of Art in London from 1937 to 1938 and a period…

B-0008009

1980

Clive Zamani Xaba

Clive Zamani Xaba was born in 1980, Durban. Xaba attended the Saturday morning art classes run by Pat Khoza at the Durban Art Gallery from 1995. In 2001 he…

B-0009240

1930

Matthew Nkoana

Matthew Nkoana was born about 1930 in the rural northern Transvaal near Pietersburg. After completing elementary school he took a job selling newspapers. In…

B-0068268

1915-1971

H. A. Naidoo

H. A. Naidoo was born in Durban in 1915 and was recruited into the Communist Party in the mid-1930s by Edward Roux. He became an active trade unionist, and…

B-0008731

1942-2024

Edward “Eddie” Webster

Edward Webster was born on 29 March 1942 and educated at Selborne College. He obtained a BA Honours degree and University Education Diploma from Rhodes…

B-0095160

Mooroogiah Dhanapathy Naidoo

Mooroogiah Dhanapathy Naidoo, a South African lawyer who was an active opponent of apartheid, died on June 1 in his birthplace, Durban, South Africa. He was 75…

B-0078551

1919-2000

Mary Dorothy Benson

Dorothy Mary Benson – known as Mary Benson – was born on 8 December 1919 in Pretoria, Transvaal Province (now Gauteng), where she received her early education…

B-0007841

1962-2007

Humphrey Phakade “Pax” Magwaza

Humphrey Phakade ‘Pax’ Magwaza was born on 4 April 1962, in Lamontville, one of the oldest Durban townships, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal – KZN).  He was one of…

B-0008374

1943-1989

Dr. Abu Baker Asvat

This article was written by Michelle Hayman and forms part of the SAHO Public History Internship The ‘People’s Doctor’ ‘He struggled to liberate…

B-0084103

1854-1925

Alfred Milner

Alfred Milner, a statesman and colonial administrator, became Governor of the Cape and High Commissioner of South Africa in 1897. He pushed the Transvaal…

B-0008561

1937-1965

Ndazana Nathaniel Nakasa (Nat Nakasa)

Ndazana Nathaniel (Nat) Nakasa was born on 12 May 1937 in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape. Nakasa was the second of three children of Joseph Nakasa and his wife,…

B-0008741

1937-2002

Justice Gizenga Mpanza

Justice "Gizenga" Mpanza was born on 5 September 1937 at Groutville Mission Reserve. His father was one of Chief Luthuli's indunas (advisors). Mpanza went to…

B-0067866

1955-1983

Thabo Marcus Motaung

Marcus Motaung grew up in Diepkloof in the 1960s and 1970s. His family moved to the Township around the early to mid-1960s. They were part of families forcibly…

B-0085550

1954-1979

Selaelo Charles 'Dan' Ramusi

Selaelo Charles "Dan" Ramusi was born 14 November 1954 in Dube Village, Soweto, Transvaal (now Gauteng). He was the first born son of the late Collins…

B-0075473

1955

Shirley Gunn

Gunn enrolled for a degree in social work in 1977 and after completion proceeded to study for her Honors degree. While studying for her Honors degree, she…

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Jafta Kgalabi Masemola

Jafta Kgalabi Masemola, “The Tiger of Azania”, also popularly known as “Bra Jeff” by many others, was born at Bon Accord near Pretoria on 12 December 1931. He…

B-0080980

1914-2004

Ray Alexander Simons

Ray Alexander Simons née Alexandrowich was born on 12 January 1914 in Latvia. While at school, she displayed little fear in challenging authorities. Her…

B-0007783

1949

Joseph Alfers

Joseph Alfers was born in 1949 in Umbumbulu, where his father was the Assistant Native Commissioner. He attended school and university in Pietermaritzburg,…

B-0007787

1916-2015

Sarah Carneson

Sarah Rubin, later Carneson, was born in Johannesburg, Transvaal (now Gauteng) in 1916. Her parents were both immigrants; her father, Zelic Rubin, was…

B-0007920

1928-2016

Clarence Mlami Makwetu

Clarence Mlami Makwetu was born on 6th December 1928 in Hoyita, in the Cofimvaba district, Transkei. He was the second of five children of Minah and Gqongo…

B-0008410

1909-1961

David Pratt

David Beresford Pratt was born on 1 October 1909 to Arthur and Georgina Pratt. The family immigrated from London in the United Kingdom to Johannesburg, South…

B-0068322

1920-1991

Jonas Dinous Matlou

Jonas Dinous Matlou was born 2 June 1920 in Diepsloot north of Johannesburg. He became an early member of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL)…

B-0008490

1955

Michael Davis

Michael Davis was born in 1955 in Johannesburg, Transvaal (now Gauteng). On completing his schooling in Johannesburg, Davis served his compulsory one-year…

B-0093744

1976

Fenuel Mogatusi

Mr Fenuel Mogatusi, aged 22, a Soweto school student,was detained in July 1976 and died in detention on 28 September 1976.The Act under which he was held was…

B-0074827

1862-1945

Anton van Wouw

Anton van Wouw was born in Driedergen, Netherlands on 20 November 1862. He is regarded as the father of South African sculpture. He decided to move to the…

B-0009195

1920

Jacob Dumdum Nyaose

Jacob Dumdum Nyaose was born about 1920 at Port Shepstone in Natal, the son of a Zulu seaman who belonged to the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union…

B-0068294

1919-2010

Ian David Kitson

Ian David Kitson was born the 25 August 1919, in Cape Town. He joined the Communist Party in 1940 when it was still a legal organization. After serving as a…

B-0008264

1920

Isaac Osier Horvitch

Born in Cape Town in 1920. In the late 1930s while still at school he became an active member of the Communist Party, speaking at public meetings and selling…

B-0008177

1697-1734

Jan Smiesing

This article was written by Joline Young for SAHO The school Outside of the Slave Lodge, under a tree in Spin Street, enslaved people were auctioned for sale…

B-0122372

14 January1918-1999

Dimitri Tsafendas

Dimitri Tsafendas was the parliamentary messenger who assassinated Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd on 06 September 1966 by stabbing him four times with a…

B-0009157