SAHO global search

1929-2009

Ronald “Ron” Press

Ron Press was born in 1929.  His father a cinematograph operator became the secretary of the Cinematograph Workers Union, a post he held for over 20 years.  He…

B-0008914

1919-2017

Peter Henry Abrahams

Peter Henry Abrahams Deras (Peter Abrahams) was born in Vrededorp, Johannesburg’s largest Coloured and Asian slum, on 19 March 1919. Abrahams is a 'Coloured'…

B-0085147

1869-1948

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

*Note: The focus of this biography is on Gandhi's life and times in South Africa. Early life and education Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born to a…

B-0008089

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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1911-1985

Naboth Monyandioe Moreleba Mokgatle

Naboth Monyandioe Moreleba Mokgatle was the eighth and youngest child of Setlhare Hebron Mokgatle, a skilled builder and carpenter, and Salome Mororo-Mokgatle…

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1928-2009

Suliman Moosa Esakjee

Suliman Moosa Esakjee was born in 1928. He worked as a clerk, and was an active member of the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) from its inception. He served as…

B-0008051

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

1924-2021

Kenneth Kaunda

Kenneth Kaunda was the first president of Zambia. He was born on 28 April 1924 at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali. (In what was then Northern Rhodesia.) He was the…

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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

1922-1988

Dr Ahmed Ismail Limbada

Dr Ahmed Ismail Limbada grew up in Dundee, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal).  He studied at Sastri College in Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal) and Witwatersrand…

B-0080477

2013

Ronald (Ronnie) Britten

At a young age, while a student at the University of Cape Town, Ronald (Ronnie) Britten was an active member of the then Non-European Unity Movement, later to…

B-0125716

1934-2006

Vusumzi (Vusi) Linda Make

Vusimuzi Linda Make was born in Boksburg in 1934, the son of a priest, and later moved to Evaton.the son of an African Methodist  Episcopal minister,Make grew…

B-0008393

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

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

Billy Paddock

Billy Paddock, of Irish extraction, grew up in Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal) in the 1950s. He attended Glenwood High School in Durban where he excelled at…

B-0076350

1852-1927

Elizabeth Maria Molteno

Elizabeth Maria was born into a privileged and protected environment as the oldest child of the Cape Colony’s first Prime Minister, John Molteno. With her…

B-0008663

1922-1992

Hassan Howa

Hassan Howa was born in 1922 in Cape Town, Cape Province (now Western Cape Province) into a large working-class family, one of 12 children of a Christian,…

B-0008178

1935-2009

Cassim Saloojee

Saloojee was born in Krugersdorp, in 1935. Here his grandfather ran a shop next to Dr. Yusuf Dadoo’s father’s store. After he was married, Saloojee’s father…

B-0068391

1908-1992

Thayanayagie (Thailema) Pillay

Thayanayagie (Thailema), daughter of Veerammal Naidoo and Govindasamy Kristshnasamy Thambi Naidoo, was four years old when her family moved to the Tolstoy Farm…

B-0068309

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

1928-2009

Ahmed Essop “Quarter” Khota

Ahmed Essop "Quarter" Khota, was born on 5 July 1928. His friends affectionately knew him as “Quarter”, a name given to him by Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu…

B-0064874

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

Kgosi Abram Ramotshere Moiloa

Kgosi[Chief] Abram Ramotshere Pogiso Moiloa, a key figure in the Bahurutshe resistance of the 1950s, took office in 1932 at the age of 22. He went up ‘to…

B-0094016

1929-2007

Adelaide Frances Tambo

Adelaide Frances Tambo (nee Tshukudu) was born on 18 July 1929 in Top Location, Vereeniging, in the Vaal Triangle. Tambo attended the St Thomas Practising…

B-0009120

1955-2017

Peter McKenzie

Peter Michael McKenzie was born on 10 February 1955, in Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). He was the youngest child of Duggie and Hilda McKenzie. He attended…

B-0008529

1903-1956

Herbert Isaac Ernest Dhlomo

Herbert Isaac Ernest Dhlomo was born in Edendale, Natal on February 26th, 1903. He was the second son to Ezra and Sardinia Dhlomo. Ezra came from a line of…

B-0084446

1948-2026

Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick "Terror" Lekota

Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick "Terror" Lekota was born in Kroonstad, Orange Free State (now Free State Province) on 13 August 1948, into a working-class family. He…

B-0008313

1930-2013

Professor Bernard Magubane

Professor Bernard Makhosezwe Magubane was born on 26 August 1930 on a farm near Colenso in Natal (now kwaZulu-Natal). He was the son of labour tenants on a…

B-0095733

1940

Johnson Phillip Mlambo

Johnson Mlambo was born in Johannesburg on 22 February 1940. He did his secondary school education at Kilnerton. After completing his studies, he worked at…

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