SAHO global search

1956-1985

Andries Raditsela

In 1982, Raditsela became deeply engaged in politics after becoming a member of the Chemical Workers' Industrial Union (CWIU), an affiliate of the Federation…

B-0008928

1923

Zamazulu Thembekile Nkosi

Nkosi became the first Black matron in the Natal Provincial Administration and in KwaZulu-Natal. Her decision to nurse was motivated by a wish to help the sick…

B-0008807

1873-1917

Nokutela (nee Mdima) Dube

Nokutela Dube was the first wife of Reverend John Langalibalele Dube, the first President General of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC- later…

B-0093906

1921

Jacqueline (Jackie) Arenstein

As a young person, Arenstein joined the left wing Book Club in Durban where, among other authors, Marx and Lenin were read and discussed. At the age of 21,…

B-0007793

1938

Elza Miles (Botha)

Elza Miles (nee Botha) was born in 1938. In 1960 Miles obtained a BA in Fine Arts at the University of Pretoria, followed by a BA Honours in Afrikaans…

B-0097055

2012

Thembinkosi Gwelani

Thembinkosi Gwelani (27) was from Makhwaleni, Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape. On 16 August he was not employed at Lonmin but had gone to the Koppie to take…

B-0121603

Ahmed Mahomed Cachalia

Ahmed Mohamed Cachalia  joined the Satyagraha struggle in the Transvaal. He was an extremely wealthy man and was used to a life of luxury and comfort, yet he…

B-0007910

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

Gaur Radebe

Gaur Radebe was born in 1908 and completed about seven years of schooling. As an activist in both the Communist Party of South Africa and the African National…

B-0008925

T W Thibedi

Before joining the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) in the 1920s, Thibedi was a member of the International Socialist League in the Cape and, according…

B-0009139

1939-2001

Laurent Kabila

Laurent Desire Kabila was born on 27 November 1939 into the Luba tribe in the Katanga Province in the Belgian Congo. In 1960 Kabila became a leader of a youth…

B-0124602

1947-1976

Mapetla Frank Mohapi

Mapetla Frank Mohapi was born in the rural village of Jozanashoek, Sterkspruit in the former Transkei (now Eastern Province) on 2 September 1947. He studied at…

B-0066279

1932-1997

Rissik Haribhai "Barney" Desai

Rissik Haribhai "Barney" Desai was born into an Indian family on 10 April 1932 in Durban, Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal), South Africa. According to South Africa’s…

B-0007992

1931-2015

Dr. Oshadi Maphefo Jane Mangena

Dr Oshadi Mangena was born in a toilet on 12 June 1931 when her father’s employer refused to allow her mother to wait for an ambulance inside her home, as she…

B-0096510

1929-1994

Ruth Gosschalk

Ruth Gosschalk was born on 27 July 1929 in Muizenburg, Cape Town. She was one of four children. Her parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe. Gosschalk’s…

B-0080096

1930-1985

Molly Blackburn

Molly Blackburn was born in 1930.  She was the daughter of Elgar Bellhouse who was at one time the chairperson of the Progressive Party (PP) in Port Elizabeth …

B-0007860

1929-2011

Margaret Nash

Margaret Nash was born at Milford-on-Sea in England on 1 March 1929.  In 1931, her family moved to South Africa and settled in Durban, Natal (now kwaZulu-Natal…

B-0067757

1847-1929

Millicent Fawcett

Fawcett was part of the Ladies’ Committee that was sent over from Britain during the Anglo Boer War in order to inspect the conditions in the concentration…

B-0067466

Max Coleman

Max Coleman was the Human Rights Commissioner,a businessman .He was married to Audrey Coleman, they had four sons, and became active members of the Detainees…

B-0094966

1963

Justice Sfiso Mkame

Justice Sfiso (called Sfiso) Mkame was born on 3 May 1963 in Durban. As a child Mkame drew on sand walls. In Standard 1 he did handicrafts and drawing at…

B-0008568

1920-2010

Robert Hodgins

"For me, it is very simple. The act of painting at a particular moment is able, for reasons I neither understands, nor even try to understand, to open up the…

B-0008165

1939-2018

Hugh Masekela

Hugh Ramopolo Masekela was born on 4 April 1939 in Witbank, near Johannesburg. Masekela showed musical ability from a young age, and began to play piano as a…

B-0008461

1915-1984

Thelma Gutsche

Thelma Gutsche was born in 1915 in Somerset West, Cape Province to Dr. And Mrs. J Gutsche. Gutsche did not attend formal schooling but received private…

B-0008135

1882-1955

Mary Eveline Fincken

Mary Eveline Fincken was born on 27 April 1882 in Hoyland, Yorkshire, England. She was the eldest daughter of Christopher William Fincken and his wife. She was…

B-0008067

1978

Sibusiso Robert Duma

Sibusiso Duma is a young artist who is presently making his mark within the Durban art scene. His talent was noticed and nourished by the late Trevor Makhoba …

B-0008025

1948

Moses Jongizizwe Mayekiso

Moses Jongizizwe Mayekiso was born on 21 October 1948 in Askeaton, Cala district, Transkei. He was the eldest of 12 children to Ellen and Betwell Mayekiso. He…

B-0008505

1952

Lesley Lawson

One of the founding members of Afrapix, Lesley Lawson was born in Durban in 1952. She matriculated from Durban Girls College and attended the University of…

B-0008303

1942

Pamela dos Santos (nee Beira)

Pamele dos Santos (nee Beira) was born in Johannesburg on 19 June 1942 to Banny and Golda Beira. She attended Houghton Primary and Johannesburg Girls High…

B-0008018

1845-1909

Jan Hofmeyr

A published and a principal figure in the Afrikaner Bond. However as a political moderate, he worked closely with Rhodes until the Jameson Raid that severed…

B-0008168

1850s-1911

Pambani Jeremiah Mzimba

Pambani Jeremiah Mzimba was born in the 1850s at Ngqakayi in the Eastern Cape. His father, Ntibane Mzimba, was educated in Lovedale and became a deacon in the…

B-0065037