SAHO global search

1922

Elsa Joubert

… (married surname Steytler) was born on 19 October 1922 in Paarl where she grew up, and studied at the universities … of Stellenbosch (BA and SOD) and Cape…

B-0008221

1927-2005

Kalushi Drake Koka

… Kalushi Drake Koka was born in Pietersburg on the 9th  of June,1927. He enrolled for teacher training after completing his matric. In 1960, he became…

B-0095114

1798-1853

Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius

… was born on 27 November 1798 near  Graaff-Reinet  in the Cape Colony. He was educated by travelling teachers and became an eloquent speaker and writer in his…

B-0068324

1933-2012

Evelina de Bruin

… de Bruin was born on 25 December 1933, and she grew up in the small town of Postmasburg, Northern Cape . In the early days of her life, her parents moved to…

B-0094076

1928-2011

Henry Gordon ‘Squire’ Makgothi

… secondary school education at St Peters Secondary School in Rosettenville 1947.  He then went on to Fort Hare College in the Eastern Cape, where he graduated…

B-0064853

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 … Africa , where meetings were held at…

B-0007793

1931-2015

Reggie Vandeyar

… Reggie Vandeyar was born into a poor family on 15 July 1931 in Newclare. His father was originally from India, who had … Heidelberg, Vereeniging, and finally…

B-0068000

Benjamin Johnson Langa

… his mother was a housewife who was also intensely involved in the church. There were seven children, five brothers and two sisters, in the family. From very…

B-0080452

1830-1913

Gordon Sprigg

… Early Life John Gordon Sprig was born in Ipswich, England in 1830, the son of a pastor. He schooled at Ipswich and at other private schools before taking up…

B-0123390

1903-1985

John Koenakeefe Mohl

… John Koenakeefe Mohl was born on 29 September 1903 in Dinokana, Zeerust in the North-West Province. Mohl's father was a carpenter who … on rocks and made…

B-0008603

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

1920-1977

Elmon Malele

… Elmon Malele was born in Mapulaneng in the Limpopo Province (Transvaal) in 1920. Malele came to Johannesburg in 1943, and stayed in … National Congress (ANC)…

B-0008416

1948-1985

Thamsanqa “Thami” Mnyele

… 1984) Thami Mnyele was born the third of five children in Alexandra, near Johannesburg, on 10 December 1948. His … a minister of religion and his mother a…

B-0008586

1943

Sindiwe Magona

… Sindiwe Magona was born on 23 August 1943, in the village of Gungululu in rural Eastern Cape (formerly Transkei). The first born of … later won a scholarship…

B-0008372

1909-1972

Dr Kwame Nkrumah

… Francis Nwia Kofi Nkrumah on 21 September 1909, was raised in a rural village, Nkoful, in the then Gold Coast, Nzema region. After attending a Catholic…

B-0125505

1878-1942

Paul De Groot

… Paul de Groot was born in Surabaya, Indonesia on 11 January 1878. Paul de Groot … received training for the stage at the  Toneelschool  in Amsterdam. His…

B-0007982

1995

Enver Hassim

… Enver Hassim was born in the Transvaal, where he was part of a large family, with … challenging beginnings did not stop him from excelling in a range of…

B-0080308

1962-2013

Jacob “Baby Jake” Matlala

… Jacob Matlala was born in 1962 in Meadowlands, Johannesburg. At the age of 10 he started … about boxing that he decided to turn professional in 1979. At a…

B-0008489

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 … University of Stellenbosch, where he…

B-0007981

1931-2019

Isaac Lesiba ‘Bra Ike’ Maphotho

… Isaac Lesiba Maphotho (Bra Ike) was born in Ga-Makgato (Blouberg Municipality) on 26 February 1931.  … his Standard 6 (Grade Eight) at Uitkyk Secondary…

B-0068219

1936

Bhekisisa Harold Nxasana

… Bhekisisa Nxasana was born on 26 September 1936 at Ixopo in southern Natal. His father, a teacher who later worked as a mine clerk, was killed in the Zulu…

B-0008833

Molefe Pheto

… Molefe Pheto grew up in Alexandra, Johannesburg. As a talented young boy who displayed many interests in the arts, he was sent to London to study music and…

B-0122658

14 January1918-1999

Dimitri Tsafendas

… mixed-race mother, his housemaid, Amelia Williams, in Mozambique on 14 January 1918. Early life Aged three, Tsafendas was sent to live in Egypt with his…

B-0009157

1952

Gert Petrus Swart

… Swart was born in Durban in 1952. After matriculating from Queensborough High School in 1969, he enrolled at the Natal Technical College, Durban, … Co…

B-0009115

1867-1946

Josiah Tshangana Gumede

… Josiah Tshangana Gumede was born on 9th October 1867 in Healdtown Village, Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape. His father, John Gumede, and his mother ……

B-0008131

1809-1882

Bishop Nathaniel James Merriman

… Born in Marlborough (England) on the 4th of April 1809, died in Grahamstown on the 16th of August 1882. Educated at … Merriman was appointed curate of Street…

B-0008547

1930-2014

Nelson “Nana” Mahomo

… Nelson "Nana” Mahomo was born in 1930 in the Orange Free State, the son of a Dutch Reformed clergyman, he attended Kroonstad High School in the late 1940s…

B-0008383

1929-2000

Esme Bodenstein

… Esme Bodenstein was born on 6 July 1929 in Johannesburg . She trained as a physiotherapist at St Mary’s Hospital in London before moving to Cape Town . There…

B-0094568

1926

Kesval “Kay” Moonsamy

… “Kay” Moonsamy was born on 5 July 1926. He was active in the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) from the mid-1940s onward. In the early 1950s he served as treasurer…

B-0068092