SAHO global search

1804-1856

Chief Sekonyela

… Sekonyela was born in 1804 in Harrismith next to the Wilge River. He was born in the royal family and later became the Chief of the Batlokwa people. His…

B-0009012

1930

Matthew Nkoana

… Matthew Nkoana was born about 1930 in the rural northern Transvaal near Pietersburg. After … In 1952 he came to Johannesburg and got a job on the  Bantu…

B-0068268

1800

Bishop Samuel Adjai Crowther

… Born about 1800, in Zomba, Central Africa. From his youth the boy showed the signs of greatness and it was clear that he had a future. The country frequently…

B-0007965

1915

Benjamin S. Rajuili

… Benjamin S. Rajuili was born in the Sotho-speaking Matatiele district of the Transkei in 1915, the son of a schoolmaster. He attended Lovedale and Fort ……

B-0008932

1930

Plaatjies Joseph Paul

… June in 1930 in Ferreirastown,Johannesburg.Joseph joined the Transvaal Indian Congress Youth League as a teenager. … a leather-worker by day in a furniture…

B-0008219

1903-1979

Johannes (Jan) de Klerk

… de Klerk was born on 22 July 1903 in Burgersdorp. He was the eldest son of Reverend Willem de Klerk and Aletta … school at Potchefstroom and from 1923 to…

B-0007986

1964

Thinus Mathee

… his schooling, he completed his national service in the SA Army. While at school, he developed a keen interest in photography. He photographed for the school…

B-0008483

1817-1887

Jan Gerritze Bantjes

… leader Jacob de Clercq's group who arrived at Blesberg, in the present-day  Orange Free State , during the  Great Trek  in 1837. He was appointed secretary…

B-0007822

C. S. Ramohanoe

… C. S Ramohanoe was a provincial President of the Transvaal  African National Congress  (ANC) from 1944 to 1950 and later head of the faction known as the…

B-0008937

1955

Gana Makabeni

… Gana Makabeni  was born in the Transkei.  He attended a Communist night school and joined the  Communist Party of South Africa  (SACP) as a young worker in…

B-0008391

1954

Lele Jacob Motaung

… Please note: This biography is a modified extract from the following source: Prisoners Of Apartheid , A biographical … .p.68 Lele Motaung was tried with…

B-0008660

1934

Abdulhay Jassat

… Abdulhay Jassat became involved in politics as a member of the   Transvaal Indian Congress  (TIC), which was an affiliate of the Congress Alliance in the…

B-0008200

1941-2020

Joseph 'Headman' Shabalala

… in 1941 and town of Ladysmith (eMnambithi district) in the Kwazulu-natal region was a member of the internationally renowned South African vocal group, ……

B-0009027

1891-1965

Dr Silas Modiri Molema

… 1891 in Mafikeng, South Africa. His father was a member of the Royal family of the Barolong chieftaincy and was secretary and chief advisors to Chief…

B-0068069

1950

Thenjiwe Mtintso

… father Gana Makabeni  was a trade unionist and a member of the African National Congress (ANC). Mtintso faced financial … finance her part-time studies at…

B-0093589

Approx 1870s-1935

Isaiah Mdliwamafa Shembe

… Isaiah Shembe was born at Ntabamhlophe near Escourt in the Drakensberg region (near Giants Castle). His forefathers had settled there to escape the regiments…

B-0121675

1941-2011

Ian Mkhize

… diploma. He taught at Mthethomusha High before joining the Department of Education in Pietermaritzburg. Mkhize was a member of the  African National Congress…

B-0064851

1970-2004

Phaswane Mpe

… Northern Transvaal (now Polokwane , Limpopo). At the age of 19, he left for Johannesburg to study African Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand …

B-0097085

1908-1984

Frederick Hutchinson Page

… in his work, mostly employing either tempera or acrylic. The artist often claimed that he limited his palette to black … Page moved from one job to another,…

B-0008859

1921-1976

Leslie Massina

… Massina left school to become a factory worker. He was the son of Luke Masssina,a police detective who had been gain access into the African National…

B-0008477

1944

Kaizer Motaung

… playing soccer at a young age and turned professional at the age of 16 when he joined Orlando Pirates. He entered the international scene when he was…

B-0096409

1956

Stephen Marais

… and a civil servant most of his life but his upset with the disparities and inequalities of Apartheid made a huge … first act of civil disobedience was on 31…

B-0125758

1935

Esther Mahlangu

… born in 1935 on a farm outside Middleburg , in what is now the Mpumalanga province. She was the first of nine children: six boys and three girls. … using a…

B-0098967

George Montsioa

… Born at Mafeking in 1885, grandson of the great and distinguished Natural Ruler of the Barolong Tribe. He received his early education at his … for higher…

B-0008634

J. Congress M. Mbata

… at St. Peter's Secondary School, at Fort Hare, and at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 1940 he joined the faculty of St. Peter's and subsequently…

B-0008509

1931

Matsobane Morris Matsemela

… Matsobane Morris Matsemela was born in 1931. He attended the Mashashane School up to Standard 6. Matsemela started … his uncle’s dairy farm in Lady Selbourne…

B-0068679

1949-2004

Matome Maponya

… Matome Maponya was born on May 14 1949 in the Thabakgone village of Lephapane in the district of Tzaneen, where his parents eked out an … homestead. At…

B-0008440