People from South Africa

22 people remembered here.

• 
  Desmond Tutu

  1931 – 2021 · Archbishop and anti-apartheid activist

  If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

  166 candles · 14 tributes
• 
  Nelson Mandela

  1918 – 2013 · Anti-apartheid leader and President of South Africa

  It always seems impossible until it's done.

  162 candles · 12 tributes
• 
  Owen Ndlovu

  † 2026 · SABC sports presenter

  SABC sports voice who fought for musicians' rights and brought colour to the airwaves.

  54 candles · 5 tributes
• 
  Abdullah Ibrahim

  1934 – 2026 · Pianist

  Cape Town's piano voice; exile anthem maker; Mandela's Mozart.

  47 candles · 9 tributes
• 
  Enos Mafokate

  1944 – 2026 · Show jumper

  Kgosi ya Dipere who opened the arena and then the Soweto gates.

  45 candles · 10 tributes
• 
  Liam Lynch

  † 2026 · Photographer

  South African rock photographer who framed Fokofpolisiekar's early years.

  10 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Andrew Milne

  † 2026 · Fintech entrepreneur

  Co-founder of Kuunda, who built credit tools for Africa's mobile-money networks.

  9 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Dudley Coetzee

  † 2026 · Politician

  Overstrand's careful keeper of the public purse, who served his coastal towns as mayor and councillor to the very end.

  8 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Hyron Andrews

  1995 – 2026 · Rugby union player

  Towering Sharks, Sale and Lions lock, a husband and father of two, taken far too young.

  8 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Babsy Mlangeni

  1943 – 2026 · Singer

  Township soul pioneer whose voice crossed every language line in South Africa.

  7 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Frans Kgomo

  1950 – 2026 · High Court judge

  From court clerk to High Court judge; a long life in South African justice.

  7 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Zolani Tete

  1988 – 2026 · Professional boxer

  Mdantsane southpaw who set a Guinness title-fight KO record and became a two-division world champion.

  7 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Albert Mazibuko

  1948 – 2026 · Isicathamiya tenor

  Ladysmith Black Mambazo tenor for 55 years who carried isicathamiya from Ladysmith to the world.

  7 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Sibusisiwe Gugu Manqele

  † 2026 · Screenwriter and actress

  South African screenwriter and actress who championed isiZulu and local storytelling.

  6 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Paris Mashile

  1948 – 2026 · Engineer

  An engineer who pushed South Africa's phone networks to lower their prices.

  6 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Samuel Mashaba

  † 2026 · Traffic police chief inspector

  Gauteng traffic police chief inspector whose evidence on the Aeroton cocaine seizure drew national attention.

  6 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Danny Harris

  † 2026 · Guitarist

  Durban guitarist and founding member of The Raiders, remembered for a lifetime of music and teaching.

  6 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Liza Key

  † 2026 · Documentary filmmaker and festival director

  She pushed films past apartheid's censors and gave South African stories room to breathe.

  5 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Simon Seekoei

  1956 – 2026 · Pastor and gospel singer

  Cape gospel pioneer whose songs, from We See a New South Africa to Here lei my, are still sung in churches.

  4 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Mfana Jones Hlophe

  1971 – 2026 · Actor

  From Sarafina! to Generations, he sang, danced and practically raised a generation of actors.

  4 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Khulu Phasiwe

  † 2026 · Financial journalist and corporate communications specialist

  Eskom's voice through the load shedding years, a journalist turned communicator who kept South Africa informed.

  4 candles · 1 tributes
• 
  Lisa Koppel

  † 2026 · Attorney

  Johannesburg attorney remembered for quiet courage and family love.

  4 candles · 1 tributes