List of famous people from Pretoria(Tshwane), South Africa
List of famous people from Pretoria(Tshwane), South Africa
Pretoria (renamed Tshwane) is the administrative capital of capital city of South Africa, located in the north-east of the country in the province of Gauteng. The city was established in 1855, and named after Voortrekkers leader Andries Pretorius.
Famously known as Pretorians, the city has one of South Africa's most multi-racial and multi-ethnic populations, thanks in part to its capital city status and being surrounded by most of South Africa's biggest economic, manufacturing, mining and commercial regions (Johannesburg, Rustenburg, North-West, Southern Limpopo & Witbank Mpumalanga being some of the major areas surrounding Pretoria) boasting an estimated population of 2,921,488 in its metropolitan municipality making it the country's 4tth largest city. The city also has the unique distinction of being the largest city in South Africa with a white majority population which stands at 52,5%, rare among South Africa's cities and towns.
Once known for being the capital of the South African Republic, Union of South Africa and the seat of the Apartheid government, Pretoria has since the dawn of democracy transformed itself into a representative and vibrant city, producing some of the country's biggest names and leaders.
The following is a list of famous people born/raised in Pretoria:
** (This list is incomplete)**
Politics
Peter Hain - British politician
Magnus Malan - minister of defence
Herman Mashaba - former Mayor of Johannesburg, businessman: most famously known for founding succesful hair products company, Black Like Me
Solly Msimanga - leader of the opposition in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, former mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
Gwen Ramokgopa - mayor of City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and served as the Gauteng provincial health minister from 1998-2006
Activists
Solomon Mahlangu - freedom fighter, struggle activist and operative
Jeff Masemola nicknamed the "The Lion of Azania" - Anti-Apartheid Movement activist, teacher, and founder of the armed wing of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
Lillian Ngoyi - Anti-Apartheid Movement activist
Zulaikha Patel - anti-racism activist
Top officials & leaders
Edwin Cameron - Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Marike de Klerk - First Lady of South Africa: 1989 - 1994
Brian Galgut - Deputy Judge President of the High Court in the KwaZulu-Natal Division.
Kallie Kriel - lawyer, CEO of AfriForum
Ismail Mahomed - Chief Justice of South Africa
Dikgang Moseneke - Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa
Business
Roelof Botha - actuary, venture capitalist and company director (born in Pretoria, raised in Cape Town)
Lauritz Dippenaar - self-made millionaire, former chairman of First Rand Group
Patrice Motsepe - billionaire businessman, football administrator, president of Confederation of African Football (born in Ga-Rankuwa, raised in Soweto)
Elon Musk - international business magnate, industrial designer, and engineer[1]
Kimbal Musk - restaurateur, chef, and entrepreneur
Giam Swiegers - Australian-based business executive
Magda Wierzycka - billionaire businesswoman (born in Gliwice, Poland, raised in Pretoria)
Academics & writers
Frances Ames - neurologist, psychiatrist, and human rights activist
Eleanor Baker - writer
Margaret Becklake - Canadian academic and epidemiologist (born in London, United Kingdom, raised in Pretoria)
Damon Galgut - author & playwright
Richard Kunzmann - author (born in Namibia, raised in Pretoria)
Michael Levitt - biophysicist and a professor of structural biology at Stanford University
Eugène Marais - lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer
Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng - professor of mathematics education, vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town
Calie Pistorius - former Vice Chancellor of the University of Pretoria and University of Hull
Max Theiler - virologist and physician
Artists
Fanie Eloff - sculptor
Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef - landscape artist
Actors & Actresses
Anel Alexander - actress & producer
Maggie Benedict - actress
Hykie Berg - actor
Carien Botha - actress
Ivan Botha - actor, director
Jana Cilliers
Gopala Davies - actor
Elani Dekker - actress
Zack du Plessis - actor
Bennie Fourie - actor
Andre Frauenstein - actor
Armand Greyling - actor
Nompilo Gwala - actress
Hennie Jacobs - actor
Glynis Johns - actress, dancer
Sello Maake Ka-Ncube - actor (born in Soweto, raised in Atteridgeville)
Marcus Mabusela - actor, voice over artist
Nay Maps - actor
Tumisho Masha - actor, TV presenter, producer
Tsholofelo Matshaba - actress
Kaz McFadden - actor
Michelle Mosalakae - actress
Leera Mthethwa - actress
Carina Nel - actress
Aubrey Poo - actor
Sandra Prinsloo - actress
Donnalee Roberts - actress
Gérard Rudolf -actor
Seputla Sebogodi - actor
Brian Themba - actor
Lee Visagie - actress
Media personalities
Melanie Bala - TV presenter, radio personality
Gareth Cliff - radio DJ, TV personality, businessman
Casper de Vries - comedian
Lamiez Holworthy - DJ, TV presenter
Phat Joe - TV personality, radio DJ, businessman
Phuti Khomo - radio DJ, actress & TV personality
Kagiso Lediga - comedian, actor
Bob Mabena - radio DJ, TV presenter
Tim Modise - veteran journalist, broadcaster, public speaker and philanthropist.
Andile Ncube - sports TV presenter
Nico Panagio - TV presenter, actor
Liezel Van Der Westhuizen - radio presenter, MC
Models & beauty queens
Melinda Bam - Miss South Africa 2011, TV personality
Nicole Flint - Miss South Africa 2009
Claudia Henkel - Miss South Africa 2004
Anneline Kriel - Miss World 1974
Cindy Nell - Miss Universe 2003 2nd runner-up, TV presenter
Music
A-Reece - rapper
Julian Bahula, drummer, composer and bandleader
Bittereinder, electronic music band
Black Motion - house music duo
Chad (rapper) - rapper
Cutting Jade - five piece rock band
Vinny Da Vinci - DJ, music producer
Kurt Darren - singer-songwriter
Desmond and the Tutu's - pop rock band
DJ Maphorisa - producer, DJ, recording artist
DJ Sumbody - producer, DJ
Don Laka - music executive, producer, jazz musician
Ampie du Preez - singer-songwriter
Duck and Cover - Hard rock music band
Isochronous (band) - rock band
Khalil (band) - rnb vocal quartet
Vusi Mahlasela - musician, songwriter
Makgona Tsohle Band - instrumental band that is noted for creating the mbaqanga music style
Dr. Malinga - singer, dancer, TV personality
Elaine - singer
Steve Hofmeyr - singe-songwriter, actor
Kabza De Small - DJ, producer, recording artist
Thys Nywerheid - alternative rock band
Petit Cheval - New Romantic rock group
Rouge (rapper)
Shiraz - pop music group
Robbie Wessels - singer-songwriter
The Narrow - alternative rock band
Tutu Puoane - jazz musician
Sports
Mark Anderson (South African footballer)
Eddie Barlow - cricketer with the South Africa national cricket team
Jackie Botten - cricketer
George Coetzee - golfer
Rik de Voest - tennis player
Faf du Plessis - cricketer, former captain of South Africa national cricket team
Fourie du Preez - rubgy player, South Africa national rugby union team, 2007 Rugby World Cup winning player
Vanes-Mari Du Toit - netball player with the South Africa national netball team
Mark Fish - football player, South Africa national football team, 1996 African Cup of Nations winning player
Ken Funston - cricketer
Simon Harmer - cricketer with South Africa national cricket team
Lucky Lekgwathi - footballer, Captain of the treble-winning Orlando Pirates team & the South Africa national football team
Werner Lupberger - racing driver
Suné Luus - cricketer with the South Africa women's national cricket team
Joas Magolego - footballer with the South Africa national football team
Frank Makua - footballer
Sydney Maree - athlete, copeted at the 1988 Summer Olympics for the United States
Aiden Markram - cricketer with South Africa national cricket team
Thulasizwe Mbuyane - football player, most notably with Orlando Pirates & South Africa national football team
Bennett Mnguni - footballer with the South Africa national football team
Themba Mnguni - footballer with the South Africa national football team
Zane Moosa - football player, South Africa national football team, 1996 African Cup of Nations winning player
Lucas 'Masterpieces" Moripe - football player
Chris Morris (cricketer) - cricketer with South Africa national cricket team
Daniel Mudau - football player, most notably with Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.
Edward Motale - footballer
Oscar Pistorius - paralympian athlete
Quinn Roux - rugby player with the Ireland national rugby union team
Pierre Spies - rugby player with the South Africa national rugby union team
Cameron van der Burgh - swimmer, 2012 Summer Olympics gold medalist
Rassie van der Dussen - cricketer with South Africa national cricket team
Joost van der Westhuizen - rugby player, former captain & South Africa national rugby union team, 1995 Rugby World Cup winning player
Ivan van Zyl - rugby player with the South Africa national rugby union team
Tucker Vorster - tennis player
Neil Wagner - cricketer with the New Zealand national cricket team
Other
Gerard Moerdijk - architect most famous for designing the Voortrekker Monument