This is a list of writers from South Africa.

A

Lionel Abrahams Lionel Abrahams (11 April 1928 – 31 May 2004) was a South African novelist, poet, editor, critic, essayist and publisher. He was born in Johannesburg, where he lived his entire life. He was born with cerebral palsy and had to use a wheelchai ...

(1928–2004) *

Peter Abrahams Peter Henry Abrahams Deras (3 March 1919 – 18 January 2017), commonly known as Peter Abrahams, was a South African-born novelist, journalist and political commentator who in 1956 settled in Jamaica, where he lived for the rest of his life. Hi ...

(1919–2017) * Rehane Abrahams (born 1970) * Wilna Adriaanse (born 1958) * Tatamkulu Afrika (1920–2002), born in

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

Lawrence Anthony Lawrence Anthony (17 September 1950 – 2 March 2012) was an international conservationist, environmentalist, explorer and bestselling author. He was the long-standing head of conservation at the Thula Thula animal reserve in Zululand, Sout ...

(1950–2012) *

Hennie Aucamp Hennie Aucamp (20 January 1934 – 20 March 2014) was a South African Afrikaans poet, short story writer, cabaretist and academic. He grew up on a farm in the Stormberg highlands and matriculated at Jamestown, Eastern Cape before continuing his ...

(1934–2014) * Diane Awerbuck (born 1974)

B

* C. Johan Bakkes (born 1956) * Christiaan Bakkes (born 1965) * Margaret Bakkes (1931–2016) *

Jillian Becker Jillian Becker (born 2 June 1932) is a South African-born British author, journalist, and lecturer. She specialises in research about terrorism, having written '' Hitler's Children: The Story of the Baader-Meinhof Terrorist Gang'' (1977), amo ...

(born 1932) *

Shabbir Banoobhai Shabbir Banoobhai (born 23 October 1949) is a South African poet. Biography He was born in Durban and, after school wanted to study at University. The costs were prohibitive, and instead he studied to become a teacher at Springfield College. He ...

(born 1949) *

Lady Anne Barnard Lady Anne Barnard (née Lindsay; 8 December 17506 May 1825) was a Scottish travel writer, artist and socialite, and the author of the ballad ''Auld Robin Gray''. Her five-year residence in Cape Town, South Africa, although brief, had a signific ...

(1750–1825) *

Lesley Beake Lesley Beake (born 1949) is a Scottish-born South African children's author. Life Lesley Beake was born and went to school in Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Hist ...

(born 1949) *

Mark Behr Mark Behr (19 October 1963 – 27 November 2015) was a Tanzanian-born writer who grew up in South Africa. He was professor of English literature and creative writing at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee. He also taught in the MA program at the ...

(born 1963), South Africa/Tanzania *

Dricky Beukes Dricky Beukes (29 December 1918 – 9 November 1999) was a South African writer of Afrikaans novels, short stories and radio dramas. Beukes wrote more than a hundred Afrikaans novels, a large number of short stories and numerous Afrikaans radio d ...

(1918–1999) *

Lauren Beukes Lauren Beukes (born 5 June 1976) is a South African novelist, short story writer, journalist and television scriptwriter. Early life Lauren Beukes was born 5 June 1976. She grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. She attended Roedean School in J ...

(born 1976) *

Steve Biko Bantu Stephen Biko (18 December 1946 – 12 September 1977) was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Ideologically an African nationalist and African socialist, he was at the forefront of a grassroots anti-apartheid campaign known ...

(1946–1977) * Troy Blacklaws (born 1965) *

François Bloemhof François Bloemhof is a South African author, playwright, composer, copywriter and film reviewer. He writes mostly in Afrikaans and has won a number of prizes for his work. Biography Bloemhof was born in the town of Paarl in the Cape Province, ...

(born 1962) *

Elleke Boehmer Elleke Boehmer, FRSL, FRHistS (born 1961) is Professor of World Literature in English at the University of Oxford, and a Professorial Governing Body Fellow at Wolfson College. She is an acclaimed novelist and a founding figure in the field of ...

(born 1961) *

Stella Blakemore Stella Blakemore (1906–1991) was a South African woman writer of Afrikaans youth novels. Roots Blakemore was born in a tent near Lindley in the Orange River Colony on 13 April 1906. She went to school in Natal. Her mother, Emmarentia Susanna ...

(1906–1991) * William Bolitho (1891–1930) *

Diphete Bopape Heniel Diphete D. Bopape (born 1957) is a South African novelist, playwright and journalist. Biography Bopape was born in Transvaal Province, in what today is Limpopo. He graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Unisa in 1987. At the time he wa ...

(born 1957) *

Herman Charles Bosman Herman Charles Bosman (5 February 1905 – 14 October 1951) is widely regarded as South Africa's greatest short-story writer. He studied the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain and developed a style emphasizing the use of satire. His Englis ...

(1905–1951) *

Alba Bouwer Albertha Magdalena Bouwer (16 March 1920 – 5 October 2010) was a South African Afrikaans-writing journalist and author. She is best known for her series of children's stories about the experiences of a small girl called Alie growing up in the ...

(1920–2010) *

Johanna Brandt Johanna Brandt (18 November 1876 in Heidelberg, Gauteng, Heidelberg, South African Republic – 13 January 1964 in Newlands, Cape Town) was a South African propagandist of Afrikaners, Afrikaner nationalism, spy during the Boer War, prophet and ...

(1876–1964) *

Breyten Breytenbach Breyten Breytenbach (; born 16 September 1939) is a South African writer, poet and painter known for his opposition to apartheid, and consequent imprisonment by the South African government. He is informally considered as the national poet lau ...

(born 1939) * André Brink (1935–2015) *

Babette Brown Babette Brown (1931 – 10 February 2019) was a South African writer on race and diversity issues who was based in the United Kingdom. Brown was born in Johannesberg. She would Parktown High School for Girls, graduating from the University of ...

(1931–2019) *

Dennis Brutus Dennis Vincent Brutus (28 November 1924 – 26 December 2009) was a South African activist, educator, journalist and poet best known for his campaign to have South Africa banned from the Olympic Games due to its racial policy of apartheid. ...

(1924–2009) * Guy Butler (1918–2001)

C–D

* Roy Campbell (1901–1957) * Cecile Cilliers (1933–2018) * Stuart Cloete (1897–1976) *

J. M. Coetzee John Maxwell Coetzee OMG (born 9 February 1940) is a South African–Australian novelist, essayist, linguist, translator and recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is one of the most critically acclaimed and decorated authors in ...

(born 1940), awarded 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature *

Bryce Courtenay Arthur Bryce Courtenay, (14 August 1933 – 22 November 2012) was a South African-Australian advertising director and novelist. He is one of Australia's best-selling authors, notable for his book '' The Power of One''. Background and early ye ...

(1933–2012) *

Jeremy Cronin Jeremy Patrick Cronin (born 12 September 1949) is a South African writer, author, and noted poet. A longtime activist in politics, Cronin is a member of the South African Communist Party and a former member of the National Executive Committee of ...

(born 1949) *

Patrick Cullinan Patrick Roland Cullinan (21 May 1932 – 14 April 2011) was a South African poet and biographer. He was born in Pretoria into a significant diamond-mining family (his grandfather, Sir Thomas Cullinan, a diamond mine owner, gave his name t ...

(1932–2011) *

Achmat Dangor Achmat Dangor (2 October 1948 – 6 September 2020) was a South African writer, poet, and development professional. His most important works include the novels ''Kafka's Curse'' (1997) and ''Bitter Fruit'' (2001). He was also the author of three ...

(1948–2020) *

Ingrid de Kok Ingrid de Kok aka Ingrid Fiske (born 1951) is a South African author and poet. Biography Ingrid de Kok grew up in Stilfontein, a gold mining town in what was then the Western Transvaal Province, Transvaal. When she was 12 years old, her paren ...

(born 1951) *

Phillippa Yaa de Villiers Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (born 17 February 1966)Phillippa Yaa de Vill ...

(born 1966) * Rolfes Robert Reginald Dhlomo (1901–1971) *

Finuala Dowling Finuala Dowling (born June 1962) is a South African poet and writer. Biography The seventh of eight children born to radio broadcasters Eve van der Byl and Paddy Dowling, Finuala Dowling obtained an MA in English from the University of Cape Tow ...

(born 1962) * Zebulon Dread (living) *

K. Sello Duiker Kabelo Sello Duiker (13 April 1974 – 19 January 2005) was a South African novelist. His debut novel, ''Thirteen Cents'', won the 2001 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book, Africa Region. His second novel, ''The Quiet Violence of Drea ...

(1974–2005)

E–G

Tony Eprile Tony Eprile is a South African writer. Early life Tony Eprile was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1955 to Jewish parents. He emigrated with his parents to the United States between 1970 and 1972 and lives in Vermont. He has taught at Nor ...

(born 1955), lives in the United States * Ahmed Essop (1931–2019), born in India, grew up in Johannesburg *

Elisabeth Eybers Elisabeth Françoise Eybers (26 February 1915 – 1 December 2007) was a South African poet. Her poetry was mainly in Afrikaans, although she translated some of her own work (and those of others) into English. Eybers was born in Klerksdorp, ...

(1915–2007) * Mary Faulkner (1903–1973) *

Ruth First Heloise Ruth First (4 May 1925 – 17 August 1982) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and scholar. She was assassinated in Mozambique, where she was working in exile, by a parcel bomb built by South African police. Family and edu ...

(1925–1982) *Sir

Percy FitzPatrick Sir James Percy FitzPatrick, (24 July 1862 – 24 January 1931), known as Percy FitzPatrick, was a South African author, politician, mining financier and pioneer of the fruit industry. He authored the classic children's book, ''Jock of the Bus ...

(1862–1931) * Charles J. Fourie (born 1965) *

Lynn Freed Lynn Freed is a writer known for her work as a novelist, essayist, and writer of short stories. Life Lynn Freed was born and grew up in Durban, South Africa. She came to New York City as a graduate student, receiving her M.A. and Ph.D. in Eng ...

(born 1945) *

Dave Freer Dave Freer is a South African–born, Australian-based science fiction author writing mostly humorous or alternate history novels. Biography Freer was born and educated in South Africa. He grew up on the edge of a city next to a ~500-acre natu ...

(born 1959) *

Graeme Friedman Graeme Friedman is a clinical psychologist and an award-winning writer whose short stories have appeared in anthologies published internationally. His book ''The Fossil Artist'' (Jacana, 2010), a novel about crime, authenticity, what it means to be ...

* Stacey Fru (born 2007) *

Athol Fugard Athol Fugard, Hon. , (born 11 June 1932), is a South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director widely regarded as South Africa's greatest playwright. He is best known for his political and penetrating plays opposing the system of apart ...

(born 1932) * Sheila Fugard (born 1932, in England) *

Damon Galgut Damon Galgut (born 12 November 1963) is a South African novelist and playwright. He was awarded the 2021 Booker Prize for his novel '' The Promise'', having previously been shortlisted for the award in 2003 and 2010. Early life and education Ga ...

(born 1963) *

Nadine Gordimer Nadine Gordimer (20 November 192313 July 2014) was a South African writer and political activist. She received the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991, recognized as a writer "who through her magnificent epic writin ...

(1923–2014), awarded 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature * Khaya Gqibitole * Stephen Gray (1941–2020) * Michael Cawood Green (born 1954) *

Miriam Green Miriam Green (born c.1950) is a South-African/British organizational theorist, and Senior Lecturer in Organisation Studies in the Department of Management and Professional Development at London Metropolitan University from 1980 to 2008.London ...

(born c. 1950) living in England *

Mafika Gwala Mafika Pascal Gwala (5 October 1946 – 5 September 2014) was a contemporary South African poet and editing, editor, writing in English language, English and Zulu language, Zulu. Early life and education Mafika Gwala was born and grew up in Verul ...

(1946–2014)

H–J

* Megan Hall (born 1972) * Joan Hambidge (born 1956) *

Bessie Head Bessie Amelia Emery Head (6 July 1937 – 17 April 1986) was a South African writer who, though born in South Africa, is usually considered Botswana's most influential writer. She wrote novels, short fiction and autobiographical works that are ...

(1937–1986), born in South Africa, mainly in Botswana * Cat Hellisen (born 1977) *

Manu Herbstein Manu Herbstein (born 1936) is the South African author of ''Ama: A Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, Ama, a Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade'' (2001), which won the 2002 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book, the first time the award ha ...

(born 1936) * Christopher Hope (born 1944) * Emma Huismans (born 1947) *

Robin Hyde Robin Hyde, the pseudonym used by Iris Guiver Wilkinson (19 January 1906 – 23 August 1939), was a South African-born New Zealand poet, journalist and novelist. Early life Wilkinson was born in Cape Town to an English father and an Australia ...

(1906–1939), born in South Africa, living in New Zealand writer * Mhlobo Jadezweni (born 1954) * Cynthia Jele *

Ingrid Jonker Ingrid may refer to: * Ingrid (given name) * Ingrid (record label), and artist collective * Ingrid Burley, rapper known mononymously as Ingrid * Tropical Storm Ingrid, various cyclones * 1026 Ingrid, an asteroid * InGrid, the grid computing project ...

(1933–1965) *

Archibald Campbell Jordan Archibald Campbell Mzolisa "A.C." Jordan (30 October 1906 – 20 October 1968) was a novelist, literary historian and intellectual pioneer of African studies in South Africa. Early life He was born at the Mbokothwane Mission in the Tsolo distric ...

(1906–1968) *

Elsa Joubert Elsabé Antoinette Murray Joubert OIS (19 October 1922 – 14 June 2020) was a Sestigers Afrikaans-language writer. She rose to prominence with her novel '' Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena'' (The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena), which was tra ...

(1922–2020) *

Gideon Joubert Gideon Joubert (4 September 1923 – 27 October 2010) was a South African writer and journalist (at ''Die Burger'') who was known for his intelligent design-opinions, especially present in his book, '' Die Groot Gedagte'', which was his bigges ...

(1923–2010) *

Amy Jephta Amy Jephta is a South African playwright, screenwriter and theatre director. Works include ''Kristalvlakte'', ''Ellen: The Ellen Pakkies Story'', ''Other People's Lives'', ''Sonskyn Beperk'', and ''While You Weren't Looking''. She is a lecturer a ...

(born 1987)

K–L

* Harry Kalmer (1956–2019) *

John Christoffel Kannemeyer John Christoffel Kannemeyer, better known as J. C. Kannemeyer (31 March 1939 – 25 December 2011) was an authority on Afrikaans literature and a well-known biographer of Afrikaans writers, and published numerous books on the history of Afrikaa ...

(1939–2011) *

Farida Karodia Farida Karodia (born 1942) is a South African novelist and short-story writer. Biography Farida Karoida was born in the eastern Cape province, a location that inspired the setting for her first novel, ''Daughters of Twilight'' (1986). She taugh ...

(born 1942) * Anne Kellas (born 1951), also connected with Australia *

Keorapetse Kgositsile Keorapetse William Kgositsile (19 September 1938 – 3 January 2018), also known by his pen name Bra Willie, was a South African Tswana poet, journalist and political activist. An influential member of the African National Congress in the 196 ...

(1938–2018) *

Fred Khumalo Fred Khumalo (born 4 August 1966) is a South African journalist and author. His books encompass various genres, including novels, non-fiction, memoir and short stories. Among awards he has received are the European Union Literary Award, the Al ...

(born 1966) *

Robert Kirby Robert Kirby (16 April 1948 – 3 October 2009) was a British-born arranger of string sections for rock and folk music. He was best known for his work on the Nick Drake albums, ''Five Leaves Left'' and '' Bryter Layter'', but also worked ...

(1936–2007) *

Antjie Krog Antjie Krog (born 23 October 1952) is a South African writer and academic, best known for her Afrikaans poetry, her reporting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and her 1998 book '' Country of My Skull''. In 2004, she joined the Arts f ...

(born 1952) *

Mazisi Kunene Mazisi (Raymond) Kunene (12 May 1930 – 11 August 2006) was a South African poet best known for his translation of the epic Zulu poem '' Emperor Shaka the Great''. While in exile from South Africa's apartheid regime, Kunene was an active suppo ...

(1930–2006) *

Richard Kunzmann Richard Kunzmann (born 1976) is a Namibian born novelist, predominantly of crime fiction. He grew up in South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is ...

(born 1976) *

Ellen Kuzwayo Nnoseng Ellen Kate Kuzwayo (29 June 1914 – 19 April 2006) was a women's rights activist and politician in South Africa, and was a teacher from 1938 to 1952. She was president of the African National Congress Youth League in the 1960s. In 19 ...

(1914–2006) *

Alex La Guma Alex La Guma (20 February 1924 – 11 October 1985) was a South African novelist, leader of the South African Coloured People's Organisation (SACPO) and a defendant in the Treason Trial, whose works helped characterise the movement against ...

(1925–1985) * David Lambkin (born 1947), born in the United Kingdom *

Anne Landsman Anne Landsman (born 14 April 1959) is a novelist. She was born in Worcester, South Africa, the daughter of a country doctor, and is a graduate of the University of Cape Town and Columbia University. Until 2001, she lectured at The New School un ...

(born 1959) * Mandla Langa (born 1950) *

C.J. Langenhoven Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven (13 August 1873 – 15 July 1932), who published under his initials C.J. Langenhoven, was a South African poet who played a major role in the development of Afrikaans literature and cultural history. His poetry was ...

(1873–1932) * Greg Lazarus *

Etienne Leroux Etienne Leroux (13 June 1922 – 30 December 1989) was an Afrikaans writer and a member of the South African Sestigers literary movement. Early life and career Etienne Leroux was born in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape on 13 June 1922 as Stepha ...

(1922–1989) *

Christine Barkhuizen le Roux Christine Barkhuizen le Roux (18 November 1959 – 18 November 2020) was a South African Afrikaans writer of poems, novels and short stories. A Bachelor of Arts English, Psychology and Theology graduate of Stellenbosch University, she made her deb ...

(1959–2020) * Steve Linde (born 1960), newspaperman * Douglas Livingstone (1932–1996), born in

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

Anna M. Louw Anna M. Louw (31 December 191312 June 2003) was a South African author. She was born in Calvinia in a so-called "Nagmaalhuis" (Sunday House, for an outlying family attending church). Her father was a sheep farmer near Calvinia on the farm Soetwa ...

(1913–2003)

M

* M.E.R. (1875–1975) * Rozena Maart (born 1962) * E. S. Madima * Tenda Madima *

Sindiwe Magona Sindiwe Magona (born 27 August 1943) is a South African writer. Early life Magona is a native of the former Transkei region, South Africa. She grew up in Gugulethu, a Cape Town township, and worked as a domestic while completing her secondary ed ...

(born 1943) *

Arthur Maimane John Arthur Mogale Maimane (5 October 1932 – 28 June 2005), better known as Arthur Maimane, was a South African journalist and novelist. Biography Maimane was born in Pretoria, South Africa, growing up in the black township of Lady Selborne.D ...

(1932–2005) * Angela Makholwa (born 1976) *

Rian Malan Rian Malan (born 1954, in Johannesburg) is a South African author, journalist, documentarist and songwriter of Afrikaner descent. He first rose to prominence as the author of the memoir '' My Traitor's Heart'', which, like the bulk of his wor ...

(born 1954) *

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

(1918–2013) *

Eugène Marais Eugène Nielen Marais (; 9 January 1871 – 29 March 1936) was a South African lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer. He has been hailed as an intellectual genius and an Afrikaner hero. His early years, before and during the Boer War Marais w ...

(1871–1936) * Mohale Mashigo (born 1983) *

John Mateer John Mateer (born 1971) is a South African-born Australian poet and author. Early life and education He was born in Roodepoort, South Africa in 1971, and grew up on the outskirts of Johannesburg. He spent some of his childhood in Canada, before ...

(born 1971), also tied to Australia * Mark Mathabane (born 1960) *

Todd Matshikiza Todd Tozama Matshikiza (1921–1968) was a South African jazz pianist, composer and journalist. Overview Matshikiza came from a musical family. He graduated from St Peter's College in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, and went on to obtain a d ...

(1921–1968) *

Don Mattera Donato Francisco Mattera (29 December 1935 – 18 July 2022), better known as Don Mattera, was a South African poet and author. Overview Born in 1935 in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, Union of South Africa, Mattera g ...

(1935–2022) *

Dalene Matthee Dalene Matthee (13 October 1938 – 20 February 2005) was a South African author best known for her four "Forest Novels", written in and around the Knysna Forest. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages, including English, Fren ...

(1938–2005) * James McClure (1939–2006) * Michelle McGrane (born 1974), born in

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

Zakes Mda Zakes Mda ( ), legally Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda (born 1948) is a South African novelist, poet and playwright and he is the son of politician A. P. Mda. He has won major South African and British literary awards for his novels and plays. He i ...

(born 1948) * Joan Metelerkamp (born 1956) *

Deon Meyer Deon Godfrey Meyer is a South African thriller novelist, writing in Afrikaans. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages. He has also written numerous scripts for television and film. Life and career Meyer was born on 4 July 1 ...

(born 1958) *

Thando Mgqolozana Thando Mgqolozana (born 27 August 1983, in Cape Town, South Africa) is a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, a recipient of the Golden Key International Honour for Scholastic Achievement, and one of the ''Mail & Guardian''’s Top 200 Young South Africans of ...

(born 1983) * Niq Mhlongo (born 1973) *

Gcina Mhlophe Nokugcina Elsie Mhlophe (born 24 October 1958), known as Gcina Mhlophe, is a South African storyteller, writer, playwright, and actress. In 2016 she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women. She tells her stories in four of South Africa's languag ...

(born 1959) * Kirsten Miller *

Amitabh Mitra Amitabh Mitra ( bn, অমিতাভ মিত্র) is an Indian-born South African physician, poet and artist, whose paintings depict dramatised stick figures. Education and career Mitra studied medicine and did postgraduate studies in ort ...

Bloke Modisane William Modisane (28 August 1923 – 1 March 1986), better known as Bloke Modisane, was a South African writer, actor and journalist. Biography William "Bloke" Modisane, the eldest son of Joseph and Ma-Willie Modisane,Nelly E Sonderling (e ...

(1924–1986) *

Natalia Molebatsi Natalia Molebatsi is a South African writer, poet, performer, editor, and cultural organizer. Biography Natalia Molebatsi was born and raised in the township of Tembisa, near Johannesburg in South Africa.Casey Motsisi Karabo Moses Motsisi (1932–1977), better known as Casey Motsisi or Casey "Kid" Motsisi, was a South African short story writer and journalist. Biography Casey Motsisi was born in Western Native Township (later Westbury) in Johannesburg in 193 ...

(1932–1977) * Phaswane Mpe (1970–2004) * Es'kia (Ezekiel) Mphahlele (1919–2008) * Samuel E. K. Mqhayi (1875–1945) * Lidudumalingani Mqombothi *

Oswald Mtshali Mr Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali (born 17 January 1940) is a South African poet. He has written in Zulu language, Zulu, English language, English, and Afrikaans language, Afrikaans. He studied at Columbia University. He now lives in greenhills. ...

(born 1940) *

Ena Murray Ena Murray (27 December 1936 – 20 May 2015) was a well-known Afrikaans writer. During the 33 years that she wrote full-time, 131 titles appeared from her pen. She acquired renown mainly for her romance novels, but also wrote detective fiction, e ...

(1936–2015) *

Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa (21 July 1921 – 25 March 2020) was a Zulu sangoma (traditional healer) from South Africa. He was known as an author of books that draw upon African mythology, traditional Zulu folklore, extraterrestrial encounters ...

(1921–2020)

N–R

Njabulo Ndebele Njabulo Simakahle Ndebele (born 4 July 1948) is an academic and writer of fiction who is the former vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Cape Town (UCT). On November 16, 2012, he was inaugurated as the chancellor of the Univer ...

(born 1948) *

Lauretta Ngcobo Lauretta Ngcobo (13 September 1931 – 3 November 2015)

(1931–2015) *

Christopher Robert Nicholson Christopher Robert Nicholson, SC (born on 5 February 1945) is a retired South African High Court judge and a former cricketer, who played one first-class match for South African Universities in 1967. He attained prominence as a judge when he r ...

(born 1945) * Lisa de Nikolits *

Lewis Nkosi Lewis Nkosi (5 December 1936 – 5 September 2010) was a South African writer, who spent 30 years in exile as a consequence of restrictions placed on him and his writing by the Suppression of Communism Act and the Publications and Entertainme ...

(1936–2010) *

Arthur Nortje Arthur Kenneth Nortje (16 December 1942 – 11 December 1970) was a South African poet. Life Nortje was born in Oudtshoorn and went to school in Port Elizabeth, where he was taught by the acclaimed writer Dennis Brutus. After school he studied ...

(1942–1970) *

Sibusiso Nyembezi Cyril Lincoln Sibusiso Nyembezi (1919–2000) was a South African writer known as a Zulu novelist, poet, scholar, teacher and editor. ''Inkinsela yase Mgungundlovu'' was made into a television series because of the popularity of the novel. Bib ...

(1919–2000) * Joy Packer (1905–1977) *

Raj Patel Rajeev "Raj" Patel (born 1972) is a British Indian academic, journalist, activist and writer who has lived and worked in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the United States for extended periods. He has been referred to as "the rock star of social ju ...

(born 1972) *

Alan Paton Alan Stewart Paton (11 January 1903 – 12 April 1988) was a South African writer and anti-apartheid activist. His works include the novels ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' and '' Too Late the Phalarope''. Family Paton was born in Pietermaritzbu ...

(1903–1988) * Phumlani Pikoli (1988–2021) * Sol T. Plaatje (1876–1932) * Christine Qunta (born 1952) *

Jan Rabie Jan Sebastian Rabie (14 November 1920 - 15 November 2001) was an Afrikaans writer of short stories, novels and other literary works. He was born in George, and was the writer of twenty-one works. He was included under the Sestigers The Sestigers ...

(1920–2001) *

Mary Renault Eileen Mary Challans (4 September 1905 – 13 December 1983), known by her pen name Mary Renault ("She always pronounced it 'Ren-olt', though almost everyone would come to speak of her as if she were a French car." ), was an English writer best ...

(1905–1983) (immigrated to South Africa 1948) *

Richard Rive Richard Moore Rive (1 March 1931 – 4 June 1989) was a South African writer and academic, who was from Cape Town. Biography Rive was born on 1 March 1931 in Caledon Street in the working-class Coloured residential area District Six of Cape To ...

(1931–1989) * Dan Roodt (born 1957) *

Daphne Rooke Daphne Marie Rooke (née Pizzey) (6 March 1914 – 21 January 2009 ) was a South African author of works such as "Mittee", "Ratoons" and "Wizards' Country". She also wrote travel articles and books for children set in India, Australia, New Zealan ...

(1914–2009) *

Henrietta Rose-Innes Henrietta Rose-Innes (born 14 September 1971) is a South African novelist and short-story writer. She was the 2008 winner of the Caine Prize for African WritingLindesay Irvine"Henrietta Rose-Innes wins £10,000 Caine prize" ''The Guardian'', 8 J ...

(born 1971) * Eric Rosenthal (1905–1983)

S

Riana Scheepers Riana Scheepers (born 9 December 1957) is an Afrikaans author. She received her PhD from the University of Cape Town The University of Cape Town (UCT) ( af, Universiteit van Kaapstad, xh, Yunibesithi ya yaseKapa) is a public research unive ...

(born 1957) *

Karel Schoeman Karel Schoeman (, 26 October 1939 – 1 May 2017) was a South African novelist, historian, translator and man of letters. Author of twenty novels and numerous works of history, he was one of South Africa's most honoured writers. Schoeman wrote ...

(1939–2017) *

Alan Scholefield Alan Scholefield (15 January 1931 – 26 October 2017) was a South African writer famous for his ''Macrae and Silver'' series. He lived in Hampshire and was married to Australian novelist Anthea Goddard. They had three daughters. Biography Born ...

(1931–2017) *

Patricia Schonstein Patricia Schonstein (born 1952), who also writes under the name Patricia Schonstein-Pinnock, is a South African-Italian novelist, poet, memoirist, author of children’s books and curator of anthologies. Schonstein, whose novels variously employ t ...

(born 1952) *

Olive Schreiner Olive Schreiner (24 March 1855 – 11 December 1920) was a South African author, pacifist, anti-war campaigner and intellectual. She is best remembered today for her novel ''The Story of an African Farm'' (1883), which has been highly acclaimed ...

(1855–1920) * Sipho Sepamla (1932–2007) *

Mongane Wally Serote Mongane Wally Serote (born 8 May 1944) is a South African poet and writer. He became involved in political resistance to the apartheid government by joining the African National Congress (ANC) and in 1969 was arrested and detained for several m ...

(born 1944) * Ishtiyaq Shukri (born 1968) *

Gillian Slovo Gillian Slovo (born 15 March 1952) is a South African-born writer who lives in the UK. She was a recipient of the Golden PEN Award. Early life and education Gillian Slovo was born on 15 March 1952 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her family moved ...

(born 1952) *

Adam Small Adam Small (21 December 1936 – 25 June 2016) was a South African writer who was involved in the Black Consciousness Movement and other activism. He was noted as a Coloured writer who wrote works in Afrikaans that dealt with racial discriminatio ...

(1936–2016) * Russell Smith (born 1963), raised and living in Canada *

Wilbur Smith Wilbur Addison Smith (9 January 1933 – 13 November 2021) was a Zambian-born British-South African novelist specialising in historical fiction about international involvement in Southern Africa across four centuries, seen from the viewpoints ...

(1932–2021) * Jason Staggie (born 1984) *

Michael Stanley Michael Stanley (born Michael Stanley Gee; March 25, 1948 – March 5, 2021) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, radio and television personality. Both as a solo artist and with the Michael Stanley Band (MSB), his brand of heartland r ...

(Pen name of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip) *

Willem Steenkamp Willem Steenkamp is a South African author, journalist, historian, military analyst and citizen soldier. He has published a number of books and consults widely in military affairs. Awards * Cited in 1967 and 1968 in United Press International's ...

Sylvester Stein Sylvester Stein (25 December 1920 – 28 December 2015) was a South African writer, publisher and athlete. Biography Stein was born in Cape Town, South Africa and grew up in Durban, son of a mathematics professor Philip Stein and Lily Rolnick ...

(1920–2015) *

Jonny Steinberg Jonny Steinberg (born 22 March 1970) is a South African writer and scholar. He is the author of several books about everyday life in the wake of South Africa's transition to democracy. Two of them, ''Midlands'' (2002), about the murder of a white ...

(born 1970) *

Cynthia Stockley Cynthia Stockley (7 July 1873 – 15 January 1936) was a South African novelist known for her romance novels usually set in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa. Her name before her marriage was Lilian Julian Webb. Cynthia was an adopted name ...

(1873–1936) *

Harold Strachan Robert Harold Lundie "Jock" Strachan (1 December 1925 – 7 February 2020) was a white South African writer and anti-apartheid activist. He flew for the South African Air Force during the Second World War, trained as an artist, then became Umkho ...

(1925–2020) *

Barry Streek Barry Streek (30 August 1948 – 21 July 2006) was a South African political journalist and anti-apartheid activist. Early life and education Barry Streek was educated at Michaelhouse in Kwazulu-Natal after which he completed his national serv ...

(1948–2006) *

Stefan Swanepoel Stefan J. M. Swanepoel (; born January 5, 1958), is an American business executive, author and real estate businessperson. He has served as president of two non-profit organizations and seven companies, including a New York-based global franchi ...

(born 1958), now living in the United States

T–V

Can Themba Daniel Canodoise "Can" Themba (21 June 1924 – 8 September 1967) was a South African short-story writer. Early life Themba was born in Marabastad, near Pretoria, but wrote most of his work in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, South Africa. The town was ...

(1924–1969) *

Miriam Tlali Miriam Tlali (11 November 1933 – 24 February 2017) was a South African novelist. She was the first black woman in South Africa to publish an English-language novel, ''Between Two Worlds'', in 1975. She was also one of the first to write about ...

(1933–2017) *

J. R. R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philology, philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was ...

(1892–1973), Orange Free State/England *

John van de Ruit John Howard van de Ruit (born 20 April 1975) is a South African novelist, actor, playwright and producer. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998. He was born in Durban and educated at Michaelhouse, where he stayed ...

(born 1975) * Sir Laurens van der Post (1906–1996) *

Etienne van Heerden Etienne van Heerden, born 3 December 1954, is a South African author. Biography Van Heerden was born in 1954, six years after the official advent of apartheid. His mother was an English speaking mathematics teacher. His father, an Afrikaans speak ...

(born 1956) *

John van Melle John van Melle (11 February 1887 – 8 November 1953) was the pen name of a Dutch-born South African writer. His real name was Johannes van Melle. Van Melle was born in Goes. He arrived in South Africa in 1906, and after a short sojourn in the ...

(1887–1953), born in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

Marlene van Niekerk Marlene van Niekerk (born 10 November 1954) is a South African poet, writer, and academic. She is best known for her novels, the satirical tragicomedy ''Triomf'' (1994) and the Herzog-winning ''Agaat'' (2004), which explore themes including the ...

(born 1954) * Charles van Onselen * Christopher van Wyk (1957–2014) *

F.A. Venter Francois Alwyn (Frans) Venter (27 November 1916 – 8 July 1997) was a prominent Afrikaans writer of the 20th century. His novels explored biblical religious themes, or cultural identities in the South African context. He also examined relations ...

(1916–1997) * Nicolaas Vergunst (born 1958) * Benedict Vilakazi (1906–1947) *

Lettie Viljoen Lettie Viljoen was a pseudonym of the South African author Ingrid Winterbach, who primarily writes in Afrikaans. She lives in Jamestown, Stellenbosch. Life and education Winterbach was born in Johannesburg in 1948. She got her early education fr ...

(born 1948) * A.G. Visser (1878–1929) *

Wayne Visser Wayne Visser is a writer, speaker, film producer, academic, editor of poetry, social entrepreneur and futurist focused on sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and creating integrated value. Biography Wayne Visser was bor ...

(born 1970) * Ivan Vladislavic (born 1957) * Gert Vlok Nel (born 1963) *

Eugène Terre'Blanche Eugène Ney Terre'Blanche (, 31 January 1941Terre'Blanche's year of birth is alternately given as 1941 or 1944. The majority of sources indicates 1941; sources that claim 1944 as his year of birth includ''The Star''Alf Wannenburgh Alfred John Wannenburgh III (2 December 1936 – 18 December 2010) was a South African author, journalist, conservationist, and anti-apartheid activist from Cape Town. His early political writings which began in 1961/62 cemented his career as ...

(1936–2010) *

Zukiswa Wanner Zukiswa Wanner (born 1976) is a South African journalist, novelist and editor born in Zambia and now based in Kenya. Since 2006, when she published her first book, her novels have been shortlisted for awards including the South African Literary ...

(born 1976) *

Lyall Watson Lyall Watson (12 April 1939 – 25 June 2008) was a South African botanist, zoologist, biologist, anthropologist, ethologist, and author of many books, among the most popular of which is the best seller ''Supernature''. Lyall Watson tried to mak ...

(1939–2008) * Mary Watson (born 1975) * Stephen Watson (1955–2011) * Zoe Wicomb (born 1948) *

Mark Winkler Mark Winkler (born 29 January 1966) is a South African writer of literary fiction living in Cape Town. He is the author of two novels, ''An Exceptionally Simple Theory of Absolutely Everything'' (2013) and ''Wasted'' (2015). His third novel, ' ...

(born 1966) *

David Yudelman David Yudelman is a South African author and financial writer who resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A theory for the emergence of modern South Africa His major work, ''The Emergence of Modern South Africa: State, Capital, and the Incorporation o ...

* Rachel Zadok (born 1972), now based in London * Rose Zwi (1928–2018), born in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of South African Writers South African *

Writers A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, plays ...

A

B

C–D

E–G

H–J

K–L

M

N–R

S

T–V

See also

References