This list of University of South Africa people includes notable alumni, faculty, administrators, and affiliates of the

University of South Africa The University of South Africa (UNISA), known colloquially as Unisa, is the largest university system in South Africa by enrollment. It attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. Through various colleges and affiliates, U ...

Notable alumni and faculty

Jean-Bertrand Aristide Jean-Bertrand Aristide (born 15 July 1953) is a Haitian former Salesian priest and politician who became Haiti's first democratically elected president. A proponent of liberation theology, Aristide was appointed to a parish in Port-au-Prince in ...

, Haitian politician, received a

Doctor of Literature and Philosophy The Doctor of Literature and Philosophy, or ''DLitt et Phil'', is a doctoral advanced research degree offered by a number of leading universities in South Africa, such as UJ, the University of Johannesburg; and UNISA, the University of South Africa. ...

(D.Litt. et Phil.) in African Languages in 2007 * Walter Battiss, South African abstract painter, received a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases. Background The Bachelor ...

in 1942 Honorary and an honorary

(D.Litt. et Phil. Honoris Causa) in 1973 * Dianne Lynne Bevelander, South African academic and activist *

Edwin Cameron Edwin Cameron SCOB (born 15 February 1953 in Pretoria) is a retired judge who served as a Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. He is well known for his HIV/AIDS and gay-rights activism and was hailed by Nelson Mandela as "one ...

, judge of the

Constitutional Court of South Africa The Constitutional Court of South Africa is a supreme court, supreme constitutional court established by the Constitution of South Africa, and is the apex court in the South African judicial system, with general jurisdiction. The Court was fi ...

, received a

Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

(LL.B. Cum Laude) in 1981 *

Ergun Caner Ergun Michael Caner (born November 3, 1966) is a Swedish-American academic, author, and Baptist minister, who became well known for his book, co-authored with his brother, on Islam and his claims that he was a devout Muslim trained as a terrorist ...

, Swedish Evangelical and Southern Baptist apologist, received a

Doctor of Theology Doctor of Theology ( la, Doctor Theologiae, abbreviated DTh, ThD, DTheol, or Dr. theol.) is a terminal degree in the academic discipline of theology. The ThD, like the ecclesiastical Doctor of Sacred Theology, is an advanced research degree equiva ...

(D.Th.) in 2000 * Lazarus M. Chakwera, received a Master of Theology in 1991, Head of State, Republic of Malawi *

Alan Clark Alan Kenneth Mackenzie Clark (13 April 1928 – 5 September 1999) was a British Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), author and diarist. He served as a junior minister in Margaret Thatcher's governments at the Departments of Employment, Tra ...

, former CEO of

SABMiller SABMiller plc was a South African multinational brewing and beverage company headquartered in Woking, England on the outskirts of London until 10 October 2016 when it was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Prior to that date, it was the world's ...

, received a

in Psychology * Johan Froneman, judge of the

, received a

(LL.B.) in 1977 *

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...

, received an Honorary

Doctor of Laws A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor (LL. ...

(LL.D. Honoris Causa) in 1899, two years prior to becoming Chancellor of the universityBoucher, Maurice. 1973. ''Spes in Arduis: a history of the University of South Africa''. Pretoria: UNISA. Page s 74 and 114. *

Denis Goldberg Denis Theodore Goldberg (11 April 1933 – 29 April 2020) was a South African social campaigner, who was active in the struggle against apartheid. He was accused No. 3 in the Rivonia Trial, alongside the better-known Nelson Mandela and Walter ...

, anti-apartheid activist: Public Administration, Library Science, History and Geography, between 1965 and 1985. *

Pravin Gordhan Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan (born 12 April 1949) is a politician and anti-apartheid activist who has held various ministerial posts in the Cabinet of South Africa. He served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017, ...

, former South African Minister of Finance, received an Honorary

Doctor of Commerce The Doctor of Commerce (DCom) is a doctoral degree in commerce-, accounting-, mathematics-, economics-, and management-related subjects, awarded by universities in the Commonwealth. The degree is offered both as a higher doctorate, and as a resea ...

(D.Com. Honoris Causa) in 2007 *

Elson Kaseke Elson Kaseke (1967–2011) was a Zimbabwean lawyer. A long-time resident of Belize, he served that country in a variety of capacities including as a legal draftsman and as Solicitor-General of Belize, Solicitor-General before becoming an attorney in ...

, the former Solicitor-General of Belize, received a

(LL.D.) in 2006 *

Ahmed Kathrada Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada (21 August 1929 – 28 March 2017), sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist. Kathrada's involvement in the anti-apartheid activities of the African National Con ...

, former South African politician, received a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

(B.A.) in Criminology and History in 1968 and a Bachelor of Bibliography (B.Bibl.) in African Politics and Library Science in 1975 * F. W. de Klerk, former

State President of South Africa The State President of the Republic of South Africa ( af, Staatspresident) was the head of state of South Africa from 1961 to 1994. The office was established when the country became a republic on 31 May 1961, albeit, outside the Commonweal ...

, received an Honorary

(LL.D. Honoris Causa) in 1995 * Johann Kriegler, judge of the

Desmond Krogh Desmond or Desmond's may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Desmond'' (novel), 1792 novel by Charlotte Turner Smith * ''Desmond's'', 1990s British television sitcom Ireland * Kingdom of Desmond, medieval Irish kingdom * Earl of Desmond, Irish a ...

, professor of economics from 1962 to 1969 *

Pius Langa Pius Nkonzo Langa Order of the Baobab, SCOB (25 March 1939 – 24 July 2013) was Chief Justice of South Africa, serving on the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Constitutional Court. He was appointed to the bench in 1994 by Nelson Mandela, h ...

, former

Chief Justice of South Africa The Chief Justice of South Africa is the most senior judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Constitutional Court and head of the judiciary of South Africa, who exercises final authority over the functioning and management of all the c ...

, received a

Bachelor of Jurisprudence Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...

(B.Iuris) in 1973 and a

(LL.B.) in 1976 *

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 ...

, former president of the

Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1942 and a

(LL.B.) in 1988 *

Gwede Mantashe Samson Gwede Mantashe, popularly known as Gwede Mantashe, (born 21 June 1955) is a South African politician and trade unionist, who as of 18 December 2017, serves as the National Chairperson of the African National Congress. He is also a former ...

, South African politician, received a

Bachelor of Commerce A Bachelor of Commerce (abbreviated BComm or BCom; also, ''baccalaureates commercii'') is an undergraduate degree in business, usually awarded in Canada, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ireland, New Zealand, Ghana, South Africa, Myanmar, ...

(B.Com.) in 1997 and a Bachelor of Commerce Honours (B.Com. (Hons)) in 2002 *

Trevor Manuel Trevor Andrew Manuel (born 31 January 1956) is a South African politician who served in the government of South Africa as Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2009, during the presidencies of Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, an ...

, South African politician, received an Honorary

Doctor of Technology The Doctor of Technology (abbreviated variously in different countries) is a degree normally conferred upon candidates after having completed a course of study in technology and a dissertation or a project of lengthy duration in a technologically r ...

(D.Tech. Honoris Causa) in 2002 * Anja Marais, South African sculptor, received a

Honour's (B.F.A. (Hons)) in 1998 *

Mogoeng Mogoeng Mogoeng Thomas Reetsang Mogoeng (born 14 January 1961) is a South African jurist who served as the Chief Justice of South Africa from 8 September 2011 until his retirement on 11 October 2021. Early life Mogoeng was born on 14 January 1961 in ...

, current

, received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in 1989 *

Dikgang Moseneke Dikgang Ernest Moseneke (born 20 December 1947) is a South African judge and former Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa. Biography Moseneke was born in Pretoria and went to school there. He joined the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) at the ag ...

, former

Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa The Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa is a judge in the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the second-highest judicial post in the Republic of South Africa, after the Chief Justice. The post, originally called "Deputy President of the C ...

, received a

(B.A.) in English and Political Science, a

(B.Iuris), a

(LL.B.), and an Honorary

(LL.D. Honoris Causa) in 2011 *

Robert Mugabe Robert Gabriel Mugabe (; ; 21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He served as Leader of the ...

, former

President of Zimbabwe The president of Zimbabwe is the head of state of Zimbabwe and head of the executive branch of the government of Zimbabwe. The president chairs the national cabinet and is the chief commanding authority of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The in ...

, received a

Bachelor of Education A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) is an undergraduate professional degree which prepares students for work as a teacher in schools. In some countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, additional tasks like field work and research are required in order for ...

by correspondence *

Peya Mushelenga Samuel Abraham Peyavali "Peya" Mushelenga (born September 01, 1975 in Oshigambo, Ovamboland) is a Namibian politician and poet. He is broadly educated, holding twelve academic qualifications from six different universities. A member of SWAPO, ...

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

n Minister of Rural and Urban Development obtained BA Honours and an MA in International Politics in 1997 and 2009, respectively, and a D Litt et Phil in 2015. *

Bulelani Ngcuka Bulelani T. Ngcuka (pronounced ; born 2 May 1954) is a South African attorney, prosecutor and activist, who served as the first Director of Public Prosecutions in South Africa, and is the husband of former Deputy President of South Africa Phumz ...

, former Director of Public Prosecutions of South Africa, received a

(LL.B.) in 1985 * Georgia Papageorge, South African installation artist, received a

(B.A.) in Fine Arts in 1979 *

Mark Pilgrim Mark Pilgrim is a software developer, writer, and advocate of free software. He authored a popular blog, and has written several books, including ''Dive into Python'', a guide to the Python programming language published under the GNU Free Docu ...

, South African radio and television personality, received a

(B.Com.) in Industrial & Organisational Psychology in 1994 *

Cyril Ramaphosa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician who is currently serving as the fifth democratically elected president of South Africa. Formerly an anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader, and ...

, current president of

, received a Baccalaureus Procurationis (B.Proc.) in 1981 *

Mamphela Ramphele Mamphela Aletta Ramphele (; born 28 December 1947) is a South African politician, an activist against apartheid, a medical doctor, an academic and businesswoman. She was a partner of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, with whom she had two chil ...

, former South African politician, received a

(B.Com.) in Administration in 1983 *

Desmond Tutu Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop ...

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

cleric and theologian known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. Winner of the

Nobel peace prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Chemi ...

. BA 1954 * Justice Raymond Zondo, judge of the

, received a

Master of Laws A Master of Laws (M.L. or LL.M.; Latin: ' or ') is an advanced postgraduate academic degree, pursued by those either holding an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree, or an undergraduate degree in a related subject. In mos ...

(LL.M.) in Commercial Law, a

(LL.M.) in Labour Law, and a

(LL.M.) in Patent Law *

Angelique Rockas Angelique Rockas is an actress, producer and activist. Rockas founded the theatre company Internationalist Theatre in the UK with her patron Athol Fugard. The theatre featured multi-racial casts in classical plays. Early life Rockas was born a ...

actress, producer and activist, creator of

Internationalist Theatre Internationalist Theatre is a London theatre company founded by South African Greek actress Angelique Rockas in September 1980. The company was originally named New Internationalist Theatre, with an intention to pursue an internationalist approac ...

London, pioneer of multi-racial and multi-national productions of European classics

Chancellors, vice-chancellors, and principals of the university

Vice-chancellors of the University of the Cape of Good Hope, from 1873 to 1918

Langham Dale Sir Langham Dale (22 May 1826, Kingsclere, Hampshire - 12 January 1898, Mowbray, Cape Town ) was the Cape Colony's second superintendent general of education. Life He was born at Kingsclere, son of Henry Dale and his wife Mary Ann Stroud. He wa ...

, 1873 – 1877; 1879 – 1882; 1884 – 1889 * Charles Abercrombie Smith, 1877 – 1879; 1905 – 1911 * Hopkins Badnall, 1882 – 1884 * Charles Thomas Smith, 1889 – 1893 * George Ogilvie, 1893 – 1897 * Thomas Muir, 1897 – 1901 * Ebenezer John Buchanan, 1901 – 1905 * Thomas Walker, 1911 – 1913 * William Ritchie, 1913 – 1916 * Malcolm William Searle, 1916 – 1918

Chancellors of the University of South Africa from 1918 to the present

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (Arthur William Patrick Albert; 1 May 185016 January 1942), was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He served as Gov ...

, 1918 – 1942 *

Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet, PC, QC (11 September 1873 – 16 March 1960) was a South African politician, lawyer, and judge who was Chief Justice of South Africa and acting Governor-General from 1943 to 1945. Early life De Wet was born and went t ...

, 1943 – 1951 *

Gerhardus Jacobus Maritz Gerhardus Jacobus Maritz KC (7 December 1889 – 16 July 1964) was a South African judge who served as Judge President of the Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa from 1947 until 1959. Early life and education Ma ...

, 1951 – 1957 * Francois Jean de Villiers, 1957 – 1977 * Victor Gustav Hiemstra, 1977 – 1987 * vacant 1988 * Theo van Wijk, 1989 – 1990 * Christoph Friedrich Garbers, September 1990 – 2000 * Bernard Ngoepe, 2001–2016 *

Thabo Mbeki Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki KStJ (; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician who was the second president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Congress (ANC ...

, 2016 – present

Vice-chancellors of the University of South Africa, 1918 to 1955

* Willem Jacobus Viljoen, 1918 – 1922 * John Ernest Adamson, 1922 – 1926 * John Daniel Kestell, 1926 – 1928 * Hugh Bryan, 1928 – 1930 * Nicolaas Marais Hoogenhout, 1930 – 1932 * Samuel Henri Pellissier, 1932 – 1934 * Marthinus Christoffel Botha, 1934 -1936 * François Daniël Hugo, 1936 – 1938 *

François Stephanus Malan François Stephanus Malan PC (12 March 1871 – 31 December 1941), usually called F. S. Malan or just F. S., was a South African politician. Malan was the son of a farmer and was born in Leeuwenjacht, near Paarl, Cape Colony. As his name s ...

, 1938 – 1940 *

Ferdinand Postma Ferdinand Postma was the first rector of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Personal life Postma was the second son of Marthinus Postma and Elizabeth Wilhelmina Josina Spiller. He was bo ...

, 1940 – 1944 * Alfred Adrian Roberts, 1944 – 1946 * Herman Heinrich Gerhard Kreft, 1946 – 1948 * Albertus Johannes Roux van Rhijn, 1948 – 1952 * Stephanus Petrus Erasmus Boshoff, 1952 – 1955

Principals and vice-chancellors of the University of South Africa, 1953 to the present

* Andries Jacobus Hendrik Johannes Van der Walt, Principal, 1953 – 1955 * Andries Jacobus Hendrik Johannes Van der Walt, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1956 * Samuel Pauw, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1956 – 1972 * Theo van Wijk, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1972 – 1988 * Jan Casper Gerhardus Janse van Vuuren, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1989 – 1993 * Marinus Wiechers, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1994 – 1997 * Antony Patrick Melck, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1998 (acting) and 1999 – 2001 * Nyameko

Barney Pityana Nyameko Barney Pityana FKC GCOB (born 7 August 1945) is a human rights lawyer and theologian in South Africa. He is an exponent of Black theology. Biography Pityana was born in Uitenhage and attended the University of Fort Hare. He was on ...

, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 2002 – 2010 * Mandla Makhanya, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 2011–2021 * Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 2021–present

References

External links

University of South Africa Alumni {{DEFAULTSORT:University of South Africa people Lists of South African people