South Africa 2011 Sotho-Tswana speakers proportion map

The Sotho-Tswana people are a

meta-ethnicity Meta-ethnicity is a relatively recent term (or neologism) occasionally used in academic literature or public discourse on ethnic studies. It describes a level of commonality that is wider ("meta-") and more general (i.e., might differ on specifics) ...

southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...

and live predominantly in

Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...

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 ...

and

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

. The group mainly consists of four clusters;

Southern Sotho Sotho () or Sesotho () or Southern Sotho is a Southern Bantu language of the Sotho–Tswana ("S.30") group, spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language; South Africa (particularly the Free St ...

(Sotho),

Northern Sotho Northern Sotho, or as an endonym, is a Sotho-Tswana language spoken in the northeastern provinces of South Africa. It is sometimes referred to as or , its main dialect, through synecdoche. According to the South African National Census o ...

(which consists of the Bapedi, the

Balobedu The Lobedu or Balobedu ''(''also known as the BaLozwi or Bathobolo'')'' are a southern African ethnic group. Their area is called Bolobedu. They are initially known as Bakwebo (wild pigs). The name "balobedu" means "the mineral miners" lobela ...

and others), Lozi, and

Tswana Tswana may refer to: * Tswana people, the Bantu speaking people in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and other Southern Africa regions * Tswana language, the language spoken by the (Ba)Tswana people * Bophuthatswana, the former ba ...

people. A fifth cluster is sometimes referred to as the Eastern Sotho, and consists of the Pulana, Makgolokwe/Bakholokoe the Pai and others. The Sotho-Tswana people would have diversified into their current arrangement during the course of the 2nd millennium, but they retain a number of linguistic and cultural characteristics that distinguish them from other Bantu-speakers of southern Africa. These are features such as

totemism A totem (from oj, ᑑᑌᒼ, italics=no or '' doodem'') is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe, such as in the Anishinaabe clan system. While ''the w ...

, a pre-emptive right of men to marry their maternal cousins, and an architectural style characterized by a round hut with a conical thatch roof supported by wooden pillars on the outside. Other major distinguishing features included their dress of skin cloaks and a preference for dense and close settlements, as well as a tradition of large-scale building in stone. The area now settled by the various Sotho-Tswana groups was reached by the

Bantu expansion The Bantu expansion is a hypothesis about the history of the major series of migrations of the original Proto-Bantu-speaking group, which spread from an original nucleus around Central Africa across much of sub-Saharan Africa. In the process, t ...

by about AD 500. The standard theory asserts that the Sotho-Tswana are descended from a group that moved southward from the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...

in a separate movement from the other Southern Bantu groups, proceeding along the western part of present-day

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 ...

Ethnonym

The Sotho-Tswana ethnic group derives its name from the people who belong to the various Sotho and Tswana clans that live in

. Historically, all members of the group were referred to as Sothos, the name is now exclusively applied to speakers of

who live mainly in

, and the

Free State province The Free State, known as Orange Free State until the 28th of June 1995 when its name was changed, is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Boer ...

, while

, is reserved for Sotho speakers that inhabit northern South Africa, predominantly in

Limpopo Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is ...

Sotho Ethnonym

The Basotho name was derived from the word "sootho", "brown" , which means the ones with dark/brown melanin . So they referred to themselves as the brown people. "Ba sootho" – which directly translates to "They are brown". The usage of the word has always been part of the vocabulary of the Sotho-Tswana nation. The word became ascribed to a specific people due to regional conflicts: different bantu clans splitting from their ancestor clans and taking the name of their leader as their identity, but naturally in essence every Batho/Bantu people is a mosotho.

Tswana Ethnonym

The ethnonym Batswana is thought to be anantonym that comes from the meaning of the Sotho-Tswana word "tswa", which means "to come out of". The name would be derived from the word "Ba ba tswang" eventually shortened to the word Batswana meaning "The Separatists" or alternatively "the people who cannot hold together". One of the chief characteristics of the Sotho-Tswana clans is the tendency to break up and hive off.

Names

The term Tswana can be used to refer to one of the following * All the Tswana clans residing either in

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 ...

or South Africa * Any member of the Sotho-Tswana clans that trace their origin from Kgosi Mokgatle. * Citizen of Botswana regardless of linguistic or ethnic origin * Members of the eight major Sotho-Tswana clans as defined in the Chieftainship Act of Botswana. * Members of the Sotho-Tswana clans that reside in Botswana, South Africa that speak a standardised dialect of the Sotho-Tswana called Setswana sometimes also referred to as the Western Sotho. * Any Sotho-Tswana clan that inhabits the Kalahari Desert basin and its eastern and south-western peripheries, unless they are Kgalagari people, who are a different Sotho-Tswana group of tribes. The term Basotho can be used to refer to the following * Citizen of Lesotho regardless of linguistic or ethnic origin * Any member of the Sotho-Tswana clans that trace their origin from Kgosi Mogale * Members of the Sotho-Tswana clans that came together under the leadership of Moshoeshoe during the Difaqane. * The Sotho-Tswana clans that stay in the Free State and Lesotho that speak a standardised dialect of the Sotho-Tswana language called Sesotho and sometimes referred to as the Southern Sotho

Classification

In Sotho-Tswana society each member has a totem which is usually an animal, totems are inherited from the father and thus pass like an English surname. The totem animal had traditionally a status of veneration and avoidance: in particular, it was important not to eat one's totem. In modern Sotho-Tswana society this is not as strictly observed. Each morafe/sechaba had its own totem. When naming a clan the name of the founder could be used or the animal they venerate. An example is the Bahurutshe named after the founder Mohurutshe, or alternatively they can also be called Batshweneng after the tshwene (baboon) which they venerate, similarly Batlhako after the founder, or Batloung after the totem. For some clans the name of the founder and their totem are the same like the Bakwena and Bataung where the founders were named Kwena (crocodile) and Tau (lion) respectively. The question of rank and seniority is one that is very important to the Sotho-Tswana. It determines a lot from family relationships, to village matters to relationships between clans and between the different tribal groups. In a family situation the issue of rank determines when a son will undergo initiation, or receive inheritance. A further distinction is also made between the senior wife and the junior wife if a man is in a polygamous marriage. As the Sotho-Tswana lived in large villages, seniority and rank also played a part here, where the chief's homestead is situated at the centre of the village, thereafter the other citizen are grouped according to rank where the most junior members are living the furthest from the village centre. For inter and intra relationships between clans it has been a question that has occupied the Sotho-Tswana since the split that occurred between the followers of Mohurutshe and Kwena. While it is generally accepted that the Hurutshe are the senior clan, some of the other clans have disputed this, mainly the Bafokeng, Barolong and Bakgatla. The claims of the Barolong and Bakgatla has mainly been dismissed as for an example some sub clans of Bakgatla like the Bakgatla ba ga Mmakau acknowledge the Bahurutshe as senior while the Bakagatla ba ga Kgafela do not. In the case of the Barolong, the Batlhaping who are an offshoot of the Barolong acknowledge the Bahurutshe to be senior to the Barolong, while the Barolong do not. The Bafokeng maintain that their split from core Sotho-Tswana body predated the split between Mohurutshe and Kwena, and therefore they are equal in status to the Bahurutshe if not senior. These dispute over seniority and rank were driven by the quest for benefits and independence, a senior kgosi could demand a payment of tribute from a junior chief, they could also summon a junior chief or member of his clan to kgotla for a hearing. If a dispute arose between two junior chiefs the closet most senior chief to them would be invited to resolve it. Another important factor was that a senior chief or members of his clan could not be summoned to the Kgotla by a junior kgosi or clam member. An additional factor is this question of rank and seniority was that it was determined by birth and could not be changed, this means a chief born of minor status could not change his standing relative to the other chiefs. This was mainly to discourage the split up of clans into further sub-clans and to discourage the buildup of clans through conquest and warfare. An important distinction needs to be made when discussing Sotho-Tswana clans is to distinguish between the different clans and the various sub-clans below them. This means distinguishing between clans sharing the same totem like the crocodile but are distinct such as the Bapo, Bakwena, Bangwaketse and Bafokeng of Phokeng. In distinguishing between sub clans an example are the Bakgatla who separated into the Bakgatla ba Kgafela and Bakgatla ba ga Mmakau over who should lead the clan. One faction defied the usual tradition of male leaders and acknowledged the female, Mmakau, as their kgosi. Those who supported Kgafela then broke away. Further offshoot from the Bakgatla are the Bakgatla ba Mmanaana, Bakgatla ba Mmakau and Bakgatla ba Motsha who all have the kgabo as their totem. The Bakgatla ba Mmakau would later give rise to Bapedi, Bakholokoe, Batlokwa, Baphuti and Basia clans If a dispute was to arise between any of the offshoot clans like the Basia and Baphiti then the Mmakau chief would be tasked with resolving it as their senior

Notable people

Politics *

Moshoeshoe I Moshoeshoe I () ( – 11 March 1870) was the first king of Lesotho. He was the first son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bamokoteli lineage, a branch of the Koena (crocodile) clan. In his youth, he helped his father gain power over som ...

– Founder of the Basotho nation *

Moshoeshoe II Moshoeshoe II (2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996), previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso, was the Paramount Chief of Basutoland, succeeding paramount chief Seeiso from 1960 until the country gained full independence from Britain in 1966. ...

– Paramount Chief of Lesotho * King Letsie – Reigning King of the Basotho * Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso – the queen consort of Lesotho *

Pakalitha Mosisili Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili (born 14 March 1945) is a former Mosotho politician who was the fourth prime minister of Lesotho from May 1998 to June 2012 and again from March 2015 to June 2017.Ace Magashule Elias Sekgobelo "Ace" Magashule (born 3 November 1959) is a South African politician and former anti-apartheid activist who was Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC) until his suspension on 3 May 2021. He served as the Premier ...

– Secretary General of the

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, Former Premier of the Free State *

Tom Thabane Thomas Motsoahae Thabane (born 28 May 1939) is a Mosotho politician who was the fifth prime minister of Lesotho from 2012 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2020. He founded the All Basotho Convention (ABC) in 2006 and led the party until 2022. Thabane s ...

– Former Prime Minister of Lesotho *

Ntsu Mokhehle Ntsu Mokhehle (26 December 1918 – 6 January 1999) was a Lesotho politician. He founded Basutoland African Congress (BAC) in 1952. He founded Basutoland Congress Party in 1957 then later in 1997 founded Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD). He ...

– Former Prime Minister of Lesotho *

Leabua Jonathan Joseph Leabua Jonathan (30 October 1914 – 5 April 1987) was the second prime minister of Lesotho. He succeeded Chief Sekhonyana Nehemia Maseribane following a by-election and held that post from 1965 to 1986. Early life and career Born in Le ...

– Former Prime Minister of Lesotho *

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– South African radio personality and broadcasting executive * Kgalema Motlanthe – 3rd

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* Lesetja Kganyago – Governor of the

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. *

Edward Lekganyane Edward Lekganyane, popularly known as "Kgoshi Edward" (1922 – 21 October 1967), was the leader of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) from Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, until his death eighteen years later. During this time he used his charisma and ...

– the

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(ZCC) leader *

Engenas Lekganyane Engenas Barnabas Lekganyane (c. 1885–1948) was the founder of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC). He first formed the ZCC in 1924, and by the time of his death the church had at least 50,000 members. Under the leadership of his descendants the ...

-the founder of

(ZCC) * Sefako Makgatho – second President of the

, born in Ga-Mphahlele village *

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– Doctor *

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– South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town *

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– premier of Gauteng Province *

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. Commander in Chief of the

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(EFF) *

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– King of the Pedi (1879 – 1883) * Richard Maponya – South African businessmen and founder and first president of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC). Born in Lenyeye, Tzaneen. *

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– third premier of Limpopo province *

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– Musician *

Kenneth Meshoe Kenneth Rasalabe Joseph Meshoe (born 18 January 1954) is a South African evangelist, politician, reverend and teacher. He has been serving as the inaugural leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, a Christian democratic political party, ...

– politician *

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– former politician. Former leader of the

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– actress *

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– former premier of Limpopo province *

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– Former South Africa National Soccer Coach *

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- Politician *

Aaron Motsoaledi Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi (born 7 August 1958, in Transvaal, now Limpopo) is the Minister of Home Affairs in the Cabinet of South Africa. He was previously the Minister of Health from 2009 to 2019. He was a MEC in Limpopo province for agriculture ...

– Minister of Health, South Africa and nephew of Elias Motsoaledi *

Caroline Motsoaledi Elias Mathope Motsoaledi (26 July 1924 – 9 May 1994) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and one of the eight men sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial in July 1963 and paternal uncle to South African politician and m ...

– South African political activist and wife of Elias Motsoaledi *

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– South African anti-apartheid activist and one of the eight men sentenced to life imprisonment at the

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– writer, educationist, artist, and activist. *

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– former President of the

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(PAC). *

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– the first black South African, and the sixth South African to sign a professional baseball contract when he signed in October 2008 *

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– anti-apartheid activist. *

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–

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, South Africa * Ngoako Ramatlhodi – first

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province * Gwen Ramokgopa – Deputy

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, former MEC of Health in

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– Former Director at World Bank. Former principal of the University of Cape Town. * Sello Rasethaba – businessman *

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– American basketball player. His father Patrick Sefolosha was a musician from South Africa. * King Matsebe Sekhukhune – son of King Sekwati. He fought two wars: first successfully in 1876 against the

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and their Swazi allies, then unsuccessfully against the British and Swazi in 1879 during the Sekukuni Wars. Entertainment *

Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa Joshua Pulumo Mohapeloa (1908-1982) was a prominent choral music composer in Sesotho, the native language of the BaSotho people of Southern Africa. Early life Joshua Mohapeloa, a member of the Bataung clan, was born in Molumong in Lesotho ...

– Music composer *

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– South African singer *

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– Canadian-born actor of Sotho ancestry * Terry Pheto – South African actress *

Sankomota Sankomota is a band from Lesotho. The band (originally named Uhuru). It was formed around 1976 and consisted of several members in its earliest years, namely - Frank Leepa (guitarist, vocalist, arranger, composer), Moss Nkofo (drummer), Black Jesu ...

– Lesotho Jazz band *

Kamo Mphela Kamogelo Mphela (born 29 November 1999), popularly known as Kamo Mphela, is a South African dancer and singer. She became an internet celebrity after she posted a video of her dancing on her social media account. Early life and education Kamo M ...

– South African dancer *

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– South African actor and Member of Parliament for

Kabelo Mabalane Kabelo Mabalane (born 15 December 1976), known by his stage name as Kabelo or Bouga Luv, is a South African kwaito musician, songwriter and actor. He is a member of the kwaito trio TKZee. He has opened shows for world famous musicians such as Ja ...

– South African musician and 1/3 of Kwaito group

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Presley Chweneyagae Presley Chweneyagae (born October 19, 1984 in the North West Province Mafikeng, South Africa) is a South African actor of Tswana origin. He starred in the film ''Tsotsi'', which won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academ ...

– South African actor. He starred in the film Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film *

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– South African hip hop artist *

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– musician *

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– athlete, Olympic Games medal winner * Judith Sephuma – Musician *

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– famous artist. *

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– famous artist and composer of the popular song Jerusalema. * Katlego Danke – South African actress * Connie Ferguson – Botswana born South African actress *

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– Botswana born South African businessman, actor, film producer and co-founder of Ferguson Films *

DJ Fresh Daniel Edward Stein (born 11 April 1977), better known by his stage name DJ Fresh, is an English musician, DJ, record producer, best known for making electronic music. He is one of the principal members of the drum and bass group Bad Company, ...

– Botswana born South African radio personality *

Goapele Goapele Mohlabane (; born July 11, 1977), is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter. Her name means ''to move forward'' in Setswana, a Southern African language. Early life Goapele's South African father Douglas Mohlabane was an exiled po ...

– American singer with Setswana ancestry * Thebe Kgositsile – American rapper, father is Keorapetse Kgositsile *

Mpule Kwelagobe Mpule Keneilwe Kwelagobe (born 14 November 1979) is a Motswana investor, businesswoman, model, and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1999. She was the first black African woman to win one of the Big Four international beauty pageants, ...

– Former Miss Universe *

Kagiso Lediga Kagiso Lediga (born 6 May 1978) is a South African Tswana comedian, actor, writer and director. He is the creator and executive producer of the Netflix crime drama ''Queen Sono'' which was released on 28 February 2020. Lediga has written and dir ...

– South African stand-up comedian, actor and director * Gail Nkoane Mabalane – South African actress, model, media socialite, businesswoman and singer *

– South African kwaito musician, songwriter and actor. He was a member of the kwaito trio TKZee *

Maps Maponyane Masego "Maps" Maponyane (born March 16, 1990) is a South African television presenter, actor, fashion designer, speaker, model, creative consultant, voice over artist, philanthropist and business entrepreneur. Career While taking a year off ...

– South African television presenter, actor, fashion designer, speaker, model, voice over artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur *

Bonang Matheba Bonang Dorothy Matheba (born 25 June 1987), is a South African award-winning television presenter, radio personality, actress and social media personality. Born in Mahikeng, North West, she is known for her flamboyant presenting skills and h ...

– South African media personality *

Tim Modise Timothy Modise is a South African veteran journalist, broadcaster, public speaker and philanthropist. Boasting over thirty years in broadcast media and journalism, Modise has worked for various radio and TV stations of the SABC, M-Net, Primedia, ...

– South African journalist, TV and radio presenter * Tumi Morake – South African comedian, actress, TV personality, and writer. Current presenter of "Dirage" on Motsweding Fm *

Cassper Nyovest Refiloe Maele Phoolo (born 16 December 1990), professionally known as Cassper Nyovest, is a South African rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer and amateur boxer. Born and raised in Mahikeng, North West, he is regarded as one of the ...

– aka Refiloe Maele Phoolo, South African hip hop artist *

Hip Hop Pantsula Jabulani Tsambo (14 September 1980 – 24 October 2018), better known by his stage name Hip Hop Pantsula, later shortened to HHP, was a South African Motswako rapper (Motswakolista) who performed in several languages, mostly in Setswana. He was ...

– South African artist * Manaka Ranaka – South African actress *

Dolly Rathebe Dolly Rathebe ( OIS) (2 April 1928 – 16 September 2004) was a South African musician and actress who performed with the Elite Swingsters jazz band, and in Alf Herbert's ''African Jazz and Variety Show''. Rathebe died on 16 September 2004 f ...

– musician and actress *

Rapulana Seiphemo Rapulana Seiphemo (born 4 November 1967) is a South African actor and filmmaker. He is primarily known for his role as Tau Mogale in the long-running soap opera '' Generations'' and its continuation, '' Generations: The Legacy''. Early life He ...

– South African actor *

Tuks Senganga Tumelo Kepadisa (born 2 May 1981), simply known as Tuks Senganga or Tuks, is a South African motswako rapper born in Mafikeng, in the former homeland of the Bophuthatswana. He frequently performs in ethnic languages, though mostly Setswana. Tuk ...

– aka Tumelo Kepadisa, Setswana rapper *

Boity Thulo Boitumelo Thulo (born April 28, 1990), popularly known as Boity, is a South African television personality, rapper, actress, businesswoman and model. In 2019, Thulo was named as one of ''Forbes'' Africa's 30 Under 30 for her contribution in the ...

– South African actress *

Redi Tlhabi Redi Tlhabi (; born 1978) is a South African journalist, producer, author and a former radio presenter. She presented ''The Redi Tlhabi Show'' on Radio 702 for over a decade. Her broadcasting career spans years spent at Kaya FM, being a newscast ...

– Journalist, producer, author and radio presenter *

Emma Wareus Emma Wareus (born 28 July 1990 in Gaborone) is a Botswana model and beauty queen who placed first runner-up to Miss World 2010 on October 30, 2010, in Sanya, China. This is the highest placement for a woman from her country in the history of the ...

– Former Miss World First Princess *

Zeus Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=Genitive case, genitive Aeolic Greek, Boeotian Aeolic and Doric Greek#Laconian, Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=Genitive case, genitive el, Δίας, ''D� ...

– aka Game Goabaone Bantsi, Botswana born Setswana rapper Sport *

Khotso Mokoena Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (born 6 March 1985 in Heidelberg, South Africa) is a South African athlete who specializes in the long jump and triple jump. Early life and family He started his school education at Shalimar Ridge Primary School in Heide ...

– Athlete (Long jump) *

Pitso Mosimane Pitso John Hamilton Mosimane (born 26 July 1964) is a South African professional football manager and a former player. He is the current manager of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli Jeddah. He is considered as one of the greatest coaches in Africa an ...

– South African football former player and coach – current manager of Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League *

Molefi Ntseki Molefi Ntseki is a South African football coach who is Head of Technical and Youth Development Academy at Kaizer Chiefs. Career After coaching various national youth teams he became interim manager of the South African senior national team in A ...

– Former football coach for

Bafana Bafana The South Africa national soccer team represents South Africa in men's international soccer and it is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for Soccer in South Africa. The team's nickname is Bafana Bafana (The Boys ...

* Steve Lekoelea – Former football player for

Orlando Pirates Orlando Pirates Football Club (often known as "The Buccaneers") is a South African professional football club based in the Houghton suburb of the city of Johannesburg and plays in the top-tier system of Football in South Africa known as DStv ...

Aaron Mokoena Teboho Aaron Mokoena (born 25 November 1980), known as Aaron Mokoena, is a South African former footballer. He is currently the assistant coach of Cape Town City. Club career Early career Mokoena was born in Boipatong. He moved to Bayer Leve ...

– Former football player for Jomo Cosmos,

Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers Football Club is a professional football club, based in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, which competes in the , the second tier of the English football league system. They have played home matches at Ewood Park since 1890. T ...

, and

Portsmouth FC Portsmouth Football Club is a professional football club based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, which compete in . They are also known as ''Pompey'', a local nickname used by both HMNB Portsmouth and the city of Portsmouth; the ''Pompey'' nick ...

Thabo Mooki Thabo Mooki affectionately nicknamed Tsiki-Tsiki (born 22 October 1974 in Soweto, Gauteng) is a retired South African association football midfielder who spent all his professional career with Premier Soccer League club Kaizer Chiefs. He also ...

– Former football player for Kaizer Chiefs and

Abia Nale Abia Nale (born 5 October 1986 in Sebokeng, Gauteng) is a South African football player who plays as an attacking midfielder A midfielder is an outfield position in association football. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive ...

– Former football player for Kaizer Chiefs * Lebohang Mokoena – Football player for Moroka Swallows * Jacob Lekgetho – Former football player for Moroka Swallows *

Vincent Pule Maliele Vincent Pule (born 10 March 1992) is a South African soccer player who plays for Orlando Pirates and barely plays for the South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in ...

– Football player for

Ben Motshwari Ben Motshwari (born 21 March 1991) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for AmaZulu. He has been capped for the South Africa national team. Professional career Motshwari made his professional debut with Bidv ...

– Football player for

Lehlohonolo Seema Lehlohonolo Seema (born 9 June 1980 in Mafeteng) is a retired Lesotho football (soccer) defender and midfielder. He also holds South African citizenship. He is currently the manager of Lamontville Golden Arrows in the South African Premier Div ...

– Retired footballer, Coach of

Chippa United Chippa United Football Club (often known as Chilli boys or Chippa) is a South African professional football club based in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province, having previously being based in Nyanga suburb of the city of Cape Town. The club' ...

* Lebohang Maboe – Football player for

Mamelodi Sundowns Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club (simply known as Sundowns) is a South African professional football club based in Mamelodi, Pretoria in the Gauteng province that plays in the Premier Soccer League, the first tier of South African football ...

Reneilwe Letsholonyane Reneilwe "Yeye" Letsholonyane (born 9 June 1982) is a South African retired professional soccer player who played as a midfielder. He represented the South Africa national team at international level. Early life Letsholonyane grew up kicking a ...

– South African footballer *

Itumeleng Khune Itumeleng Issac Khune (born 20 June 1987) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as goalkeeper for Kaizer Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League, and also the South African national team. He is the captain of both. Khune shot ...

– South African footballer *

Victor Mpitsang Phenyo Victor Mpitsang (born 28 March 1980) is a fast bowler who has played two One Day Internationals for South Africa in 1999. He has represented Free State and subsequently the Eagles franchise since 1998. On October 20, 2020, Cricket South ...

– South African cricketer, fast bowler who has played for South Africa, currently cricket National Convenor of Selectors * Lucky Lekgwathi – Former South African footballer * Dikgang Mabalane – South African football player *

Marks Maponyane Marks Maponyane (born 16 February 1962) is a retired South African football player. Kaizer Chiefs Maponyane joined Chiefs when he was 19 and started off by earning R600 a month. He scored on debut on 12 April 1981 against Leceister City in E ...

– retired South African football player *

Amantle Montsho Amantle Montsho (born July 4, 1983) is a female sprinter from Botswana who specializes in the 400 metres. She represented her country at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, reaching the final at the latter edition. She was the first woman to ...

– Former world 800 metres champion * Kaizer Motaung – Former South African footballer and chairman of Kaizer Chiefs * Kaizer Motaung Junior – Former South African footballer *

Katlego Mphela Katlego Abel Mphela (born 29 November 1984) is a South African retired professional footballer who played as a forward. Club career Mphela, a product of Jomo Cosmos, played in France for RC Strasbourg Alsace and Stade de Reims, both with limi ...

– South African footballer *

Kagiso Rabada Kagiso Rabada (born 25 May 1995) is a South African international cricketer who plays all formats of the game. He is a right arm fast bowler. He made his international debut in November 2014 in limited-overs cricket before going on to make his ...

– South African cricketer, debut for South Africa in November 2014 and by July 2018 he had topped both the ICC ODI bowler rankings and the ICC Test bowler rankings aged 22 * Jimmy Tau – Former South African footballer *

Percy Tau Percy Muzi Tau (born 13 May 1994) is a South African professional soccer player who plays for Egyptian Premier League club Al Ahly SC as a forward and the South African national team. Tau began his footballing career with Premier Soccer Lea ...

– South African footballer *

Baboloki Thebe Baboloki Tirelo Thebe (born 18 March 1997) is a Botswana track and field sprint (running), sprinter who specialises in the 400 metres. He was a silver medallist in the 200 metres at the Athletics at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, 2014 Summer You ...

– Commonwealth 800 metres silver medalist. 4x4 Commonwealth gold medalist

Politics, royalty, activism, business and economics

Frances Baard Frances Goitsemang Baard (1 October 1909 – 1997) was a South African (ethnic Tswana) trade unionist, organiser for the African National Congress Women's League and a Patron of the United Democratic Front, who was commemorated in the renaming ...

– Organiser of the African National Congress (ANC) Women's League and Trade Unionist *

Bathoen I Bathoen I (1845 – 1 July 1910) was a ''kgosi'' (paramount chief) of the Ngwaketse people (1889-1910). Together with Khama III and Sebele I he is credited with saving the young British Bechuanaland Protectorate, a predecessor of Botswana, from b ...

– Former Kgosi (paramount chief) of the Ngwaketse * Manne Dipico – first premier of Northern Cape province, South Africa *

Winkie Direko Isabella Winkie Direko (27 November 192917 February 2012) was a South African politician born in the Free State (province), Free State province of South Africa. She was a member of the African National Congress and served as Premier of the Free S ...

– former premier of Free State and former chancellor of University of Free State *

Unity Dow Unity Dow ( Diswai; born 23 April 1959) is a Motswana lawyer, human rights activist, specially elected member of parliament, and a writer. She formerly served as a judge on the High Court of Botswana and in various government ministries. Born ...

– Botswana former High Court judge, author, activist, Minister *

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– Trade unionist, member of the ANC and General Secretary of SACTU, Robben Island prisoner, banned person *

Khama III Khama III (1837?–1923), referred to by missionaries as Khama the Good also called Khama the Great, was the ''Kgosi'' (meaning king) of the Bangwato people. Ancestry and Youth Malope a chief of the Bakwena, led his people from the Transvaal r ...

– King of Botswana *

Ian Khama Seretse Khama Ian Khama (born 27 February 1953) is a Botswana politician and former military officer who was the fourth President of the Republic of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence ...

– Fourth President of Botswana *

Seretse Khama Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, GCB, KBE (1 July 1921 – 13 July 1980) was a Motswana politician who served as the first President of Botswana, a post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980. Born into an influential royal fam ...

– First President of Botswana *

Moses Kotane Moses Mauane Kotane (9 August 190519 May 1978) was a South African politician and activist. Kotane was secretary general of the South African Communist Party from 1939 until his death in 1978.

– South African politician and activist *

David Magang David N. Magang (born 1938) is a Botswana lawyer, businessman and politician. Trained at the University of London, he was the first Botswana native to open a private law practice in the nation. A member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party Mag ...

– Botswana lawyer, businessman and politician *

Supra Mahumapelo Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo is a South African politician and musician. He served as the Provincial Secretary of the African National Congress North West Provincial Leadership from 2011 until August 2018. He previously served as Speaker ...

– South African politician *

Mmusi Maimane Mmusi Aloysias Maimane (born 6 June 1980) is a South African politician, businessman, and Leader of Build One South Africa, a political party. Maimane is also the former Leader of South Africa, South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance (So ...

– South African politician *

Toto Makgolokwe Toto Makgolokwe was the paramount chief (kgosi) of the Batlharo tribe of South Africa, dubbed the Freedom Warrior and an icon of the land whose resistance to colonization galvanized the freedom struggle. In 1897, he became the hero of The Langeb ...

– Paramount chief (kgosi) of the Batlharo tribe of South Africa *

Lucas Mangope Kgosi Lucas Manyane Mangope (27 December 1923 – 18 January 2018) was the leader of the Bantustan (homeland) of Bophuthatswana. The territory he ruled over was distributed between the Orange Free State – what is now Free State – and North W ...

– Former President of Bophutatswana *

Quett Masire 'Ketumile Quett Joni Masire'', GCMG (24 July 1926 – 22 June 2017) was the second and longest-serving President of Botswana, in office from 1980 to 1998. He was honored with the Knighthood of the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint Ge ...

– Second President of Botswana *

Mokgweetsi Masisi Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi (born 21 July 1961) is the fifth and current President of Botswana, serving since 2018. He served as the 8th Vice President of Botswana from 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018. He was a Member of Parliament in the N ...

– President of Botswana * Joe Matthews – South African politician * Naledi Pandor (née Matthews) – South African politician and minister *

Festus Mogae Festus Gontebanye Mogae (born 21 August 1939) is a Botswana politician and economist who served as the third President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He succeeded Quett Masire as President in 1998 and was re-elected in October 2004; after ten y ...

– Third President of Botswana *

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 ...

– Chief Justice, South Africa *

Job Mokgoro Tebogo Job Mokgoro (born 15 May 1948) is a South African politician and academic who served as the 6th Premier of North West from June 2018 until his resignation in August 2021. He was a Member of the North West Provincial Legislature during that ...

– South African politician and academic *

Yvonne Mokgoro Yvonne Mokgoro (born 19 October 1950) is a former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and wife to Job Mokgoro. Career Mokgoro was appointed to the bench in 1994 by Nelson Mandela. Mokgoro is a board member of the Centre for Huma ...

– Former South African Constitutional Court Justice * Brian Molefe – South African businessman, appointed CEO of Transnet in February 2011, and CEO of Eskom in April 2015 *

Popo Molefe Popo Simon Molefe (born 26 April 1952 in Sophiatown, Johannesburg) is a businessman and former politician from South Africa. Early life One of eight children, Molefe was the son of a laborer and a domestic worker, though he was raised largely by ...

– first

premier of North West The Premier of North West is the head of government of the North West province of South Africa. The current Premier of the North West is Bushy Maape, a member of the African National Congress, who was elected premier in September 2021 after the ...

province, South Africa *

Dipuo Peters Elizabeth Dipuo Peters (born 13 May 1960 in Kimberley, Northern Cape) was the Minister of Transport of the Republic of South Africa from 10 July 2013 until 30 March 2017, in the Zuma administration, and former Minister of Energy from 2009 to 201 ...

– South Africa politician, former Minister of Transport and Minister of Energy from 2009 to 2013 *

Edna Molewa Edna or EDNA may refer to: Places United States *Edna, California, a census-designated place *Edna Lake, Idaho * Edna, Iowa, an unincorporated town in Lyon County *Edna Township, Cass County, Iowa *Edna, Kansas, a city * Edna, Kentucky, an uni ...

– South African politician *

Leruo Molotlegi Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi (born 1968) is the 36th ''kgosi'', or king, of the Royal Bafokeng Nation. The Bafokeng nation is located in North West Province of the Republic of South Africa. Biography Molotlegi has served as ''Kgosi'' since 2000, ...

– King of the Royal Bafokeng Nation *

Ruth Mompati Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (14 September 1925 – 12 May 2015) was a South African politician and a founding member of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) in 1954. Mompati was one of the leaders of the Women's March on 9 August 1956. E ...

– South African political activist *

James Moroka James Sebe Moroka, OLG (16 March 1891 – 10 November 1985) was a medical doctor and a politician, who was the president of the African National Congress 1949–1952.

– one of the ANC Presidents (1949 to 1952) *

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 ...

– South African judge and former Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa * Nthato Motlana – Prominent South African businessman, physician and anti-apartheid activist *

Bridgette Motsepe Bridgette Radebe (née Motsepe) is a South African businesswoman of Tswana descent and the sister of South African businessman Patrice Motsepe and First Lady of South Africa Tshepo Motsepe. Career She was born on 26 February 1960.Patrice Motsepe Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe (born 28 January 1962) is a South African mining billionaire businessman. Since 12 March 2021, he has been serving as the President of the Confederation of African Football. He is the founder and executive chairman of ...

– South African billionaire mining businessman * Tshepo Motsepe – First Lady of South Africa as the wife of Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa *

Sebele I Sebele I was a chief (''kgosi'') of the Kwena —a major Tswana tribe (''morafe'') in modern-day Botswana— who ruled from 1892 until his death in 1911. During his lifetime, he resisted the 1885 Bechuanaland Protectorate"Sechele’s tr ...

– Former Chief (Kgosi) of the Kwena – a major Tswana tribe (morafe) in modern-day Botswana *

Molefi Sefularo Molefi Sefularo (9 July 1957 – 5 April 2010) was the Deputy Minister of Health of South Africa from 25 September 2008 until his death. The position of Deputy Minister of Health had been vacant since Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge was dismissed fr ...

– South African politician *

Abram Onkgopotse Tiro Onkgopotse Tiro (9 November 1945 – 1 February 1974) was a South African student activist and black consciousness militant. He was born in Dinokana, a small village near Zeerust. He was expelled from the University of the North (now known as ...

– South African student activist and black consciousness militant

References

* * *http://www.namibian.org/travel/namibia/population/tswana.htm * * *http://mphebathomuseum.org.za/?q=node/42 {{DEFAULTSORT:Sotho-Tswana peoples

Ethnonym

Sotho Ethnonym

Tswana Ethnonym

Names

Classification

Notable people

Politics, royalty, activism, business and economics

See also

References