Famous South African Writers

Famous People From South Africa
South African Female WritersPoetsNovelists
Find out more about the greatest South African Writers, including J. M. Coetzee, Bryce Courtenay, Ronald Harwood, Athol Fugard and Austin Stevens.
J. R. R. TolkienJ. R. R. Tolkien
03 January 1892
Writer
J. M. CoetzeeJ. M. Coetzee
09 February 1940
Novelist, Author

Ahmed DeedatAhmed Deedat
01 July 1918
Writer

Nadine GordimerNadine Gordimer
20 November 1923
Writer, Political Activist

Bryce CourtenayBryce Courtenay
14 August 1933
Novelist

Prue LeithPrue Leith
18 February 1940
Restaurateur
Vusamazulu Credo MutwaVusamazulu Credo Mutwa
21 July 1921
Ufologist, Writer

Ruth FirstRuth First
04 May 1925
Author, Politician, University teacher, Writer,

Mbongeni NgemaMbongeni Ngema
10 May 1955
Novelist
Athol FugardAthol Fugard
11 June 1932
Actor, Writer, Novelist, Screenwriter, Journalist,

Austin StevensAustin Stevens
19 May 1950
Photographer, Writer
Keorapetse KgositsileKeorapetse Kgositsile
19 September 1938
Poet, Journalist, Writer

Alan PatonAlan Paton
11 January 1903
Writer, Autobiographer, Screenwriter

Laurens van der PostLaurens van der Post
13 December 1906
Novelist, Writer, Screenwriter, Journalist

John Langalibalele DubeJohn Langalibalele Dube
22 February 1871
Essayist

Ingrid JonkerIngrid Jonker
19 September 1933
Poet, Writer
Breyten BreytenbachBreyten Breytenbach
16 September 1939
Poet, Writer, Painter

Robert CalvertRobert Calvert
09 March 1945
Poet, Singer, Writer

Olive SchreinerOlive Schreiner
24 March 1855
Writer

Ronald HarwoodRonald Harwood
09 November 1934
Writer, Screenwriter, Film producer, Playwright,
André BrinkAndré Brink
29 May 1935
Linguist, Writer, Translator, Professor

Neil TurokNeil Turok
16 November 1958
Physicist, Non-fiction writer
Joseph WolpeJoseph Wolpe
20 April 1915
Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Psychologist,

Danie CravenDanie Craven
11 October 1910
Rugby Union Player

Peter AbrahamsPeter Abrahams
03 March 1919
Novelist
Herman Charles BosmanHerman Charles Bosman
03 February 1905
Short Story Writer

Fatima MeerFatima Meer
12 August 1928
Writer
Noel LangleyNoel Langley
25 December 1911
Novelist

Harry Frederick OppenheimerHarry Frederick Oppenheimer
28 October 1908
Businessperson

Dennis BrutusDennis Brutus
28 November 1924
Author
Tiyo SogaTiyo Soga
1829 AD
Author

Continue Reading Below
Alex La GumaAlex La Guma
20 February 1924
Novelist
Gibson KenteGibson Kente
23 July 1932
Playwright

Lewis NkosiLewis Nkosi
05 December 1936
Author

Benedict Wallet VilakaziBenedict Wallet Vilakazi
06 January 1906
Author

William PlomerWilliam Plomer
10 December 1903
Writer
Samuel Edward Krune MqhayiSamuel Edward Krune Mqhayi
01 December 1875
Dramatist
Richard RiveRichard Rive
01 March 1931
Writer

Mazisi KuneneMazisi Kunene
12 May 1930
Poet

C. Louis LeipoldtC. Louis Leipoldt
28 December 1880
Poet

Uys KrigeUys Krige
04 February 1910
Writer
Bernard Binlin DadiéBernard Binlin Dadié
10 January 1916
Novelist

Barney SimonBarney Simon
13 April 1932
Writer

Dan JacobsonDan Jacobson
07 March 1929
Novelist

Oswald Mbuyiseni MtshaliOswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali
17 January 1940
Poet

Archibald Campbell JordanArchibald Campbell Jordan
30 October 1906
Novelist
Jack CopeJack Cope
03 June 1913
Novelist

Stuart CloeteStuart Cloete
23 July 1897
Novelist
William ModisaneWilliam Modisane
28 August 1923
Writer

Sarah MillinSarah Millin
19 March 1889
Author

Colin LegumColin Legum
03 January 1919
Journalist
Roy CampbellRoy Campbell
02 October 1901
Poet

D. F. MalherbeD. F. Malherbe
28 May 1881
Novelist
Rolfes Robert Reginald DhlomoRolfes Robert Reginald Dhlomo
1901 AD
Journalist

William Wellington GqobaWilliam Wellington Gqoba
31 July 1840
Poet

Alfred HutchinsonAlfred Hutchinson
1924 AD
Author

Z. D. MangoaelaZ. D. Mangoaela
31 January 1883
Folklorist

Chris BarnardChris Barnard
15 July 1939
 
Mary BensonMary Benson
08 December 1919
Activist

TotiusTotius
21 February 1877
Poet

F.T. PrinceF.T. Prince
13 September 1912
Poet

Guy ButlerGuy Butler
21 January 1918
Poet
Jean-Joseph RabéariveloJean-Joseph Rabéarivelo
04 March 1901
Poet

Bessie Emery HeadBessie Emery Head
06 July 1937
 
Es'kia MphahleleEs'kia Mphahlele
17 December 1919
Writer