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Coloureds

The term Coloured redirects here. For the component ethnic group originating in the Cape, see Cape Coloureds. For usage of the term outside southern Africa, see Colored. For other uses, see Color (disambiguation).

Ethnic group Coloureds

An extended Coloured family with roots in Cape Town, Kimberley and Pretoria

Total population 5,600,000 (Estimate)

Regions with significant populations

Languages

Religion Predominantly Christianity, minority Islam and Hinduism

Related ethnic groups Africans, Mulatto, White South Africans, Afrikaners, Boers, Cape Dutch, Cape Coloureds, Cape Malays, Griquas, San people, Khoikhoi, Zulu, Xhosa, Saint Helenians, Rehoboth Basters, Tswana

Coloureds (Afrikaans: Kleurlinge) are multiracial people indigenous to South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Their complex heritage is the result of centuries of interracial mixing between Europeans, indigenous Africans, and Asians. This process of admixture began in earnest in the 17th century within the Dutch Cape Colony, where Dutch men, driven by a scarcity of European women and the establishment of a slave-based economy, formed unions with indigenous Khoekhoe women and enslaved women from various parts of Asia. Over time, this pattern of intermingling expanded across the region, involving a diverse array of European nationalities—including Portuguese, British, German, and French settlers—who also intermarried with Indian, Malaysian, and Indonesian women. The descendants of these unions, a rich tapestry of ancestries, were later officially classified as 'Coloured' under the discriminatory Population Registration Act, 1950 during the era of Apartheid.

While the majority of Coloured people are concentrated in the Western Cape, they are a discernible presence throughout South Africa. The 2022 South African census indicated that Coloureds constitute 8.15% of the national population. However, their demographic significance is far greater in certain provinces: they represent a plurality in the Western Cape (42.1%) and the Northern Cape (41.6%), two provinces that bear the deepest historical imprint of this intermingling. It is within the Western Cape, in particular, that a distinct Cape Coloured culture, interwoven with that of the Cape Malay community, has flourished. Genetic studies have consistently pointed to the Coloured population as possessing some of the highest levels of mixed ancestry globally, a testament to their unique historical formation.

Ancestral Background

South Africa, often lauded as a 'Rainbow Nation' due to its profound cultural, tribal, racial, religious, and national diversity, is the crucible in which the Coloured identity was forged. This inherent diversity means that the ancestral backgrounds of Coloured people are as varied as the regions they inhabit and the ethnic groups that have historically converged there.

Dutch Cape Colony/Cape Colony/Cape Province

The genesis of the Coloured population can be traced to the Dutch Cape Colony and its subsequent evolution into the Cape Colony. The initial and most extensive phase of interracial marriages and miscegenation in what is now South Africa commenced in the 17th century, shortly after the arrival of Dutch settlers under the command of Jan van Riebeeck and the auspices of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).

Upon their arrival in 1652, the Dutch encountered the indigenous Khoi Khoi people. The establishment of farms by the Dutch necessitated a substantial labour force, leading to the implementation of slavery in the Cape. While some of the Khoi Khoi were integrated as labourers, their resistance to Dutch encroachment, culminating in the Khoikhoi-Dutch Wars, spurred the Dutch to import slaves from other regions. These importations included individuals from present-day Indonesia, known collectively as Malay people, and Bantu peoples from various parts of Southern Africa. The slave population in the Cape became remarkably diverse, with individuals also arriving from Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh (then Bengal), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Madagascar, and other parts of Africa. This confluence of peoples rendered the Cape one of the most ethnically diverse slave-holding societies in the world.

Though these enslaved individuals were often given Christian names by their masters, their places of origin were meticulously recorded, allowing for a degree of demographic reconstruction. Surnames were frequently assigned based on the master's name, biblical figures (e.g., Adams, Jephta, Jacobs), the month of arrival (e.g., September, March/Maart), classical mythology (e.g., Cupido, Adonis), or geographical origin (e.g., 'Afrika', 'Balie' from Bali, 'Malgas' from Madagascar). Despite these attempts at assimilation, the distinct cultural identities of many enslaved groups gradually eroded over time.

From its inception, the settlement that would become 'Cape Town' held significant international importance as a critical trading post situated on the vital sea route between Europe and Asia. This strategic position was the primary driver for Dutch colonization, allowing the VOC to control and profit from this maritime artery. Consequently, the Dutch Cape Colony, particularly Cape Town, evolved into a true melting pot of peoples from across the globe, a characteristic that persists to this day. The majority of early European settlers were men—traders, sailors, soldiers, explorers, and administrators—who, for the most part, did not bring their families. This demographic imbalance fostered the creation of new families within the Cape itself.

The preponderance of Dutch men led to many unions with indigenous Khoi Khoi women, fathering the first generation of mixed-race children. As slaves were introduced, Dutch men also formed relationships and fathered children with enslaved women of Malay, Southern African Bantu, and Indian origins. Furthermore, enslaved individuals of diverse racial backgrounds—African and Asian—also engaged in unions, producing mixed-race offspring. These children, unlike those subjected to the One-drop rule prevalent in the United States, were not easily categorized as solely "white," "black," or "Asian" by the Dutch settlers. They grew up, intermingled, and eventually married amongst themselves, forming a distinct community that would later be identified, under the Apartheid regime, as 'Cape Coloureds'.

A pivotal figure in this early intermingling was Krotoa, a Khoi Khoi woman who served as an interpreter and negotiator between the Dutch and her people. Her marriage to Peter Havgard (later Pieter Van Meerhof), a Danish surgeon, resulted in three mixed-race children and is often cited as the genesis of the Coloured community in South Africa.

The arrival of more Dutch settlers continued, and by the early 19th century, the Cape came under British rule. Families such as the Van Wijks (arriving in 1686) and the Erasmus family (1689) became established. This influx of Europeans coincided with increased recruitment of Khoi Khoi labourers and the continued importation of slaves from Asia and Africa. Throughout the mid-17th to the 19th centuries, Dutch surnames in the Cape region and across South Africa underwent an evolution into what are now common Afrikaans surnames, shared by both White South Africans and Coloured South Africans. Examples include Van Niekerk, Strydom, De Waal, Pietersen, Van Rooyen, Van Tonder, Hanekom, Steenhuisen, De Jongh, Van Wyk, Van Der Walt, Van Der Merwe, Koekemoer, Meintjies, Beukes, Van Der Bijl, Uys, Oosthuizen, Theunissen, Pieterse, Willemse, and Nieuwoudt.

The Huguenots, French Protestants fleeing persecution in France, also found refuge in the Dutch Cape Colony in the late 1600s and early 1700s. They significantly impacted the development of the Afrikaans-speaking community and the Cape region. Bringing their expertise in viticulture, they pioneered the Cape Winelands, establishing it as a major global wine-producing area. Towns like Franschhoek ("French corner"), Stellenbosch, and Paarl became centres of Huguenot settlement, chosen for their favourable climate and fertile land. Although many Huguenots were married upon arrival, their descendants were gradually absorbed into Cape society, adopting Dutch as their language within a few generations. Consequently, many Coloured-Afrikaans speakers, particularly in the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape, share French ancestry. Surnames of French origin, such as Delport, Nel, Du Preez, Le Roux, De Villiers, Joubert, Marais, Du Plessis, Visagie, Pienaar, De Klerk (from 'Le Clerc'), Fourie, Theron, Cronje, Viljoen (from 'Villion'), Du Toit, Reyneke, Malan, Naude, Terblanche, De Lille, Fouche, Minnaar, Blignaut, Retief, Boshoff, Rossouw, Olivier, and Cilliers, are common within both White and Coloured Afrikaans-speaking communities.

Germany, a major European trading partner of the Netherlands, contributed significantly to the Dutch Empire's workforce. Throughout the Dutch period, approximately 15,000 Germans were sent to the Dutch Cape Colony by the VOC to serve as officials, sailors, administrators, and soldiers. Like the French Huguenots, these German settlers integrated into the existing Dutch community, adopting the Dutch language. They became farmers, teachers, traders, and ministers. Predominantly male, German settlers in the Cape often married women from other ethnic backgrounds, including African and Asian women. This integration resulted in many Afrikaans surnames of German origin, such as Klaasen, Ackerman, Vosloo, Hertzog, Botha, Grobler, Hartzenberg, Pretorius, Booysen, Steenkamp, Kruger (from 'Krüger'), Louw, Venter, Cloete, Schoeman, Mulder, Kriel, Meyer, Breytenbach, Engelbrecht, Potgieter, Muller, Maritz, Liebenberg, Hoffman, Fleischman, Weimers, and Schuster.

Scandinavians, hailing from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, were among the earliest European settlers in the Cape Colony, often serving as VOC workers or independent traders. They filled roles as missionaries, soldiers, administrators, traders, teachers, and nurses. Peter Havgard (Pieter Van Meerhof), the Danish husband of Krotoa, is an early example. Olof Bergh, a Swedish explorer and VOC official, is another notable figure. Like other European groups, Scandinavians integrated into the Cape society, contributing to the ancestry of many Coloured individuals, particularly through common Afrikaans surnames like Trichardt/Triegaardt (from Swedish 'Trädgård') and Lindeque/Lindeques (from Swedish 'Lindequast').

Portuguese settlers also integrated into Cape society, contributing surnames like Ferreira, which became part of the Afrikaans lexicon. The European community in the Cape gradually evolved into the distinct ethnic group known today as White South Africans, often referred to as Boers or Afrikaners.

With the increased European presence, coupled with the arrival of more African and Asian slaves and Khoi Khoi labourers, the rate of interracial unions and the conception of mixed-race children accelerated. These individuals were increasingly absorbed into the burgeoning Cape Coloured community. The recruitment of Khoi Khoi labourers and the importation of slaves continued until the Cape fell under British rule in the early 19th century, at which point these groups were largely integrated into the Coloured population.

The Malays, primarily from Indonesia and Malaysia, constituted a significant group of Asian slaves. Indonesian slaves also included individuals from the Javanese people of Java and the Balinese people of Bali. As Indonesia and Malaysia are predominantly Muslim nations, these slaves introduced Islam to the Dutch Cape Colony, establishing it as the second-largest religion among Coloureds after Christianity. This religious diffusion occurred through missionary efforts, solidifying Islam's presence. Indonesian Muslims were often referred to as 'Mardyckers' or 'Mardijkers'. Many Indonesians, however, were not Muslim and converted to Christianity. Some were also exiled prisoners who had rebelled against Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies, subsequently becoming slaves in the Cape. These Malay and other Indonesian slaves exerted a profound influence on the Cape Colony under Dutch rule, partly because they included individuals of royal, clerical, political, and religious standing. Exiled figures like Tuan Guru, who founded South Africa's first mosque in the Bo-kaap in Cape Town, and Sheikh Yusuf, exiled from Makassar in Indonesia, became prominent leaders among the oppressed and enslaved populations. Their influence helped Islam become a refuge for other slaves and Khoi Khoi labourers.

While the majority of Malays and other Indonesian and Malaysian slaves integrated into the broader Cape Coloured community, a minority preserved their distinct culture, becoming known as the 'Cape Malays' (or 'Cape Muslims'). Their influence extended to other Muslim communities in the Cape, including Indian, East African, and later immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, India, Indonesia, and Zanzibar who arrived during the British colonial period. This process led to the creolization of the Cape Malay community. Even Khoi Khoi people, Coloured individuals, and White people who converted to Islam and adopted Malay traditions were assimilated into this community. The strong cultural ties and shared ancestry between the Cape Coloureds and Cape Malays led to their intertwining, particularly in Cape Town. As the Cape Territory expanded, Islam spread, and many Cape Malays migrated to various parts of the Cape region, and even inland following the discovery of gold in Johannesburg in 1886. During Apartheid, the Cape Malays were classified as a subgroup of 'Coloureds' due to their shared ancestry and the racial categorization system, which grouped the population into Black, White, Coloured, and Indian. Consequently, many Cape Malays were compelled to reside in Coloured communities under the Group Areas Act.

Prior to the arrival of the Malays, Indians, Sri Lankans, and Bangladeshis (Bengalis) were among the first Asian slaves brought to the Cape. India, with its rich trade in spices and other goods, was a crucial partner for the Netherlands. During the period of Cape colonization, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh were also under Dutch colonial rule. From the advent of slavery until the Cape came under British rule, many individuals from these South Asian regions were brought to the Cape as slaves, working as farm labourers, carpenters, craftsmen, domestic workers, and cooks. Angela Van Bengale, who hailed from Bengal, is noted as an early and prominent Indian slave who had relationships with white men and bore ten mixed-race children. At one point, Indians constituted the largest group of Asian slaves, although their numbers declined in the 18th century due to restrictions on Asian slave imports. Due to extensive miscegenation, the majority of Indian, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi slaves were absorbed into the Cape Coloured community, while a minority, particularly Muslims, were assimilated into the Cape Malay community. Indian cuisine, with its characteristic use of spices and dishes like Butter chicken, Roti, and Samosas, significantly influenced Cape Malay cuisine, which in turn impacted the traditional dishes of the Cape Coloured community, especially in the Western Cape.

The predominant African slaves in the Cape were Southern African Bantu peoples, often from Mozambique and Angola, and the Malagasy people from Madagascar. African slaves were also imported from Central Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and Mauritius. The very first slave ship to arrive in the Cape, the Amersfoort, carried slaves from Angola, followed by a substantial group from West Africa. African slaves constituted the majority of the slave population in the Dutch Cape Colony. Slaves from Mozambique and its surrounding areas were locally known as 'Masbiekers,' a Cape Dutch term referring to Mozambicans. Slaves from East Africa were also sometimes referred to as 'Masbiekers' as many passed through the Island of Mozambique en route to the Cape. The Masbiekers Valley in Swellendam, also known as 'Masbiekers Kloof,' was named in honour of freed Masbieker slaves who had no other place to go after the abolition of slavery. Bantu slaves, from various parts of Southern, Central, and East Africa, introduced the Ngoma drum, which became an integral instrument in the Kaapse Klopse festival. The word 'Ngoma' signifies a drum in most Bantu languages and a song in some. Through Dutch influence and creolization, 'Ngoma' evolved into 'Gomma' and then into the term 'Ghoema'. Due to widespread miscegenation, the majority of African slaves were integrated into the Cape Coloured community. African slaves who were Muslim, particularly from East Africa, West Africa, and Madagascar, were also assimilated into the Cape Malay community.

During the 17th century (1652–1700), the Dutch Cape Colony's territory was confined to present-day Cape Town and its immediate environs, including Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. From the 18th century until the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, the Cape's territory expanded gradually northward and eastward. This expansion was driven by the need for more fertile land, as the immediate interior was often dry and infertile, and settlements required access to permanent water sources. The emigration of Trekboers, who left the Dutch Cape Colony to migrate into the Karoo during the 18th century, and the subsequent British rule in the 19th century also influenced this territorial growth. By the 1750s, the colony had reached present-day [Swellendam], and by the end of Dutch rule (following British annexation in 1814), it extended into parts of the present-day Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. This expansion brought Afrikaners/Boers and their multiracial slaves into these new territories. Under British rule in the 19th century, the Cape continued to expand, reaching the borders of other colonies and the Boer republics. This expansion, coupled with Trekboer migrations, the settlement of Afrikaners/Boers with their multiracial slaves, and the arrival of other European nationalities such as the British and Irish, led to increased interracial unions across the Cape. Notably, in the [Northern Cape], unions occurred between Europeans and the Khoisans, while in the [Eastern Cape], unions between Europeans and the Xhosa resulted in more mixed-race children who also became part of the Cape Coloured population.

Miscegenation in the eastern part of the Cape, now the Eastern Cape, dates back to the late 1600s, significantly influenced by shipwrecks. The Wild Coast Region, known for its ruggedness and treacherous seas, experienced numerous shipwrecks, particularly in the 1700s. Survivors, predominantly European and some Asian, settled along the Wild Coast. Unable to reach their intended destinations, many remained permanently in the Eastern Cape, intermingling with the Xhosa. During the same period, escaped slaves from the Dutch Cape Colony, known as 'Maroons,' sought refuge in the East. They were later followed by Trekboers heading towards the [Karoo], some of whom also settled in the Eastern Cape and mixed with the Xhosa and Khoi Khoi. Coenraad De Buys, a notorious Trekboer, fathered numerous mixed-race children with his African wives (Khoi Khoi and Xhosa), including Yese, the mother of Chief Ngqika and wife of Mlawu kaRarabe. Towards the end of Dutch rule, the Dutch Cape Colony's territory reached the western portion of the Eastern Cape, particularly the Graaff-Reinet region, leading to the arrival of Boers/Afrikaners and their multiracial slaves. Miscegenation in the Eastern Cape continued through the 19th and early 20th centuries with the arrival of British, Irish, and German settlers, many of whom had already mixed with various ethnicities. These multiracial individuals in the Eastern Cape eventually became part of the Cape Coloured population.

In the northern region of the Cape, now the Northern Cape, miscegenation began in the 1700s with the arrival of Trekboers who had left the Dutch Cape Colony to escape autocratic rule. Some settled in the [Karoo], while others moved to Namaqualand. Some Trekboers ventured as far as the Orange River and the southern part of the Kalahari, where they encountered the Khoisans (the San and the Khoi Khoi). To survive in this arid region, the Trekboers adopted the nomadic lifestyle of the Khoisans and intermarried with them. During the final years of Dutch rule, the Dutch Cape Colony's territory extended into the southern part of the Northern Cape, bringing Boers/Afrikaners and their multiracial slaves. In the early 1800s, the Griqua people migrated from the Dutch Cape Colony, with half establishing a Griqua state called 'Griqualand West' north of the Karoo. Subsequently, the Basters, Oorlams, and some Cape Coloureds also migrated north, with some reaching present-day [Namibia]. In the latter half of the 1800s, the discovery of significant diamond, Uranium, Copper, and Iron ore deposits in the Northern Cape attracted numerous Europeans. Many of these settlers intermingled with the San, Khoi Khoi, Tswana (in the northeast), and Xhosa (in the southeast), with their multiracial descendants also becoming part of the Cape Coloured population.

Following British annexation in 1814, slavery was abolished in the Cape in 1834, an event that precipitated the Great Trek. During this period, the Boers departed the Cape as Voortrekkers to establish the Boer republics in the interior of South Africa. The majority of freed slaves, who had become Cape Coloureds, remained behind. Many settled in an area of Cape Town that later became known as District Six. Throughout the 1800s and the early 1900s, the Cape experienced an influx of refugees, immigrants, and indentured labourers from Britain, Ireland, Germany, Lithuania, St Helena, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, the Middle East, West Africa, North Africa, and East Africa. The vast majority of these groups were absorbed into the Cape Coloured community.

Felix Florez, a Filipino man in Kalk Bay in 1863.

In the 1800s, the Philippines, then a Spanish colony, endured a significant rebellion against Spanish rule, prompting many Filipinos to seek refuge elsewhere. In the late 1830s, the first Filipinos arrived in the Cape and settled in Kalk Bay, Cape Town, where they pursued fishing as a livelihood, making Kalk Bay their new home. News of this settlement led to further Filipino migration to Kalk Bay, and soon they dispersed throughout Cape Town and other areas of the present-day Western Cape. Eventually, most were integrated into the Cape Coloured community. Consequently, many Cape Coloureds can trace some of their ancestry to the Philippines, a result of the Filipinos who settled in Kalk Bay. Many of these Filipinos also possessed Spanish ancestry due to intermingling with Spaniards in the Philippines, or were themselves Spanish Filipinos of Spanish descent. Thus, some Cape Coloureds can also trace their lineage to Spain through the Filipinos of Kalk Bay. Common surnames among the Filipinos of Kalk Bay, many of which are Spanish, include Gomez, Pascal, Torrez, De La Cruz, Fernandez, Florez (also spelled 'Floris'), Manuel, and Garcia.

In 1888, Oromo slave children from Ethiopia, en route to Arabia, were rescued by British troops. In 1890, these freed Oromo slaves were brought to Lovedale Mission in the present-day Eastern Cape, where many became part of the Cape Coloured community. The late Dr Neville Alexander's grandmother, Bisho Jarsa, was a freed Oromo slave from Ethiopia.

By the turn of the 20th century, District Six had become a more established and cosmopolitan area. Although its population was predominantly Cape Coloured, District Six, like many other parts of the Cape, was ethnically diverse, comprising people of various ethnicities, races, and nationalities, including Black people, Whites, Jews, Cape Malays, and Asian immigrants such as Indians, Chinese, and Japanese. Many of these groups were absorbed into the Cape Coloured community. The entire Cape Colony, encompassing the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, also attracted numerous European immigrants of diverse nationalities, including Scandinavians, Portuguese, Greeks, and Italians. Many of these individuals married into the Cape Coloured community, while others intermingled with different ethnic groups, their descendants also being absorbed into the Cape Coloured community, further diversifying its ancestral makeup.

During the 20th century, under British rule (1910–1948) and the Apartheid regime (1948–1994), many Khoisans residing in the Cape Province were assimilated into the Cape Coloured community, particularly in the northern parts of the Cape (now the Northern Cape). As a result, many Cape Coloureds, especially from the Northern Cape, maintain close ties with the San and Khoi Khoi, particularly those living in the Namaqualand region, around the Orange River, and the Kalahari region.

Consequently, the Cape Coloureds possess one of the most diverse ancestries globally, a rich blend of numerous ethnic origins. However, not all Cape Coloured individuals share the same ancestral composition. Genetic studies suggest that the majority of Cape Coloureds have ancestries derived from the following ethnic groups: [124] [125]

It is crucial to note that the genetic reference cluster term "Khoisan" itself encompasses a colonially admixed population cluster, rather than a direct reference to ancient African pastoralist and hunter ancestry. This ancestry is often demarcated by the L0 haplogroup, common in the general South African native population and integral to other aboriginal genetic reference clusters like "South-East African Bantu." [131]

In the 21st century, Coloured people constitute a plurality of the population in the Western Cape (48.8%) and a significant minority in the Northern Cape (40.3%), both areas characterized by centuries of population intermingling. In the Eastern Cape, they comprise 8.3% of the population.

Griqua

Adam Kok III, leader of the Coloured Griqua People.

During the 17th and 18th centuries in the Dutch Cape Colony, interracial unions, primarily between Western Europeans (especially the Dutch) and the Khoi Khoi, gave rise to a group of mixed-race individuals known as the Griqua. The Griqua people traced their lineage to two clans: the Koks, composed mainly of Khoikhoi, and the Barendse, of mixed European descent. [133] Genetic studies conducted in the 21st century have revealed that the Griquas also possess Xhosa, San, and Tswana ancestry. [134] What distinguishes the Griquas from the broader Cape Coloured population is their absence of Asian ancestry and their stronger adherence to an African lifestyle, particularly that of the Khoi Khoi, in contrast to the Cape Coloureds' adoption of Western and Asian cultural influences. [135]

The name 'Griqua' itself is derived from the Chariaguriqua people, whose princess married the first Griqua leader, Adam Kok. [133] Facing discrimination and the devastating effects of a smallpox epidemic in the Cape Colony, Adam Kok, a Griqua leader and formerly liberated slave, led the Griquas in migrating to other regions of South Africa, establishing two Griqua states: Griqualand West and Griqualand East. Griqualand West was situated in the present-day [Northern Cape], while Griqualand East lay between the present-day [KwaZulu-Natal] and the [Eastern Cape]. [133] Regrettably, with the expansion of the Cape Colony under British rule, both Griqua states were eventually annexed and ceased to exist independently.

During the Apartheid regime (1948–1994), Griquas were classified as Coloureds due to their mixed-race heritage, and they were consequently forced to reside in Coloured communities across South Africa under the [Group Areas Act]. [134] The racial policies and hierarchy of South Africa during Apartheid led many Griquas to accept the "Coloured" classification, fearing that their Griqua identity might place them at a lower social standing. As a result, accurately estimating the Griqua population size remains challenging, and it is currently unknown. [134]

Although Griquas are dispersed throughout the country due to historical migrations, the majority of Coloured individuals originating from the [Griekwastad] area in the [Northern Cape], the [Kokstad] area in [KwaZulu-Natal], and the [Kranshoek] area in the [Western Cape] are either directly Griqua or descendants of Griquas. [134]

Colony of Natal/Natal Province

Another significant phase of interracial unions and miscegenation occurred in the Colony of Natal (present-day [KwaZulu-Natal]) during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This period was characterized primarily by intermingling between the British and the Zulu, with additional admixture involving Indians and immigrants from St Helena and [Mauritius] who married locally. Miscegenation in Natal also involved the Irish, German, Norwegian, and Xhosa populations. [31]

Blood group phenotype and gene frequency studies have indicated that the Natal Coloured population comprises a mixture of approximately 40% Black, 30% White, and 30% Indian (Asian) genes. [137]

Following the annexation of the Boer republic of Natalia by British rulers, it became the Natal in 1845. As British settlers began establishing themselves in Natal from the mid-19th century, they developed sugarcane plantations, particularly in the coastal regions like Durban and Stanger, which required extensive labour. [138] Facing a shortage of labour from the local Zulu, the British resorted to importing thousands of labourers from India to work on the sugarcane plantations of Natal. [139]

Similar to the Dutch settlers in the Cape, most British settlers in Natal were men. Consequently, many married Zulu women, while others married Indian women, resulting in the conception of mixed-race children. These multiracial individuals in Natal eventually came to be known as 'Natal Coloureds'. [140] In some instances, white administrators who fathered children with Zulu women placed their mixed-race offspring in the care of Coloured families in the area. [140] Alternatively, African women who conceived mixed-race children with 'Umlungu' (a white person) sometimes gave up their children for adoption. [140] Through these interracial unions and marriages, a distinct community gradually formed. The descendants of these unions continue to reside in Nongoma, Eshowe, Mandeni, Mangete, Nqabeni, Umuziwabantu, and iziNqolwene. [140]

John Robert Dunn, the white Zulu chief with 48 Zulu wives and 118 mixed-race children.

Some British men in Natal engaged in polygamy, maintaining multiple Zulu wives or concubines. [110] A notable example is [John Robert Dunn], a white trader of Scottish descent who became a Zulu chief, fathering 118 mixed-race children with his 48 Zulu wives. Many of his mixed-race descendants, who became 'Coloureds' in Natal, still reside in present-day [KwaZulu-Natal]. [141] Another British figure, [Henry Fynn], practised polygamy with four Zulu wives and numerous mixed-race children. [142] Henry Ogle, a British trader from Yorkshire, married an English woman named Janie and had a son, Henry, but also fathered multiple mixed-race children with his Zulu concubines at his kraal near [Umkomaas]. [143]

Apartheid

During the apartheid era in South Africa, which spanned the latter half of the 20th century, the government systematically categorized the population into four primary racial groups: White, Black (formally designated as "Native," "Bantu," or "African"), Coloured, and Asian (later "Indian"). This classification system was a cornerstone of white supremacy, designed to enforce racial segregation and maintain power imbalances. The census conducted in South Africa in 1911 was instrumental in solidifying these racial identities. A significant aspect of this census was the directive given to enumerators on how to classify individuals. The category of "coloured persons" was broadly defined to encompass all people of mixed race, including various ethnic groups such as Hottentots, Bushmen, Cape Malays, Griquas, Korannas, Creoles, Negroes, and Cape Coloureds.

Despite the apartheid government's recognition of several subgroups within the Coloured classification, such as the Cape Malays and Cape Coloureds, the broader Coloured population was generally treated as a single entity, overlooking their diverse ancestries and cultures. During this period, many Griquas began identifying as Coloureds, as this classification offered relatively more privileges compared to being categorized as indigenous Africans. While Coloureds did not endure the same level of systemic oppression as Black South Africans, they were still subjected to significant discrimination and legal segregation from Whites. For instance, Coloureds were exempt from carrying the dompas, an identity document used to restrict the movement of Black people. Conversely, the Griqua, despite their partially mixed heritage, were still required to carry this document, as they were considered an indigenous African group.

The term "kaffir" is a racial slur historically used to refer to Black African people in South Africa. While its usage persists against Black individuals, it has been more frequently and pervasively directed towards Coloured people. [145] [146]

Apartheid Era

Explanation of South African identity numbers in an identity document during apartheid, in terms of official White, Coloured, and Indian population subgroups.

Coloured individuals were subjected to forced relocation. For example, the government forcibly removed Coloured residents from urban Cape Town areas such as District Six, which was subsequently demolished. Other areas from which they were displaced included Constantia, Cape Town, Claremont, Cape Town, and Simon's Town. The inhabitants were relocated to racially designated sections of the metropolitan area, primarily on the Cape Flats. Furthermore, under apartheid, Coloureds received an education inferior to that provided to Whites, although it was generally superior to the education afforded to Black South Africans.

J. G. Strijdom, known as "the Lion of the North," intensified efforts to restrict Coloured rights, aiming to solidify the newly established majority of the National Party. In 1954, Coloured participation in juries was eliminated. Concurrently, efforts to abolish their participation on the common voters' roll in the Cape Province escalated dramatically. This was finally achieved in 1956 through a supermajority amendment to the 1951 Separate Representation of Voters Act. Although passed by Malan's government, it had initially been deemed unconstitutional by the judiciary under the South Africa Act, the Union's effective constitution. To circumvent this safeguard, which had protected Coloured political rights in the then-British Cape Colony since 1909, Strijdom's government enacted legislation to expand the Senate from 48 to 89 seats. The additional 41 members were all aligned with the National Party, increasing its Senate representation to a total of 77. The Appellate Division Quorum Bill raised the number of judges required for constitutional decisions in the Appeal Court from five to eleven. With the necessary two-thirds majority secured, Strijdom convened a joint sitting of parliament in May 1956. The entrenched clause protecting the Coloured vote within the South Africa Act was thus repealed, and the Separate Representation of Voters Act was successfully passed.

From the 1958 election onwards, Coloureds were placed on a separate voters' roll for the House of Assembly. They were entitled to elect four Whites to represent them in the House of Assembly. Two Whites were to be elected to the Cape Provincial Council, and the governor general could appoint one senator. This measure faced opposition from both Black and White groups, notably from the United Party and more liberal opposition factions. The [Torch Commando] and the [Black Sash] (an organization of white women who stood on street corners with placards) actively voiced their dissent. The issue of the Coloured vote thus became an early indicator of the regime's ruthlessness and its blatant willingness to manipulate the inherited [Westminster system]. This system would remain in place until 1994.

Many Coloured individuals refused to register for the new voters' roll, leading to a significant decline in the number of Coloured voters. In the subsequent election, only 50.2% of them participated. The prospect of voting for White representatives held little appeal for many, who viewed it as a futile exercise, and this system persisted for only ten years.

Under the Population Registration Act, as amended, Coloureds were formally classified into various subgroups, including Cape Coloureds, Cape Malays, and "other coloured." A segment of the small Chinese South African community was also classified within a Coloured subgroup. [147] [148]

In 1958, the government established the Department of Coloured Affairs, followed in 1959 by the Union for Coloured Affairs. The latter body, comprising 27 members, served as an advisory link between the government and the Coloured population.

The Coloured Persons Representative Council established in 1964 proved to be a constitutional anomaly, [clarification needed] never fully materializing. In 1969, Coloureds elected forty members to the council, who were supplemented by twenty government-nominated members, bringing the total to sixty.

Following the 1983 referendum, in which 66.3% of White voters supported the proposed changes, the Constitution was reformed. This reform allowed the Coloured and Indian minorities limited participation in separate and subordinate Houses within a tricameral Parliament. This was part of a broader strategy to grant the Coloured minority limited rights and self-governance in designated "Coloured areas," while continuing the policy of denationalizing the Black majority and making them involuntary citizens of independent homelands. The internal rationale was that South Africa's White population, then more numerous than Coloureds and Indians combined, could bolster its popular support and divide the democratic opposition while maintaining a working majority. This strategy largely failed, with the 1980s witnessing increased disintegration of civil society, numerous states of emergency, and escalating violence among all racial groups. The separate parliamentary arrangements were dismantled through negotiations held from 1990 to hold the first universal election.

Post-Apartheid Era

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During the 1994 all-race elections, Coloured people voted heavily for the White National Party. In its first contest against a non-white majority, the party secured 20% of the vote and a majority in the new Western Cape province, largely due to Cape Coloured support. The National Party rebranded itself as the New National Party after De Klerk's departure in 1996, partly to attract non-White voters, and moved closer to the ANC. This political alliance, often perplexing to observers, has sometimes been explained by the shared culture and language (Afrikaans) between White and Coloured New National Party members. Additionally, both groups opposed affirmative action programs that might favour Black South Africans, and some Coloured individuals feared losing established privileges, such as access to municipal jobs, if the African National Congress gained leadership. Following the absorption of the NNP into the ANC in 2005, Coloured voters have generally gravitated towards the Democratic Alliance, with some opting for smaller parties like the Freedom Front Plus and Patricia de Lille's Independent Democrats, while showing lukewarm support for the ANC.

Since the late 20th century, Coloured identity politics have gained prominence. The Western Cape has become a focal point for the rise of opposition parties, notably the Democratic Alliance (DA). The Western Cape is considered a region where this party could potentially challenge the dominant African National Congress. The Democratic Alliance attracted some former New National Party voters and garnered significant Coloured support. The New National Party collapsed in the 2004 elections. Coloured support was instrumental in the Democratic Alliance's victory in the 2006 Cape Town municipal elections.

Patricia de Lille, who became the mayor of Cape Town in 2011 under the platform of the now-defunct Independent Democrats, does not explicitly identify as Coloured, though many observers perceive her as such based on appearance. The Independent Democrats party actively sought the Coloured vote and achieved considerable success in the 2006 municipal and local elections, particularly in districts within the Western Cape with high proportions of Coloured residents. The outspoken Peter Marais, formerly a provincial leader of the New National Party, has sought to position his New Labour Party as the political voice for Coloured people.

Coloured individuals have supported and been members of the African National Congress both before, during, and after the apartheid era. Notable politicians include [Ebrahim Rasool] (former Western Cape premier), [Beatrice Marshoff], John Schuurman, [Allan Hendrickse], and [Trevor Manuel], who served as the long-time Minister of Finance. The Democratic Alliance gained control of the Western Cape during the 2009 National and Provincial Elections and subsequently formed an alliance with the Independent Democrats.

The ANC has experienced some success in attracting Coloured votes, particularly among labour-affiliated and middle-class Coloured voters. However, some Coloured individuals express distrust of the ANC, remarking that they were considered "not white enough under apartheid and not black enough under the ANC." [149]

In the 2004 election, voter apathy was notably high in historically Coloured areas. [150] The ANC faces the challenge of balancing the increasingly nationalistic economic aspirations of its core Black African support base with its ambition to regain control of the Western Cape, which would necessitate securing the support of the Coloured electorate. [151]

Coloureds in Other Southern African Countries

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The term Coloured is also used in Namibia to describe persons of mixed race, specifically those of part Khoisan and part European ancestry. The [Basters] of Namibia constitute a distinct ethnic group sometimes considered a subgroup of the Coloured population in that country. Under South African rule, the policies and laws of apartheid were extended to what was then known as [South West Africa]. In Namibia, Coloureds were treated by the government in a manner comparable to their counterparts in South Africa.

In Zimbabwe and, to a lesser extent, Zambia, the term Coloured or [Goffal] was used to denote people of mixed race. The majority are descended from mixed African and British, or African and Indian, progenitors. Some Coloured families trace their lineage to Cape Coloured migrants from South Africa who had children with local women. Under Rhodesia's predominantly white government, Coloureds enjoyed more privileges than Black Africans, including full voting rights, though they still faced social discrimination. The term Coloured is also used in [Eswatini].

Culture

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Lifestyle

In terms of family life, housing, eating habits, and clothing, Christian Coloureds generally adhere to a Western lifestyle. Marriages are strictly monogamous, although extramarital and premarital sexual relationships can occur and are perceived differently across families. Among the working and agrarian classes, permanent relationships are often officially ratified only after some time, if at all.

The average family size of six does not differ significantly from that of other Western families and, as with the latter, is generally related to socio-economic status. Extended families are common. Coloured children are often expected to refer to any extended relatives as their "auntie" or "uncle" as a matter of formality.

While many affluent families reside in large, modern, and sometimes luxurious homes, many urban Coloured individuals rely on state-owned economic and sub-economic housing.

Cultural Aspects

The Coloured community boasts numerous singing and choir associations, as well as orchestras. The Eoan Group Theatre Company performs opera and ballet in Cape Town. The [Kaapse Klopse] carnival, held annually on January 2nd in Cape Town, and the Cape Malay choir and orchestral performances are significant components of the city's holiday season. Kaapse Klopse involves several competing groups that traditionally parade and perform through Cape Town's streets on New Year's Day. Currently, drumlines in vibrant, colourful costumes perform in a stadium setting. Christmas festivities are observed with a sacred atmosphere, characterized by vivid celebrations, primarily featuring choirs and orchestras singing and playing Christmas carols in the streets. In the realms of performing arts and literature, several Coloured individuals have performed with the CAPAB (Cape Performing Arts Board) ballet and opera company. The community has produced three prominent Afrikaans poets: Adam Small, [S.V. Petersen], and P.J. Philander. In 1968, the Culture and Recreation Council was established to promote the cultural activities of the Coloured Community.

Education

Until 1841, missionary societies provided all educational facilities for Coloured children.

All South African children are expected to attend school from the age of seven to sixteen years, at a minimum.

Economic Activities

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Initially, Coloureds were primarily employed in semi-skilled and unskilled labour roles. As builders, masons, carpenters, and painters, they made significant contributions to the early construction industry in the Cape. Many also worked as fishermen and farm labourers, playing a vital role in the development of the wine, fruit, and grain farms in the Western Cape.

The Malays, historically and presently, are skilled furniture makers, dressmakers, and coopers. In recent years, an increasing number of Coloured individuals have found employment in the manufacturing and construction industries. Fishing remains a common occupation, and many Coloureds in rural areas work as farm labourers or farmers. The largest percentage of economically active Coloured individuals is employed in the manufacturing sector. Approximately 35% of economically active Coloured women are employed in clothing, textile, food, and other factories.

The service sector is another significant area of employment, with a growing number of Coloureds working in administrative, clerical, and sales positions. Professional and managerial roles are also increasingly filled by Coloured individuals. To foster the economic development of Coloured communities, the Coloured Development Corporation was established in 1962. This corporation provided capital to businessmen, offered training courses, and undertook the establishment of shopping centres and factories.

Distribution

A majority of those who identify as Coloured reside in the Western Cape, where they constitute nearly half of the province's population. According to the 2022 South African census, the distribution of the group across provinces was as follows: [1]

Province Population % of Coloureds % of province
[Eastern Cape] 547,741 10.84% 7.58%
[Free State] 78,141 1.55% 2.64%
[Gauteng] 443,857 8.79% 2.94%
[KwaZulu-Natal] 183,019 3.62% 1.47%
[Limpopo] 18,409 0.36% 0.28%
[Mpumalanga] 32,100 0.64% 0.62%
[North West] 60,720 1.20% 1.60%
[Northern Cape] 563,605 11.16% 41.58%
[Western Cape] 3,124,757 61.85% 42.07%
Total 5,052,349 100.0% 8.15%

Language

The majority of Coloured people in South Africa speak [Afrikaans] as their home language, while a smaller minority speaks English as their home language. [152] Most English-speaking Coloureds reside in [KwaZulu-Natal] (particularly in its largest city, [Durban]), largely due to their partial British heritage mixed with Zulu ancestry and the strong [Anglicisation] of Natal. [31] English-speaking Coloureds are also found in other parts of South Africa. Nearly all Coloured individuals from Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi speak English as their home language, reflecting their shared heritage and history with the Coloureds of Natal, as these countries were also British colonies. [153]

While the history of English-speaking Coloureds is relatively straightforward, the background of Afrikaans-speaking Coloureds is more intricate, marked by a complex and controversial linguistic history. [154] During the 17th and 18th centuries in the Dutch Cape Colony, Dutch was the official language, mandated for all inhabitants. [155] Despite discrimination and slavery, the Cape's population was remarkably diverse, comprising various ethnic groups and nationalities speaking their own languages, including Dutch settlers, French Huguenots, Germans, Khoi Khoi, Bantu peoples, and Indonesians. [156]

Given this linguistic diversity, many individuals struggled to speak Dutch fluently, leading to the development of "broken Dutch." This evolved into new dialects through the blending of Dutch with other languages such as Malay, Portuguese, and Khoekhoegowab. Over time, and through various dialects, creolized Dutch transformed, bridging the language barrier between different groups until a new language emerged: Afrikaans. [158] This linguistic fusion explains why Afrikaans borrowed extensively from various languages, despite being a daughter language of Dutch. [159] Consequently, Afrikaans is prevalent in the western region of South Africa, and most Coloureds speak it as their home language. [10] This also accounts for the larger number of Afrikaans-speaking Coloureds compared to Afrikaans-speaking Whites. [10] The dialect of Afrikaans spoken in Cape Town and the broader [Western Cape] by Cape Coloureds, Cape Malays, and Black individuals differs somewhat from the Afrikaans spoken by [Afrikaners] elsewhere in South Africa. This dialect, known as [Kaaps], shows greater influence from Malay, Portuguese, Khoekhoe, and other languages. [160] Kaaps is considered an older dialect of Afrikaans, having been spoken by slaves in the Cape since the 17th century. [160]

Colin speaking Afrikaans.

However, not all Afrikaans-speaking Coloured individuals possess Dutch or Afrikaner ancestors, nor do they necessarily descend from the slaves of the Cape Colony. [161] Some Coloureds, particularly those whose ancestors intermingled in the late 19th and 20th centuries, have entirely different ancestries (e.g., other European nationalities mixed with various African tribes). Nevertheless, due to their relocation to predominantly Afrikaans-speaking communities or their upbringing within such environments, they have adopted Afrikaans as their home language. [162] [163] [164] Afrikaans-speaking Coloureds are also found in Namibia, particularly in the southern regions of the country. [162]

Although rare, some Coloured individuals can also speak South African Bantu languages, such as [Zulu] and [Xhosa], as well as Khoi Khoi and San languages of southern Africa, such as [Khoekhoe] and [Khoemana]. [152] Coloureds who speak Khoisan languages are primarily located in the [Northern Cape]. [165]

Language Number in 2011 %
[Afrikaans] 3,442,164 74.58%
English 945,847 20.49%
[Setswana] 40,351 0.87%
[isiXhosa] 25,340 0.55%
[isiZulu] 23,797 0.52%
[Sesotho] 23,230 0.50%
[Sign language] 11,891 0.26%
[isiNdebele] 8,225 0.18%
[Sepedi] 5,642 0.12%
[siSwati] 4,056 0.09%
[Tshivenda] 2,847 0.06%
[Xitsonga] 2,268 0.05%
Sign language 5,702 0.12%
Not applicable 74,043 1.60%
Total 4,616,401 100%

Religion

Religious affiliation of Coloured South Africans (2001 census) [166] Number Percentage (%)
– Christianity 3,466,598 86.8%
– [Pentecostal]/[Charismatic]/Apostolic churches 1,082,103 27.1%
– Dutch Reformed churches 475,654 11.9%
– [Anglican Church] 358,806 9.0%
– [Catholic Church] 352,259 8.8%
– [Methodist Church] 163,209 4.1%
– [Congregational churches] 158,635 4.0%
– [Lutheran churches] 118,580 3.0%
– other [Zionist churches] 80,012 2.0%
– [Baptist churches] 44,122 1.1%
– [Apostolic Faith Mission] 27,728 0.7%
– [Ethiopian-type churches] 27,264 0.7%
– [Zion Christian Church] 26,405 0.7%
– [Presbyterian churches] 11,032 0.3%
– Other [Reformed churches] 8,407 0.2%
– [iBandla lamaNazaretha] 5,581 0.1%
– [Orthodox churches] 1,182 0.0%
– Other [African independent churches] 38,719 1.0%
– Other Christian churches 486,900 12.2%
[Islam] 296,021 7.4%
[Hinduism] 5,328 0.1%
[Judaism] 1,286 0.0%
[African traditional religions] 801 0.0%
Other or undetermined 18,318 0.5%
[No religion] 153,254 3.8%
Refused to answer 52,902 1.3%
Total 3,994,508 100%

Cuisine

Numerous South African cuisines can be traced back to Coloured people. [Bobotie], dishes featuring [snoek] (a type of fish), [koe'sisters] (a type of pastry), [bredies] (stews), Malay [roti] (flatbread), and [gatsbies] (sandwiches) are staple diets for Coloureds and other South Africans alike. [167]

Notable People

Politicians

  • [Midi Achmat], South African writer and [LGBT rights activist].
  • [Zackie Achmat], South African HIV/AIDS activist and filmmaker.
  • [Neville Alexander], Political activist, educationalist, and lecturer.
  • [Allan Boesak], Political activist and cleric.
  • [Lynne Brown], Political activist and politician.
  • [Patricia de Lille], Former [Pan Africanist Congress of Azania] (PAC) leader, then leader of the [Independent Democrats], later [Democratic Alliance] mayor of [Cape Town], and now leader of the Good Party.
  • [Tony Ehrenreich], South African [trades unionist].
  • [Zainunnisa Gool], South African political activist and representative on the [Cape Town City Council].
  • [Ashley Kriel], Anti-Apartheid activist.
  • [Alex La Guma], South African novelist and leader of the South African Coloured People's Organisation.
  • [Trevor Manuel], Former Finance Minister, currently Head of the [National Planning Commission of South Africa].
  • [Peter Marais], Former Unicity Mayor of Cape Town and Former Premier of the Western Cape.
  • [Gerald Morkel], Former mayor of [Cape Town].
  • [Dan Plato], Western Cape Community Safety Minister.
  • [Dulcie September], Political activist.
  • [Adam Small] (writer), Political activist, poet, and writer.
  • [Percy Sonn], Former president of the [International Cricket Council].
  • [Simon van der Stel], Last commander and first Governor of the [Dutch Cape Colony].

Artists and Writers

  • [Peter Abrahams], Writer.
  • [Tyrone Appollis], Academic.
  • [Willie Bester].
  • [Dennis Brutus], Journalist, poet, activist.
  • [Peter Clarke] (artist).
  • [Phillippa Yaa de Villiers], Writer and performance artist.
  • [Garth Erasmus], Artist.
  • [Diana Ferrus], Poet, writer, and performance artist.
  • [Bessie Head], Writer.
  • [Oliver Hermanus], Writer, director.
  • [Rozena Maart], Writer.
  • [Mustafa Maluka].
  • Dr. [Don Mattera].
  • [James Matthews] (writer), Writer.
  • [Selwyn Milborrow], Poet, writer, journalist.
  • [Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh].
  • [Arthur Nortje], Poet.
  • [Robin Rhode].
  • [Richard Moore Rive], Writer.
  • [Tracey Rose].
  • [Adam Small] (writer), Writer.
  • [Zoë Wicomb], Writer.
  • [Athol Williams], Poet, writer, scholar, [social philosopher].

Actors and Actresses

  • [Quanita Adams], Actress.
  • [Natalie Becker], Actress.
  • [Lesley-Ann Brandt], Actress.
  • [Meryl Cassie], Actress.
  • [Vincent Ebrahim], Actor.
  • [Vinette Ebrahim], Actress.
  • [Kim Engelbrecht], Actress.
  • [Jarrid Geduld], Actor.
  • [Shannon Kook], Actor.
  • [Kandyse McClure], Actress.
  • [Shamilla Miller], Actress.
  • [Blossom Tainton-Lindquist].

Beauty Queens

  • [Tansey Coetzee], Miss South Africa 2007.
  • [Tamaryn Green], Miss South Africa 2018.
  • [Amy Kleinhans], Former Miss South Africa 1992 and first non-white Miss South Africa.
  • [Liesl Laurie], Miss South Africa 2015.
  • [Jo-Ann Strauss], Miss South Africa 2000, media personality, and businesswoman.

Musicians

  • [AKA] (rapper), Hip-hop recording artist.
  • [Megan Alatini], South African-born singer and actress.
  • [Fallon Bowman], South African-born guitarist, singer, and actor.
  • [Jonathan Butler], [Jazz] musician.
  • [Blondie Chaplin], Singer and guitarist for the Beach Boys.
  • [Paxton Fielies], Singer.
  • [Jean Grae], Hip-hop artist.
  • [Paul Hanmer], Pianist and composer.
  • [Abdullah Ibrahim], Jazz pianist.
  • [Robbie Jansen], Musician.
  • [Trevor Jones] (composer), South African-born film composer.
  • [Taliep Petersen], Musician and director.
  • [YoungstaCPT], Rapper.
  • [Tyla Seethal], South African-born singer and songwriter.

Others

  • [Marc Lottering], Comedian.
  • [Jenny Powell], Television presenter.
  • [Trevor Noah], Comedian, writer.

Athletics

  • [Shaun Abrahams], 800m runner.
  • [Cornel Fredericks], Track-and-field sprinter.
  • [Paul Gorries], Sprinter.
  • [Leigh Julius], 2004–08 Olympian.
  • [Geraldine Pillay], 2004 Olympian, Commonwealth medallist.
  • [Wayde van Niekerk], Track-and-field sprinter, Olympic and World Champion, and World Record Holder.

Cricket

  • [Paul Adams] (cricketer).
  • [Vincent Barnes].
  • [Loots Bosman].
  • [Henry Davids].
  • [Basil D'Oliveira].
  • [Damian D'Oliveira].
  • [JP Duminy].
  • [Herschelle Gibbs].
  • [Beuran Hendricks].
  • [Reeza Hendricks].
  • [Omar Henry] (cricketer).
  • [Garnett Kruger].
  • [Charl Langeveldt].
  • [Wayne Parnell].
  • [Alviro Petersen].
  • [Robin Peterson].
  • [Keegan Petersen].
  • [Vernon Philander].
  • [Dane Piedt].
  • [Ashwell Prince].
  • [Roger Telemachus].
  • [Clyde Fortuin].

Field Hockey

  • [Clyde Abrahams].
  • [Liesel Dorothy].
  • [Ignatius Malgraff].

Football

  • [Keegan Allan].
  • [Kurt Abrahams].
  • [Cole Alexander].
  • [Oswin Appollis].
  • [Andre Arendse].
  • [Tyren Arendse].
  • [Wayne Arendse].
  • [Bradley August].
  • [Brendan Augustine].
  • [Emile Baron].
  • [Shaun Bartlett].
  • [Tyrique Bartlett].
  • [David Booysen] (soccer).
  • [Mario Booysen].
  • [Ethan Brooks] (soccer).
  • [Delron Buckley].
  • [Brent Carelse].
  • [Daylon Claasen].
  • [Rivaldo Coetzee].
  • [Keanu Cupido].
  • [Clayton Daniels].
  • [Lance Davids].
  • [Rushine De Reuck].
  • [Keagan Dolly].
  • [Kermit Erasmus].
  • [Jody February].
  • [Taariq Fielies].
  • [Quinton Fortune].
  • [Lyle Foster].
  • [Bevan Fransman].
  • [Stanton Fredericks].
  • [Reeve Frosler].
  • [Ruzaigh Gamildien].
  • [Morgan Gould].
  • [Victor Gomes], referee.
  • [Travis Graham].
  • [Ashraf Hendricks].
  • [Rowan Human].
  • [Rudi Isaacs].
  • [Willem Jackson].
  • [Moeneeb Josephs].
  • [David Kannemeyer].
  • [Ricardo Katza].
  • [Daine Klate].
  • [Lyle Lakay].
  • [Lee Langeveldt].
  • [Clinton Larsen].
  • [Luke Le Roux].
  • [Stanton Lewis] (soccer, born 1987).
  • [Benni McCarthy], [South Africa national team]'s all-time top scorer with 31 goals.
  • [Fabian McCarthy] (South African soccer).
  • [Leroy Maluka].
  • [Grant Margeman].
  • [Bryce Moon].
  • [Nasief Morris].
  • [Tashreeq Morris].
  • [James Musa].
  • [Andile Ncobo], referee.
  • [Morne Nel].
  • [Andras Nemeth] (footballer).
  • [Reagan Noble].
  • [Brad Norman].
  • [Riyaad Norodien].
  • [Bernard Parker].
  • [Genino Palace].
  • [Peter Petersen] (soccer).
  • [Brandon Peterson] (soccer).
  • [Steven Pienaar].
  • [Reyaad Pieterse].
  • [Wayne Roberts] (soccer).
  • [Frank Schoeman].
  • [Ebrahim Seedat].
  • [Brandon Silent].
  • [Elrio van Heerden].
  • [Dino Visser].
  • [Shu-Aib Walters].
  • [Mark Williams] (South African soccer), scored both goals to win the [1996 African Cup of Nations] final.
  • [Ronwen Williams].
  • [Robyn Johannes].

Rugby

  • [Gio Aplon].
  • [Nizaam Carr].
  • [Kurt Coleman] (rugby union), Western Province and Stormers player.
  • [Bolla Conradie].
  • [Juan de Jongh].
  • [Peter de Villiers].
  • [Justin Geduld], Springbok 7's.
  • [Bryan Habana].
  • [Cornal Hendricks].
  • [Adrian Jacobs].
  • [Conrad Jantjes].
  • [Elton Jantjies].
  • [Herschel Jantjies].
  • [Ricky Januarie].
  • [Ashley Johnson] (rugby union).
  • [Cheslin Kolbe], Western Province and Stormers player.
  • [Dillyn Leyds], Western Province and Stormers player.
  • [Lionel Mapoe].
  • [Breyton Paulse].
  • [Earl Rose] (rugby union player).
  • [Tian Schoeman].
  • [Errol Tobias].
  • [Jaco van Tonder].
  • [Ashwin Willemse].
  • [Chester Williams].

Others

  • [Christopher Gabriel] – Basketball player.
  • [Raven Klaasen] – Tennis player.
  • [Devon Petersen] – Darts player.
  • [Kenny Solomon] – South Africa's first chess grandmaster.

See Also

Notes

  • ^ Includes 45,629 [Basters].