Bloemfontein - Famous People

Famous People

Many famous persons are associated with Bloemfontein; these include:

• Allan Donald, South African cricketer
• Francois Steyn, rugby player
• Hansie Cronje, controversial South African cricket captain
• J. R. R. Tolkien CBE was born in Bloemfontein on 3 January 1892. Tolkien is famous for his fantasy epics The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. When aged 3, Tolkien left South Africa for England.
• Juan Smith, rugby player
• Leon Schuster, filmmaker, comedian and musician, born and schooled in Bloemfontein
• Morne van Wyk played for South Africa Proteas Cricket team
• Os du Randt, rugby player
• Ryk Neethling, Olympic gold medalist swimmer
• Shaun Morgan and Dale Stewart, musicians and founding members of the band Seether
• Zola Budd, international long distance athlete, born in the city and attended Sentraal High School
• Willem Jackson, played for South Africa Bafana Bafana soccer team
• Tony Kgoroge, South African actor, performances in movies including Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamond, Invictus, Lord of War and Skin.
• Gerrit Badenhorst,is a powerlifter and strongman competitor.
• Lucas Maree, Afrikaans musician and songwriter
• Coenie de Villiers, Afrikaans musician and songwriter
• Professor Russel Botman, rector and vice-chancellor of University of Stellenbosch
• Winkie Direko, first African chancellor of the University of the Free State
• Alfred"Ace"Mgedeza, former Orlando Pirates legend in the 1970s
• Mochubela Seekoei, former ANC ambassador to the United Nations
• Petrus Molemela, life president of Bloemfontein Celtic
• Thomas Mapikela, former Treasurer- General of the ANC
• Caleb Motshabi, first Bloemfonteiner to serve jail term on Robben Island