Heroes and Heroines

Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (Amsterdam, September 8, 1901-Cape Town, September 6, 1966), controversial prime minister from 1958-66, was considered synonymous with the concept of “apartheid.” Verwoerd...

Gideon Brand Van Zyl (Cape Town, June 3, 1873-November 1, 1956) was Governor General of the Union from 1945 to 1950, the first South African-born...

Johannes (Hans) Frederik Janse Van Rensburg (Winburg, OFS, September 24, 1898-Cape Town, September 25, 1966) was leader of the far right Afrikaner cultural and semi-political...

Eva van Meerhof (née Eva Krotoa, and also known as “Eva the Hottentot”) (circa 1642-74) was a Khoikhoi (Hottentot) interpreter who married the Afrikaner explorer...

Simon Van der Stel, (October 14, 1639-June 24, 1712), commander and governor of the Cape of Good Hope, was a talented administrator who contributed much...

Hendrik Johannes Van der Bijl (November 23, 1887-December 2, 1948) was one of the chief architects of South Africa’s industrial development during the first half...

Rijk Tulbagh, (baptd. May 14, 1699-August 11, 1771), was a zealous and capable administrator who rose to become one of the most efficient and respected...

Jan Tshatsu (circa 1771-February 28, 1868) was the headman of the amaNtinde, a small Xhosa group living near present-day King William’s Town. He became an...

Louis Tregardt [Swellendam district, August 10, 1783-Lourenço Marques (Maputo), October 25, 1838], a notable Voortrekker leader, was the eldest son of Carolus Johannes Tregardt and...

Nehemiah Tile (circa 1850s-1885), founded the first of the African “protonationalist” churches, independent of European mission control, in 1884. Nehemiah Tile was made a probationer...