Deaths from South Africa
Eugene Cussons dead at age 46, South African primatologist, director of Chimp Eden, paramotor crash
the South African primatologist and director of Chimp Eden, died on May 24, 2026, after a paramotor crash. He was 46 or 47. Cussons was the managing director of Chimp Eden and served as rescue director of the Jane Goodall… · 24 May 2026 · May 2026
Bushy Maape dead at age 68, South African politician, premier of the North West
South African politician and premier of the North West from 2021 to 2024, died on May 16, 2026. He was 68. Maape also served as a member of the North West Provincial Legislature from September 2021 until May 2024. A… · 16 May 2026 · May 2026 · Leo
Kevin Buys dead at age 40, public figure
a South African rugby union player, died on May 13, 2026, aged 40. Born in Benoni on April 26, 1986, he began his career as a youth player with the Blue Bulls and made his senior debut in the Vodacom… · France · 13 May 2026 · May 2026 · Taurus
Kevin McKenzie South African cricketer dead at age 77
a South African cricketer who played for Transvaal, died on May 9, 2026, aged 77. A native of Pretoria, he was educated at Johannesburg's King Edward VII School and played for Transvaal from the 1966/67 season to 1986/87. He appeared… · 09 May 2026 · May 2026 · Cancer
Geoff Dakin dead at age 90, South African cricketer
the South African cricketer and cricket administrator who represented Eastern Province, died on May 4, 2026, aged 90. Born Geoffrey Frank Dakin on August 13, 1935, in Port Elizabeth, he made his first-class debut for Eastern Province in 1952–53 at… · 04 May 2026 · May 2026 · Leo
Mimi Coertse South African soprano dead at age 93
the South African soprano, died on April 27, 2026, aged 93. Born Maria Sophia Coertse in Durban on June 12, 1932, she matriculated at Helpmekaar Girls High School in Johannesburg and began vocal studies in South Africa in 1949. Her… · 27 April 2026 · April 2026
Cynthia Shange South African model and actress dead at age 76
a South African model and actress, died on April 20, 2026, at the age of 76. She was the first Black South African to represent the country at the Miss World pageant in 1972. Born in Lamontville, near Durban, she… · 20 April 2026 · April 2026
Lize van der Walt South African television personality, cancer dead at age 60
2026, of cancer. She was a South African television personality known for Gladiators. The news of her death was reported with respect by those who followed her work on television · 19 April 2026 · April 2026 · April 19
Peter Terry South African actor, dramatist and poet dead at age 75
2026. He was a South African actor known for Project Shadowchaser II and The Challenger Disaster, as well as a dramatist and poet. His work spanned acting and writing, and his name is associated with both screen and literary arts · 10 April 2026 · April 2026 · April 10
Albert Mazibuko South African choral singer dead at age 77
2026. He was a South African choral singer with Ladysmith Black Mambazo · 05 April 2026 · April 2026 · April 5
Nkosentsha Shezi South African politician, MP dead at age 50
a South African politician and member of Parliament for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, died on March 23, 2026. He was 50. Shezi, born on March 22, 1976, had served as an MP since 2024. He had previously been a member… · 23 March 2026 · March 2026
Nicholas Haysom Diplomat, legal scholar dead at age 73
a South African diplomat and lawyer who served as the United Nations Secretary-General’s special representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, died on March 19, 2026, in New York City, at the age of 73. Haysom, also… · 19 March 2026 · March 2026
Mike Melvill Test pilot dead at age 85
a South African test pilot and one of the pilots of SpaceShipOne, died on March 19, 2026, at age 85. Born Michael Winston Melvill in Johannesburg, South Africa, he became known for piloting the experimental spaceplane on its first flight… · America · 19 March 2026 · March 2026
Beauty Zibula South African politician, MP dead at age 65
a South African politician and member of Parliament from 2019 to 2024, died on March 14, 2026, at a hospital in Durban at the age of 65. Born in KwaMashu in 1961, she was a member of the African National… · 14 March 2026 · March 2026
Mosiuoa Lekota Politician Anti-apartheid activist, Politician, Anti-apartheid activist dead at age…
a South African politician and activist, died on March 4, 2026, in Johannesburg at the age of 77. He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary for the African National Congress and served jail time with Nelson Mandela from 1985. Lekota… · 04 March 2026 · March 2026
Soli Philander Soli Philander dead at age 65
a South African actor, comedian, director, television presenter and radio personality, died on March 4, 2026, aged 65. Born Silamour Philander on January 19, 1961, in Elsie's River on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, he became known for his… · 04 March 2026 · March 2026
Clem Sunter Futurist, scenario planner, business leader and author dead at age 81
a South African futurist, scenario planner, business executive and author, died on February 18, 2026, aged 81. Born Christopher Louis Clem Sunter on 8 August 1944 in Suffolk, England, he is best known for developing the High Road/Low Road scenarios… · 18 February 2026 · February 2026
Green Vigo South African rugby footballer dead at age 75
the South African rugby footballer who played for Wigan Warriors, died on February 14, 2026, aged 75. Born in Saldanha Bay, Cape Province, South Africa, in 1950, Green Gregory Vigo played rugby union in the 1970s and 1980s before switching… · 14 February 2026 · February 2026
Phylia Nwamitwa II South African traditional ruler dead at age 86
a South African traditional ruler and the traditional leader of the Valoyi area in Limpopo, died on February 13, 2026. Also known as Hosi Phylia Tinyiko Lwandlamuni Nwamitwa II and Tinyiko Nwamitwa-Shilubana, she was appointed chief of the area in… · 13 February 2026 · February 2026 · Other
Roseanne Diab
South African atmospheric scientist · 22 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 22
Peter Cousens (cricketer) South African-born English cricketer dead at age 93
the South African-born English cricketer who played for Essex, died on January 20, 2026, aged 93. Born in Durban, Natal, on May 15, 1932, he was a right-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He made his first-class debut for… · 20 January 2026 · January 2026
Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark
South African-born Greek-Spanish royal · Denmark · 14 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 14 · Greek · Other
Mutumwa Mawere
Zimbabwean-South African businessman · 14 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 14 · Other
Morris Kahn
South African-born Israeli entrepreneur · 31 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 31 · Other
Renfrew Christie
South African scholar and anti-apartheid activist · 22 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 22 · Other
DJ Warras
South African radio and club DJ · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16 · Other
Ismail Ayob
South African anti-apartheid lawyer · 16 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 16
Junior King South African dancer, TikTok personality and rapper, traffic collision dead at age 28
a South African dancer, TikTok personality and rapper, died on December 11, 2025, in a traffic collision in Verkeerdevlei, Free State, South Africa. Born Dugulth Ferreira in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, around 1996 or 1997, he was also a choreographer and… · 11 December 2025 · December 2025
Edward Gabriel Risi
South African Roman Catholic prelate · 04 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 4 · Other · Risi
Marius van der Merwe Whistleblower testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry as “Witnes…
a South African private security company owner and former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department official, died on December 5, 2025, after being shot. Also known as "Vlam" and by the codename "Witness D" during his testimony at the Madlanga Commission, he… · 05 December 2025 · December 2025
Robin Smith
South African-born English cricketer (Natal · 01 December 2025 · December 2025 · December 1
Hennie van Zyl
South African rugby union international · 30 November 2025 · November 2025 · November 30 · Athletes · Zyl
William Jenkins
South African-born American veterinary scientist and academic · 28 November 2025 · November 2025 · November 28
Sir Terence English
South African-born English cardiac surgeon · 24 November 2025 · November 2025 · November 24 · English
Zoë Wicomb
South African writer (You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town) · 13 October 2025 · October 2025 · October 13
Warren Abrahams
South African rugby union coach (Wales women's national rugby union team · 11 October 2025 · October 2025 · October 11
Ndumiso Madlala
South African entrepreneur · 03 October 2025 · October 2025 · October 3 · Other
Deon Fourie
South African army officer and academic · 01 October 2025 · October 2025 · October 1
Jan Boland Coetzee
South African rugby union player (Western Province · 11 September 2025 · September 2025 · September 11 · Coetzee
Boland Coetzee
South African rugby union player (Western Province · 11 September 2025 · September 2025 · September 11
Tshidi Madia
South African political journalist and Associate Editor for Politics at Eyewitness News (EWN) · 27 August 2025 · August 2025 · August 27
Nandi Nyembe
South African actress (Yesterday · 23 August 2025 · August 2025 · August 23
Margaret Maritz
South African supercentenarian · 02 August 2025 · August 2025 · August 2 · Other
Des van Jaarsveldt
Zimbabwean-born South African footballer (national team · 20 July 2025 · Jaarsveldt · July 2025 · July 20
Trefor Jenkins
South African human geneticist · 07 July 2025 · July 2025 · July 7 · Other
Sir Sydney Lipworth
South African insurance executive · 01 July 2025 · July 2025 · Lipworth · July 1 · Other
Meme Ditshego
South African actress (Skorokoro · 25 June 2025 · June 2025 · June 25
Feya Faku
South African trumpeter and flugelhornist · 22 June 2025 · June 2025 · June 22 · Other
Louis Moholo
South African jazz drummer · 12 June 2025 · June 2025 · June 12
Gilbert Ramano
South African military officer · 07 June 2025 · June 2025 · June 7 · Other
Rashid Lombard
South African jazz photographer · 03 June 2025 · June 2025 · Musicians · June 3
Presley Chweneyagae
South African actor (Tsotsi · 26 May 2025 · May 2025 · May 26
Gertrude Shope
South African politician and trade unionist · 21 May 2025 · May 2025 · May 21
Cornal Hendricks
South African rugby player (Bulls · 14 May 2025 · May 2025 · May 14
Gys Pitzer
South African rugby union player (national team) · 18 April 2025 · April 2025 · April 18
Simon Lehoko
South African footballer (Vaal Professionals · 16 April 2025 · April 2025 · April 16 · Simón
Don Mlangeni Nawa
South African actor (Isidingo · 15 April 2025 · April 2025 · April 15 · Nawa
Costa Gazi
South African anti-apartheid activist · 27 March 2025 · March 2025 · March 27 · Other
Don Kitchenbrand
South African footballer (Rangers · 15 March 2025 · March 2025 · March 15
Crystal-Donna Roberts
South African actress (Arendsvlei · 05 March 2025 · March 2025 · March 5
Ronald Draper
South African cricketer (Eastern Province · 27 February 2025 · February 2025 · February 27
Muhsin Hendricks
South African imam and LGBT activist · 15 February 2025 · February 2025 · February 15 · Other
Douw Steyn
South African insurance magnate · 03 February 2025 · February 2025 · February 3 · Other