Native Sowetans Soweto is the birthplace of: •
Yvonne Chaka Chaka (b. 1965), singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher •
Frank Chikane (b. 1951), anti-apartheid activist and lifelong resident •
Lasizwe Dambuza (b. 1998), television personality •
Bonginkosi Dlamini (b. 1977), popularly known as Zola 7, is a South African kwaito musician, actor, writer, TV presenter and poet. •
Lillian Dube (b. 1945), actress,TV presenter •
Morgan Gould (b. 1983), Association footballer playing for
Supersport United F.C. •
Thulani Hlatshwayo (b. 1989), Supersport United and South African football player •
Howza (b. 1983), rapper, songwriter and actor •
Jabu Khanyile (1957-2006), musician and lead vocalist from the band Bayete •
Winnie Khumalo (1973–2025), singer and performer •
Abigail Kubeka (b. 1941), singer, songwriter and actress •
Basetsana Kumalo (b. 1974), 1994
Miss South Africa & 1994
Miss World 1st runner-up, television personality, businesswoman, and philanthropist •
Doctor Khumalo (b. 1967),a retired football player who played for Kaizer Chiefs F.C. •
Bakithi Kumalo (b. 1956), bass guitar player •
Jack Lerole (c. 1940 – 2003), musician, famous for penny whistle performance •
Kgosi Letlape (b. 1959), South Africa's first black ophthalmologist •
Lebo M (b. 1964), composer •
Tsakane Valentine Maswanganyi (b.1979), soprano •
Kabelo Mabalane (b. 1976), kwaito musician, songwriter and actor •
Sipho Mabuse (b. 1950), aka
Hotstix, musician •
Thuli Madonsela (b. 1962), former
Public Protector of South Africa, advocate & law professor •
Arthur Mafokate (b. 1962), kwaito musician and producer •
Teboho MacDonald Mashinini (1957–1990), primary student leader of the June 1976
Soweto uprising, that spread across South Africa •
Mandla Mandela (b. 1974), tribal chief of the
Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of icon anti-apartheid activist
Nelson Mandela •
Zindzi Mandela (1960-2020), South African diplomat and poet, and the daughter of anti-apartheid activists and politicians
Nelson Mandela and
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela •
Mandoza (1978–2016), kwaito musician •
Mike Mangena (b. 1960), former football player, Soccer analyst •
Richard Maponya (1920–2020), businessman and anti-apartheid activist •
Ephraim Mashaba (b. 1950), football manager and former player •
Khanyi Mbau (b. 1985), actress and television personality, raised in Mofolo •
Bonnie Mbuli (b. 1979), actress •
Letta Mbulu (b. 1942), jazz singer, songwriter •
Somizi Mhlongo (b. 1972), television presenter, radio personality, choreographer, actor and singer •
Andrew Mlangeni (1925–2020), political activist and
anti-apartheid campaigner who, along with
Nelson Mandela and others, was imprisoned after the
Rivonia Trial. •
Portia Modise (b. 1983), footballer •
Teko Modise (b. 1982), a retired football star •
Refilwe Modiselle (b. 1986), model and entertainer •
Jerry Mofokeng (b. 1956), stage and screen actor •
Khotso Motau (b. 1981), boxer, 2004 Olympian •
Kaizer Motaung (b. 16 October 1944), founder and chairman of
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club •
Kamo Mphela (b. 1999), singer & dancer •
Sophie Ndaba (b. 1973), actress •
Themba Ndaba (b. 1965), actor •
Duma Ndlovu (b. 1954), poet, filmmaker, producer, journalist and playwright •
Trevor Noah (b. 1984), comedian, television and radio host and actor, host of
The Daily Show •
Nandi Nyembe (b. 1950), actress •
Khabonina Qubeka (born 1981), actress, TV presenter, dancer •
Lucas Radebe (b. 1969), a retired
Leeds United and national team captain •
Cyril Ramaphosa (b. 1952), lawyer, trade union leader, activist, politician and businessman,
President of South Africa •
Manaka Ranaka (b. 1979), Actress known for playing her starring role as Lucy Diale for long-standing soap opera
Generations: The Legacy. •
Dineo Ranaka (b. 1983) radio and television presenter, actress, DJ and TV Producer) •
Thulani Serero (b. 1990), footballer •
Thembi Seete (b. 1977), actress, singer, rapper, television presenter and model. •
Tokyo Sexwale (b. 1953), businessman and former politician, anti-apartheid activist, and political prisoner •
Jomo Sono (b. 1955), star football player, later club owner and coach •
Samthing Soweto (b. 1988), musician •
Siphiwe Tshabalala (b. 1984), footballer playing for Kaizer Chiefs Football Club. •
Dingaan Thobela (b. 1966), former professional boxer, a former two-time lightweight world champion & a former super middleweight world champion, known as the
Rose of Soweto •
Mary Twala (c. 1939 – 2020), actress, mother of
Somizi Mhlongo •
Sello Chicco Twala (b. 1963), musician and producer •
Zodwa Wabantu (b. 1985), socialite and dancer •
Benedict Vilakazi (footballer) (b. 1982), footballer •
Arthur Zwane (b. 1973), former football player, football coach •
Chidimma Adetshina (b. 2001),
Miss South Africa 2024 finalist,
Miss Universe Nigeria 2024,
Miss Universe 2024 1st Runner-Up
Other residents •
James Mpanza (1889–1970), civic leader, founder of
Orlando Pirates F.C., known as 'the father of Soweto' •
Winnie Mandela (1936–2018), anti-apartheid activist and politician, ex-wife of Nelson Mandela •
Gibson Kente (1932–2004), playwright •
Irvin Khoza (b. 27 January 1948), South African football administrator, Chairman of
Orlando Pirates •
Aggrey Klaaste (1940–2004), newspaper journalist and editor •
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013), President of South Africa, anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and peace activist, spent many years living in Soweto; his Soweto home in Orlando is currently a major tourist attraction •
Hastings Ndlovu (1961–1976), student killed during the 1976
Soweto uprising •
Lilian Ngoyi (1911–1980), anti-apartheid activist, who spent 18 years under house arrest in Mzimhlope •
Joe Mafela (1942–2017), actor, writer, producer, director, singer, and businessman •
Mzwakhe Mbuli (b. 1959), poet known as "The People's Poet, musician and actor •
Terry Pheto (b. 1981), actress best known for her leading role as Miriam in the 2005 Oscar-winning feature film
Tsotsi •
Pallance Dladla (b. 1992), actor •
Steven Pienaar (b. 1982), footballer with national team and
Everton F.C. •
Hector Pieterson (1963–1976), the first student to be killed during the 1976
Soweto uprising who features in an iconic press photograph of the event; has a memorial and museum named after him in Orlando West •
Percy Qoboza (1938–1988), newspaper journalist and editor •
Gerard Sekoto (1913–1993), artist, lived in Kliptown before emigrating to France in 1947 •
Desmond Tutu (1931–2021), cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s through his opposition to apartheid •
Matlhaela Michael Masote (1941–2017), violinist and conductor, the founder of the Soweto Youth Orchestra – the first black youth orchestra in South Africa. ==See also==