List of South African women writers

This is a list of South African women writers, including women writers either from or associated with South Africa.

A

 * Barbara Adair (living), novelist
 * Wilna Adriaanse (born 1958), romantic fiction writer
 * Jani Allan (born 1952), journalist, columnist, broadcaster
 * Phyllis Altman (1919–1999)
 * Ingrid Andersen (born 1965), poet
 * Diane Awerbuck (born 1947), novelist

B

 * Gabeba Baderoon (born 1969), poet
 * Margaret Bakkes (1931–2016)
 * Lesley Beake (born 1949), children's author
 * Dricky Beukes (1918–1999), writer of novels, short stories and radio dramas
 * Lauren Beukes (born 1976), novelist, short story writer, journalist and television scriptwriter
 * Audrey Blignault (1916–2008)
 * Anna Böeseken (1905–1997), history academic, journalist and writer
 * Johanna Brandt (1876–1964)
 * Sarah Britten (born 1974), writer and blogger
 * Suzy Brokensha (born 1964), writer, journalist, columnist
 * Babette Brown (1931–2019), writer on race and diversity issues in the United Kingdom.
 * Cheryl Brown (living), professor of education
 * Penny Busetto (living), novelist

C

 * Maxine Case (born 1976), novelist and short story writer
 * Cecile Cilliers (1933–2018), journalist and writer
 * Yvette Christiansë (born 1954), poet and novelist
 * Lindsey Collen (born 1948), novelist and activist
 * Jeni Couzyn (born 1942), poet and anthologist
 * Hazel Crane (1951–2003), memoirist
 * Judy Croome (born 1958), novelist, short story writer and poet
 * Sheila Cussons (1922–2004), Afrikaans poet

D

 * Alide Dasnois (born 1950), journalist and newspaper editor
 * Nadia Davids (born 1977)
 * Marike de Klerk (1937–2001)
 * Ingrid de Kok (born 1951), poet
 * Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (born 1966), poet
 * Janette Deacon (born 1939)
 * Isobel Dixon (born 1969), poet
 * Ceridwen Dovey (born 1980)
 * Finuala Dowling (born 1962), poet

E

 * Elisabeth Eybers (1915–2007), poet

F

 * Dawn Faith (born 1982), author, musician and social activist
 * Diana Ferrus (born 1953), poet
 * Mary Anne Fitzgerald (born c. 1945), journalist
 * Corlia Fourie (born 1944), writer of drama, children's books, short stories and novels
 * Lynn Freed (born 1945), novelist, essayist, and writer of short stories
 * Patricia Fresen (born 1940)
 * Lisa Fugard (living)
 * Sheila Meiring Fugard (born 1932), writer of short stories and plays

G

 * Jeanne Goosen (1938–2020), journalist and poet
 * Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014), novelist, political activist and recipient of the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature
 * Lyndall Gordon (born 1941), literary biographer
 * Sheila Gordon (1927–2013)
 * Pregs Govender (born 1960), feminist human rights activist, author and former Member of Parliament
 * Henriette Grové (1922–2009)

H

 * Megan Hall (born 1972), poet
 * Joan Hambidge (born 1956), Afrikaans poet, literary theorist and academic
 * Stacy Hardy (living), writer, journalist, multimedia artist and theatre practitioner
 * Marié Heese (born 1942), novelist and teacher
 * Cat Hellisen (born 1977), author of fantasy novels
 * Colleen Higgs (born 1962), writer and publisher
 * Heidi Holland (1947–2012), journalist and author
 * Emma Huismans (born 1947), writer, journalist, and activist

J

 * Noni Jabavu (1919–2008), writer and journalist
 * Cynthia Jele (living), novelist
 * Liesl Jobson (living), poet and musician
 * Sarah Johnson (born 1980), poet
 * Isabel Jean Jones (died 2008), consumer journalist
 * Ingrid Jonker (1933–1965), poet
 * Pamela Jooste (living), novelist
 * Elsa Joubert (1922–2020), Afrikaans-language novelist
 * Irma Joubert (living), novelist
 * Leonie Joubert (living), science writer, author and journalist

K

 * Ronelda Kamfer (born 1981), poet
 * Farida Karodia (born 1942), novelist and short-story writer
 * Anne Kellas (living), poet, reviewer and editor
 * Olga Kirsch (1924–1997), poet
 * Elizabeth Klarer (1910–1994)
 * Sheila Kohler (born 1941), novelist and short story writer
 * Antjie Krog (born 1952), poet and academic
 * Ellen Kuzwayo (1914–2006), women's rights activist, politician and autobiographer

L

 * Anne Landsman (born 1959), novelist
 * Lauren Liebenberg (born 1972), novelist
 * Freda Linde (1915–2013), children's writer and translator
 * Anna M. Louw (1913–2003)

M

 * Rozena Maart (born 1962)
 * Michelle McGrane (born 1974), poet
 * Lindiwe Mabuza (1938–2021), poet, academic, journalist, diplomat
 * Sindiwe Magona (born 1943)
 * Busisiwe Mahlangu (born 1996), poet, playwright, performer
 * Angela Makholwa (living), crime fiction writer
 * Barbara Masekela (born 1941), poet, educator, activist
 * Mohale Mashigo (living), singer-songwriter, novelist and former radio presenter
 * Lebogang Mashile (born 1979), actor, writer and performance poet
 * Emma Mashinini (1929–2017)
 * Kopano Matlwa (born 1985), novelist
 * Dalene Matthee (1938–2005), novelist
 * Fatima Meer (1928–2010), writer, academic, screenwriter
 * Joan Metelerkamp (born 1956), poet
 * Nontsizi Mgqwetho (fl. 1920s), poet
 * Gcina Mhlope (born 1958), actress, storyteller, poet, playwright, director
 * Kirsten Miller (living)
 * Ruth Miller (1919–1969), poet
 * Sarah Millin (1889–1968)
 * Natalia Molebatsi (living), performance poet and cultural worker
 * Marion Molteno (born 1944), novelist
 * Rose Moss (born 1937), writer of novels, short stories, words for music and non-fiction
 * Natasha Mostert (living), author and screenwriter
 * Isabella Motadinyane (1963–2003), poet and actor
 * Ena Murray (1936–2015)
 * Sally-Ann Murray (born 1961)

N

 * Beverley Naidoo (living), writer of children's books
 * Thirza Nash (1885–1962), novelist
 * Bongi Ndaba (born 1972)
 * Lauretta Ngcobo (1931–2015), novelist and essayist
 * Paige Nick (living), novelist
 * Michelle Nkamankeng (born c. 2008)
 * Cecily Norden (1918–2011)

O

 * Bree O'Mara (1968–2010), novelist
 * Yewande Omotoso (born 1980), novelist, architect and designer
 * Margie Orford (born 1964), author of crime fiction, children's fiction, non-fiction and school textbooks

P

 * Joy Packer (1905–1977), author of autobiography and romantic adventure novels
 * S. A. Partridge (born 1982), author of young adult fiction
 * Amelia Blossom Pegram (1935–2022), poet
 * Antoinette Pienaar (born 1961)
 * Bridget Pitt (living)
 * Marguerite Poland (born 1950)
 * Elsa Pooley (born 1947)
 * Karen Press (born 1956), poet
 * Elaine Proctor (born 1960), film director, screenwriter, novelist, and actress

Q

 * Christine Qunta (born 1952)

R

 * Jo-Anne Richards (living), journalist and author
 * Margaret Roberts (1937–2017), herbalist and author
 * Daphne Rooke (1914–2009)
 * Henrietta Rose-Innes (born 1971), novelist and short story writer
 * Maria Elizabeth Rothmann (1875–1975)
 * Rona Rupert (1934–1995)
 * Diana E. H. Russell (1938–2020), feminist writer and activist

S

 * Arja Salafranca (born 1971), poet
 * Lin Sampson (living), journalist
 * Riana Scheepers (born 1957), writer of children's books, short fiction and poetry
 * Karin Schimke (born 1968)
 * Patricia Schonstein (born 1952), novelist, poet, author of children’s books
 * Olive Schreiner (1855–1920), novelist, anti-war campaigner
 * Judith Sealy (living)
 * Jenefer Shute (living), novelist
 * Joyce Sikakane (born 1943), journalist and activist
 * Ansuyah Ratipul Singh (1917–1978), medical doctor and writer
 * Elinor Sisulu (born 1958), writer and activist
 * Paula Slier (living), television, radio and print journalist
 * Gillian Slovo (born 1952), novelist, playwright and memoirist
 * Charlene Leonora Smith (living), journalist and biographer of Nelson Mandela
 * Louise Smit (born 1940), writer of children's books
 * Pauline Smith (1882–1959), novelist
 * Lina Spies (born 1939), poet
 * Dianne Stewart (born 1952)
 * Wilma Stockenström (born 1933), writer, translator, and actor
 * Cynthia Stockley (1873–1936), novelist
 * Toni Stuart (born 1983), poet
 * Dimakatso Sedite (born 1969), poet

T

 * Jane Taylor (1956–2023)
 * Gladys Thomas (1934–2022), playwright, poet and children's writer
 * Miriam Tlali (1933–2017), novelist
 * Lesego Tlhabi (born 1988), writer and comedian
 * Marianne du Toit (born 1970)
 * Barbara Trapido (born 1941)
 * Jann Turner (born 1964), film director, novelist, television director and screenwriter

U

 * Shereen Usdin (born 1962)

V

 * Marita van der Vyver (born 1958)
 * Marjorie van Heerden (born 1949)
 * Mary-Anne Plaatjies van Huffel (1959–2020)
 * Marlene van Niekerk (born 1954)
 * Verna Vels (1933–2014)
 * Lettie Viljoen, pseudonym of author Ingrid Winterbach (living)
 * Anna de Villiers (1900–1979)

W

 * Zukiswa Wanner (born 1976), journalist and novelist
 * Harriet Ward (1808–1873)
 * Marie Warder (1927–2014)
 * Crystal Warren (living)
 * Mary Watson (born 1975)
 * Elizabeth Weber (born 1923)
 * Mary Morison Webster (1894–1980), novelist and poet
 * Zoë Wicomb (born 1948), author and academic
 * Sarah Wild (living), science journalist and author
 * Margaret Wild (born 1948)
 * Faldela Williams (1952–2014)
 * Wendy Wood (1892–1981)

X

 * Makhosazana Xaba (born 1957), poet

Z

 * Rachel Zadok (living), novelist
 * Rose Zwi (1928–2018)