List of University of South Africa people

This list of University of South Africa people includes notable alumni, faculty, administrators, and affiliates of the University of South Africa.

Notable alumni and faculty

 * Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haitian politician, received a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (D.Litt. et Phil.) in African Languages in 2007
 * Walter Battiss, South African abstract painter, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1942 Honorary and an honorary Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (D.Litt. et Phil. Honoris Causa) in 1973
 * Dianne Lynne Bevelander, South African academic and activist
 * Edwin Cameron, judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, received a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Cum Laude) in 1981
 * Ergun Caner, Swedish Evangelical and Southern Baptist apologist, received a Doctor of Theology (D.Th.) in 2000
 * Lazarus M. Chakwera, received a Master of Theology in 1991, Head of State, Republic of Malawi
 * Alan Clark, former CEO of SABMiller, received a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in Psychology
 * Johan Froneman, judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, received a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1977
 * King George V, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D. Honoris Causa) in 1899, two years prior to becoming Chancellor of the university
 * Denis Goldberg, anti-apartheid activist: Public Administration, Library Science, History and Geography, between 1965 and 1985.
 * Pravin Gordhan, former South African Minister of Finance, received an Honorary Doctor of Commerce (D.Com. Honoris Causa) in 2007
 * Elson Kaseke, the former Solicitor-General of Belize, received a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) in 2006
 * Ahmed Kathrada, former South African politician, received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminology and History in 1968 and a Bachelor of Bibliography (B.Bibl.) in African Politics and Library Science in 1975
 * F. W. de Klerk, former State President of South Africa, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D. Honoris Causa) in 1995
 * Johann Kriegler, judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
 * Desmond Krogh, professor of economics from 1962 to 1969
 * Pius Langa, former Chief Justice of South Africa, received a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (B.Iuris) in 1973 and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1976
 * Nelson Mandela, former president of the Republic of South Africa, received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1942 and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1988
 * Gwede Mantashe, South African politician, received a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) in 1997 and a Bachelor of Commerce Honours (B.Com. (Hons)) in 2002
 * Trevor Manuel, South African politician, received an Honorary Doctor of Technology (D.Tech. Honoris Causa) in 2002
 * Anja Marais, South African sculptor, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honour's (B.F.A. (Hons)) in 1998
 * Mogoeng Mogoeng, current Chief Justice of South Africa, received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in 1989
 * Dikgang Moseneke, former Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa, received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and Political Science, a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (B.Iuris), a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), and an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D. Honoris Causa) in 2011
 * Robert Mugabe, former President of Zimbabwe, received a Bachelor of Education by correspondence
 * Peya Mushelenga, Namibian Minister of Rural and Urban Development obtained BA Honours and an MA in International Politics in 1997 and 2009, respectively, and a D Litt et Phil in 2015.
 * Bulelani Ngcuka, former Director of Public Prosecutions of South Africa, received a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1985
 * Georgia Papageorge, South African installation artist, received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Fine Arts in 1979
 * Mark Pilgrim, South African radio and television personality, received a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) in Industrial & Organisational Psychology in 1994
 * Cyril Ramaphosa, current president of Republic of South Africa, received a Baccalaureus Procurationis (B.Proc.) in 1981
 * Mamphela Ramphele, former South African politician, received a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) in Administration in 1983
 * Desmond Tutu, Anglican cleric and theologian known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. Winner of the Nobel peace prize. BA 1954
 * Justice Raymond Zondo, judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial Law, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Labour Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Patent Law
 * Angelique Rockas actress, producer and activist, creator of Internationalist Theatre London, pioneer of multi-racial and multi-national productions of European classics

Vice-chancellors of the University of the Cape of Good Hope, from 1873 to 1918

 * Langham Dale, 1873 – 1877; 1879 – 1882; 1884 – 1889
 * Charles Abercrombie Smith, 1877 – 1879; 1905 – 1911
 * Hopkins Badnall, 1882 – 1884
 * Charles Thomas Smith, 1889 – 1893
 * George Ogilvie, 1893 – 1897
 * Thomas Muir, 1897 – 1901
 * Ebenezer John Buchanan, 1901 – 1905
 * Thomas Walker, 1911 – 1913
 * William Ritchie, 1913 – 1916
 * Malcolm William Searle, 1916 – 1918

Chancellors of the University of South Africa from 1918 to the present

 * Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, 1918 – 1942
 * Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet, 1943 – 1951
 * Gerhardus Jacobus Maritz, 1951 – 1957
 * Francois Jean de Villiers, 1957 – 1977
 * Victor Gustav Hiemstra, 1977 – 1987
 * vacant 1988
 * Theo van Wijk, 1989 – 1990
 * Christoph Friedrich Garbers, September 1990 – 2000
 * Bernard Ngoepe, 2001–2016
 * Thabo Mbeki, 2016 – present

Vice-chancellors of the University of South Africa, 1918 to 1955

 * Willem Jacobus Viljoen, 1918 – 1922
 * John Ernest Adamson, 1922 – 1926
 * John Daniel Kestell, 1926 – 1928
 * Hugh Bryan, 1928 – 1930
 * Nicolaas Marais Hoogenhout, 1930 – 1932
 * Samuel Henri Pellissier, 1932 – 1934
 * Marthinus Christoffel Botha, 1934 -1936
 * François Daniël Hugo, 1936 – 1938
 * François Stephanus Malan, 1938 – 1940
 * Ferdinand Postma, 1940 – 1944
 * Alfred Adrian Roberts, 1944 – 1946
 * Herman Heinrich Gerhard Kreft, 1946 – 1948
 * Albertus Johannes Roux van Rhijn, 1948 – 1952
 * Stephanus Petrus Erasmus Boshoff, 1952 – 1955

Principals and vice-chancellors of the University of South Africa, 1953 to the present

 * Andries Jacobus Hendrik Johannes Van der Walt, Principal, 1953 – 1955
 * Andries Jacobus Hendrik Johannes Van der Walt, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1956
 * Samuel Pauw, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1956 – 1972
 * Theo van Wijk, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1972 – 1988
 * Jan Casper Gerhardus Janse van Vuuren, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1989 – 1993
 * Marinus Wiechers, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1994 – 1997
 * Antony Patrick Melck, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 1998 (acting) and 1999 – 2001
 * Nyameko Barney Pityana, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 2002 – 2010
 * Mandla Makhanya, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 2011–2021
 * Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, 2021–present