List of Famous people born in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Zozibini Tunzi
Zozibini Tunzi is a South African model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2019. Tunzi had previously been crowned Miss South Africa 2019. She is the third woman from South Africa to win the title, and the first black woman since Angolan Leila Lopes was crowned Miss Universe 2011.
Yolandi Visser
Anri du Toit, better known professionally as Yolandi Visser, is a South African rapper. She is the female vocalist in the rap-rave group Die Antwoord. Visser appeared in the 2015 Neill Blomkamp film Chappie.
Glenn Phillips
Glenn Dominic Phillips is a New Zealand cricketer, born in South Africa, who represents the New Zealand national cricket team and plays for Auckland domestically. He made his international debut for New Zealand in February 2017. In December 2015, he was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In December 2017, his younger brother, Dale was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Siyamthanda Kolisi
Siyamthanda Kolisi is a South African professional rugby union player who currently captains the South Africa national team and also plays club rugby for the Stormers in Super Rugby and Western Province in the Currie Cup. He generally plays as a flanker. In 2018, Kolisi was appointed captain of the Springboks, becoming the first black man to hold the position, and eventually leading the South African Rugby team to victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against England. In December 2019, Kolisi was named in New African magazine's list of 100 Most Influential Africans.
Rassie Erasmus
Johan 'Rassie' Erasmus is a South African rugby union coach and former player. He has been the head coach of the South African national team since 2018, doubling up on his duties as the first ever SARU Director of Rugby, which he was appointed towards the end of 2017. He led South Africa to win the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and he subsequently won the 2019 World Rugby Coach of the Year award.
Patrick Soon-Shiong
Patrick Soon-Shiong is a South African-American transplant surgeon, billionaire businessman, bioscientist, and media proprietor. He is the inventor of the drug Abraxane, which became known for its efficacy against lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer. Soon-Shiong is the founder of NantWorks, a network of healthcare, biotech, and artificial intelligence startups; an adjunct professor of surgery and executive director of the Wireless Health Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles; and a visiting professor at Imperial College London and Dartmouth College. Soon-Shiong has published more than 100 scientific papers and has more than 230 issued patents worldwide on advancements spanning numerous fields in technology and medicine.
Rory Kockott
Rory Kockott is a South African-born French professional rugby union player who plays for Castres in France's Top 14 and has played for the France national team. He was born in East London, South Africa, and qualified to play for France through residency; he won 11 caps for France in 2014 and 2015. A scrum-half, he previously played in Super Rugby for the Sharks and the Lions, and for the Golden Lions and the Sharks in South Africa's Currie Cup.
Rodney Howard-Browne
Rodney (Morgan) Howard-Browne is a South African-born American Christian evangelist and conspiracy theorist. He has resided in Tampa, Florida since the mid-1990s and is pastor of The River Church in Tampa Bay. The River is considered both Pentecostal and Charismatic with revival meetings, led by Howard-Browne, known for those in the audience breaking into "holy laughter". Howard-Browne is the head of Revival Ministries International, a group he and his wife founded in 1997.
Lana Marks
Lana J. Marks is a South African-born American handbag designer who founded the eponymous fashion brand. She is the former United States Ambassador to South Africa, having served from 2019 to 2021.
Hlumelo Biko
Hlumelo Biko is a South African businessman and investment banker. He is the son of Steve Biko and Mamphela Ramphele.