List of Famous people born in Free State, South Africa

Daniël Hartman Craven was a South African rugby union player (1931–38), national coach, national and international rugby administrator, academic, and author. Popularly known as Danie, Doc, or Mr Rugby, Craven's appointment from 1949 to 1956 as coach of the Springboks signalled "one of the most successful spells in South African rugby history" during which the national team won 74% of their matches. While as a player Craven is mostly remembered as one of rugby's greatest dive-passing scrumhalves ever, he had also on occasion been selected to play for the Springboks as a centre, fly-half, No.8, and full-back. As the longest-serving President of the South African Rugby Board (1956–93) and chairman of the International Rugby Board, Craven became one of the best-known and most controversial rugby administrators.

Frances Beatrice Marshoff was Premier of the Free State from 2004 to 2009. She succeeded Winkie Direko to the position on 22 April 2004, and was replaced by Ace Magashule on 6 May 2009.

Stephen Brislin is a South African prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

Jacques Nienaber, born 16 October 1972, is a South African rugby union coach, currently the Head Coach of South Africa.

Ivy Florence Matsepe-Casaburri was a South African politician. She was the second Premier of the Free State and South Africa's Minister of Communications from 1999 until her death.

Deneys Reitz (1882—1944), son of Francis William Reitz, was a Boer warrior who fought in the Second Boer War for the South African Republic against the British Empire. After a period of exile in Madagascar he returned to South Africa, where he became a lawyer and founded a major South African law firm. In the First World War he fought for the Union of South Africa against the German Empire, and then was an officer in the British Army, commanding several battalions. In later life he was a politician. Deneys Reitz was educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein.

Steve Komphela is a South African football manager, former footballer, and a philosopher. He is the former manager of Maritzburg United, Kaizer Chiefs, and Bloemfontein Celtic. He is currently managing Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League.

Johannes Albertus Munnik Hertzog was an Afrikaner politician, cabinet minister, and founding leader of the Herstigte Nasionale Party. He was the son of J. B. M. (Barry) Hertzog, a former Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa.

Lehlohonolo Goodwill "Fana" Mokoena is a South African actor and politician who served as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa between August 2016 and October 2020. He served as a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces from May 2014 until August 2016. Mokoena is a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters party and serves on the party's central command team.

Linda Mvusi is an actress and architect. Mvusi took an award for best actress at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival for her role in the film A World Apart which was directed by Chris Menges. Mvusi was the first South African to get a best Actress award at Cannes. Mvusi also shared in an award for excellence for her architecture on the Apartheid Museum.