List of Famous people born in Gauteng, South Africa
Stanley Cohen
Stanley Cohen was a sociologist and criminologist, Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics, known for breaking academic ground on "emotional management", including the mismanagement of emotions in the form of sentimentality, overreaction, and emotional denial. He had a lifelong concern with human rights violations, first growing up in South Africa, later studying imprisonment in England and finally in Palestine. He founded the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics.
Willemijn Posthumus-van der Goot
Willemijn Posthumus-van der Goot was a Dutch economist, feminist and radio broadcaster. As the first woman to attain a doctorate in economics in The Netherlands, her work focused on the impact of working women on the economy. Recognizing that there were few sources, she joined with other feminists to create the International Archives for the Women's Movement in 1935. Writing reports on women's work, she refuted government claims that women working outside the home was of no benefit. First proposed in 1939, the Household Council, which she saw as an organization to foster training and organize domestic laborers was instituted in 1950. She founded the International Association of Women in Radio, as an organization for professional development and networking in 1949. As a peace activist, she was involved in the promotion of pacifism and believing women had unique qualities for solving world problems, she established the International Scientific Institute for Feminine Interpretation. In 1982, in recognition of her significant contributions to the Dutch Women's Movement, Posthumus-van der Goot was appointed as an officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. In 2008, she, her husband and sister, were honored as Righteous Among the Nations by the government of Israel, for their fostering children during the Dutch occupation by the Nazis.
Jonas Gwangwa
Jonas Mosa Gwangwa was a South African jazz musician, songwriter and producer. He was an important figure in South African jazz for over 40 years.
John Gainsford
John Leslie Gainsford was a South African rugby union player. He was born in Germiston. Gainsford played in 71 matches for South Africa, including tour games, and was known for being the most-capped Springbok centre until his record was overtaken by Japie Mulder in 2001.
Johnny Hubbard
John Gaulton Hubbard, MBE was a South African footballer. Hubbard spent the majority of his career at Scottish club Rangers, and later played for English club Bury before ending his career back in Scotland with Ayr United. He was the first African player to compete in the European Cup, having played in October 1956 with Rangers versus Nice, and also the first African player to score a goal in the competition.
Emma Mashinini
Emma Mashinini was a South African trade unionist and political leader. Living in Johannesburg, her family was forcibly displaced several times during her childhood. She started working at age 14 and soon became a union organiser at her garment factory. She became active with the African National Congress (ANC) in 1956. Mashinini served for 12 years on the executive board of the National Union of Clothing Workers (NUCW) and founded the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) in 1975. She was arrested and detained without charges for six months in 1981–82.
Tammin Pamela Sursok
Tammin Sursok is a South African-born Australian actress and singer. She is known for her roles on television as Dani Sutherland on Home and Away, Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless, and Jenna Marshall on Pretty Little Liars.
Kelvin van der Linde
Kelvin van der Linde is a South African racing driver currently competing in the Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe and ADAC GT Masters. He made his GT Masters debut in 2014, also winning the championship that year, a feat he repeated in 2019. He won the 2017 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
Neil Sandilands
Neil Joseph William Sandilands is a South African actor and filmmaker, known for roles in both film and television. In 2016, he had recurring roles on SundanceTV's Hap and Leonard as Paco and The CW's The 100 as Titus. In 2017, he joined the main cast of The CW series The Flash, playing Clifford DeVoe / The Thinker.
Nigel Green
Nigel McGown Green was an English character actor. Because of his strapping build, commanding height and regimental demeanour he would often be found playing military types and men of action in such classic 1960s films as Jason and the Argonauts, Zulu, Tobruk and The Ipcress File.