South Africans: Famous & Historical Trivia

1. Who is the kicker who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1982 and ended his career with the Tennessee Titans in 2004, but who is mostly remembered for his tenure at the Pittsburgh Steelers, from 1982 to 1994, where he set various records?

From Quiz South African Roots

Answer: Gary Anderson

Born in Parys, Free State and raised in Durban, Natal, Gary grew up playing rugby. Three days after emigrating to the USA, he ended up on a high school football field in Downington, Pennsylvania, kicking footballs over the goal posts from the fifty yard line. The football coach saw him, arranged a tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles, where four college football scouts were also present. After the tryout all four scouts offered him a scholarship and he ended up at Syracuse.

From Quiz A Trip Around South African People

Answer: Shaka

King Shaka airport, designed by Osmond Lange Architects, at a cost of R6.8 billion opened for business a month before the start of the 2010 World Cup. According to tradition, the Zulu nation was founded by Zulu, son of Malandela who led a small section of the southerly Nguni migration into, what is today, KwaZulu-Natal. King Shaka, the most famous of Zulu warrior kings, was born in 1787 and claimed to be a direct descendant of Zulu. He was murdered by his two half brothers, Dingane and Mhlangana sometime in 1828.

From Quiz Born in the R.S.A.

Answer: Laurens van der Post

Laurens van der Post was born on 13 December 1906 in Philippolis when South Africa was still a British colony. He was educated in South Africa and started work there as a reporter. He went to England in 1928 and until 1948 divided his time between England and South Africa. He fought in the British Army in World War II and was interned in a Japanese Prisoner Camp. After the war he became a mediator in Indonesia which was fighting for independence from The Netherlands. During this time he met Lord Mountbatten and later on he became mentor to Prince Charles. His books were inspired by the various places and environments he came across and his experiences there. His first novel was "In a Province" about racial differences in South Africa, which was published in 1931 by Virginia Woolf her husband Leonard Woolf. Also noteworthy is "The Lost World of the Kalahari" published in 1958 based on the 1956 documentary he did for BBC TV about the bushmen in South Africa. The movie "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (1983) with David Bowie in the title role was based on three of his novels about his time in a Japanese Prisoner Camp namely "A Bar of Shadow" (1954), "The Seed and the Sower" (1963) and "The Night of the New Moon" (1970). He died on 16 December 1996 and was buried in London 4 days later. Amongst the many friends that attended his funeral was Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles and his neighbour, Margaret Thatcher.

From Quiz World Famous South Africans

Answer: Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in Mvezo near Umtata in what was then the Transkei but which is now part of South Africa. After studying law he became part of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. At first he was for non-violent resistance, the way his great example Gandhi did, but later following several incidents and clashes with the apartheid regime he took up the armed struggle. He became leader of the African National Congress and its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). On 5 August 1962 Mandela was arrested and send to prison on charges of sabotage and treason. Most of his prison time was spent on Robben Island where his plight became more and more known to the rest of the world and he became a symbol of freedom and equality. In 1989 new South African President, F.W. de Klerk, started to dismantle the laws of apartheid. This led to the legitimizing of the ANC and the release of Nelson Mandela on 11 February 1990. His policy of reconciliation and negotiation helped pave the way for a new, fully democratic South Africa. This brought him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with F.W. de Klerk. He was inaugurated as the first fully democratically elected President of South Africa on 10 May 1994. After serving one term as President he decided to retire from politics due to his declining health and to spend more time with his family. However he has been involved with many projects such as human rights, AIDS, children's charities and many more. On 18 July 2008 he celebrates his 90th birthday. He is affectionately referred to as Madiba after the important clan he descends from.

From Quiz Isizwe - The People of South Africa

Answer: Louis Washkansky

Washkansky was suffering from heart failure and opted for the experimental surgery, which was successful. Unfortunately, Washkansky died 18 days later despite the successful heart transplant. Lucky Dube was a popular SA reggae singer who died in 2007. Louis Luyt was president of the South African Rugby Union in the 1990s. Barry Hilton is a SA comedian.

From Quiz 20th Century Great South Africans

Answer: Madiba

Madiba is an honorific term, meaning 'our great father' or 'father of the nation' and he is considered by all South Africans across the colour divide to be the most influential and beloved person in that country. Nkosi means 'God'; Mandela is his surname; mahala means 'nothing, free or gratis' and is used widely by all language speakers, though it derives from Zulu.

From Quiz South Africans Abroad

Answer: Christiaan Barnard

Louis Washkansky was the transplant recipient. He lived for only 18 days after the operation.

From Quiz The South African Influence

Answer: Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill escaped from the prison camp, and joined the British army in Durban. He fought at Spion Kop.

From Quiz A Trip Around South African People

Answer: Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town

Although the heart transplant was considered a success the recipient, Louis Washkansky, died eighteen days later from pneumonia. Dr Barnard also performed the first kidney transplant in South Africa. The Groote Schuur Hospital, opened in 1938, is still one of the leading academic hospitals in South Africa. Dr Barnard died in Cyprus in 2001 from an asthma attack.

From Quiz Born in the R.S.A.

Answer: Basil Rathbone

Basil Rathbone was born on 13 June 1892 in Johannesburg. When the Anglo-Boer War became imminent three years later he fled to England with his family. On 22 April 1911, Rathbone made his first appearance on stage as Hortensio in "The Taming of the Shrew". This was followed by several more Shakespearean roles. He fought in World War I from 1916 where he became an intelligence officer due to his ability to disguise himself. He also performed on Broadway and it was his role there in "The Swan" (1923) that established him as an actor. He then moved to film, mostly playing the villain. His first film appearance was in 1921 in "Innocent". In 1939 he appeared for the first time as Sherlock Holmes in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" with Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. He would play the role in 14 films. After growing tired of the role he moved back to New York where he appeared on stage and in films. In the 1960s he appeared in low-budget films, mostly for the money, and on television as well. His last film was "Hillbillys in a Haunted House". On 21 July 1967 Basil Rathbone passed away in New York from a heart attack.

From Quiz World Famous South Africans

Answer: Field Marshal Jan Christiaan Smuts

Jan Christiaan Smuts was born on 24 May 1870 on the family farm near Malmesbury in the Cape Colony. He became a lawyer and found employment in Cecil John Rhodes' De Beers mining company. After the failed British Jameson Raid on the South African Republic he became opposed to British interference in the independent Afrikaner state and he left De Beers and moved to Pretoria. There he became Attorney-General under Paul Kruger, President of the South African Republic. He fought in the Second Boer War and helped negotiate the peace in 1902. After the war the South African Republic was given self-governance and Smuts became part of President Louis Botha's cabinet. He was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the forming of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Louis Botha became the first President of the Union and Smuts again was part of President Louis Botha's cabinet. During the First World War, Smuts conquered German South West Africa and led a campaign into German East Africa. He became a member the Imperial War Cabinet under David Lloyd George. During this time he helped to create the Royal Air Force. Smuts and Botha were key negotiators at the Paris Peace Conference and both were signatories to the Treaty of Versailles. It was here where Smuts to began to advocate the establishment of a League of Nations. Back in the Union of South Africa, Smuts was elected Prime Minister after Botha died in 1919. In 1924 he was defeated however by the upcoming National Party though he served as Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Hertzog. With the start of the Second World War in 1939 Smuts was for helping Britain while Prime Minister Hertzog was for neutrality. This led to Hertzog being deposed and Smuts becoming Prime Minister again. During the Second World War Smuts became a Field Marshal in the British Army and once again became a member of the Imperial War Cabinet, this time under Winston Churchill. There even was a plan to appoint Smuts as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, should Churchill die or otherwise become incapacitated during the war. Towards the end of the war Smuts helped with drafting the United Nations Charter and he was also one of the signatories of the Paris Peace Treaty which ended the Second World War. This made him the only person to sign both the charter for the League of Nations and the United Nations as well as the only person to sign the peace treaties ending both the First and the Second World War. His involvement and closeness to the British however made him unpopular to the Afrikaner people of South Africa and he was narrowly defeated by the pro-Apartheid National Party in 1948. After his defeat he became the chancellor of Cambridge University. On 11 September 1950 he died of coronary thrombosis in Irene, near Pretoria, where he was buried.

From Quiz Isizwe - The People of South Africa

Answer: Allan Cormack

The CAT scan, was developed at Tufts University in the UK by South African physicist Cormack and Hounsfield. Dr Barnard is credited for performing the first heart transplant. Lauterbur and Mansfield won the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging (they're not South African).

From Quiz 20th Century Great South Africans

Answer: Alan Cormack

Interestingly enough, there were two winners, the other being Godfrey Hounsfield from the UK. These two co-winners never knew each other. They were both chosen because the Nobel Committee could not decide on one winner.

From Quiz South Africans Abroad

Answer: Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu also headed the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) after the fall of apartheid.

From Quiz The South African Influence

Answer: Sir Robert Baden-Powell

Baden-Powell's book "Scouting for Boys" was the bestseller which laid the foundations for the Boy Scout movement.

From Quiz South African Roots

Answer: Elon Musk

Even though Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, he describes himself as "nauseatingly pro-American" and also stated "the United States is the greatest country that has ever existed on Earth", describing it as "the greatest force for good of any country that's ever been".

From Quiz A Trip Around South African People

Answer: Mango Groove

Mango Groove, formed in 1983, have sold worldwide, had twelve South African No1 hits, also winning all the top South African music and video awards. Their music has been described as a mix of South African marabi, kwela and pop influences. In 1990 Mango Groove had the honour to play for Nelson Mandela at his inauguration as President of South Africa Their charastmatic lead singer, Claire Johnston and haunting penny whistles tunes have helped to make them the great band they are. A great band to bop too! If you've never heard them, here's one of my favourites. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4HJfcecgos

From Quiz Born in the R.S.A.

Answer: Manfred Mann

Manfred Mann was born Michael Lubowitz in Johannesburg in 1940. He studied classical piano during his teens and had developed into a jazz pianist by the age of 19. He moved to London in 1961, changed his name to Manfred Mann and met Mike Hugg with whom he formed his first group, The Manne-Hugg Blues Band. In 1963 they formed the first Manfred Mann group with Paul Jones on vocals and harmonica, Mike Vickers on sax, flute and guitar and Dave Richmond on bass. The line-up would change many times. Mike d'Abo became their vocalist from 1966 to 1969 when the group split up. In 1969 Manfred Mann and Mike Hugg formed Chapter Three but the group disbanded in 1971 leading Manfred Mann to form the Manfred Mann's Earth Band, this time without Mike Hugg and with Chris Thompson on vocals and guitar. Their first no. 1 hit was a rock cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light" in 1977. Manfred Mann's Earth Band has continued to perform and record, albeit with a different line-up.

From Quiz World Famous South Africans

Answer: Frederik Willem de Klerk

Frederik Willem de Klerk (born 18 March 1936) served as Cabinet Minister in various posts under Prime Minister and later President P.W. Botha. He became President of South Africa in 1989 after Botha suffered a stroke and was forced to step down. From the start he worked for a non-racist South Africa. One of his first actions was to legitimize the ANC and free Nelson Mandela. He negotiated the country's transformation and started to have apartheid laws removed. For this he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Nelson Mandela in 1993. This led to the first fully democratic elections in South Africa on 27 April 1994. My wife and I were amongst millions who lined up for hours to cast our vote. When Nelson Mandela became the first fully democratically elected President de Klerk was appointed as one of the two Deputy Presidents along with Thabo Mbeki. He served in this post until 1997 when he retired from politics.

From Quiz Isizwe - The People of South Africa

Answer: J C Smuts

Apartheid was the name given to segregation of races and repression of the non-white races. All four answers are names of South African prime ministers who headed the country while the apartheid policy was still in place.

From Quiz 20th Century Great South Africans

Answer: Chief Albert Lutuli

Albert Lutuli was both the chief of his tribe and a political campaigner. His life's philosophy was strictly non-violent, and he toiled throughout his life to ensure transition and power sharing in SA. He was also the president-general of the ANC, the current leading party of the SA government. Bishop Tutu was the first black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. Mandela and De Klerk shared the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993

From Quiz South Africans Abroad

Answer: Mark Shuttleworth

Mark Shuttleworth also founded Hip2B2 (hip to be squared) which is a project to make high school students more interested in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in those fields.

From Quiz The South African Influence

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India. Gandhi Jayanti is the Indian National Holiday on the 2nd October, celebrating Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

From Quiz South African Roots

Answer: Dave Matthews

In 1997 the Dave Matthews Band won the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a duo or group for "So Much to Say", and also in 2004, when he won Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Gravedigger".

From Quiz A Trip Around South African People

Answer: Alan Paton

Alan Stewart Paton was born on 11 January 1903 in Pietermaritzburg. His novel "Cry, the Beloved Country", published in 1948, sold millions around the world and it was being internationally known that helped the liberally minded champion of racial equality, Paton, to avoid trouble with the government, and travel around the world bringing attention to oppressive South African system. However, in 1960 his passport was taken and not returned to him until the 1970s! He died in 1988 from throat cancer at his home in Natal. The new 'South Africa's Bill of Rights' apparently contains many of his beliefs. J.R.R Tolkien was also born in South Africa in Bloemfontein.

From Quiz Born in the R.S.A.

Answer: Dave Matthews

Dave Matthews was born on 9 January 9 1967 in Johannesburg, South Africa. When he was two years old the family moved to New York State. In the 1970s they temporarily moved to Cambridge, England but returned to New York again. After his father died in 1977 the family moved back to South Africa in 1980. In 1986 after Dave finished school he moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, where his family lived before he was born. He became part of the local music scene there. After writing some songs he decided to put a band together to record a demo. in early 1991 The Dave Matthews Band was formed with drummer Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Stefan Lessard joined on bass, Peter Griesar on keyboard and violinist Boyd Tinsley completed the line-up. On 9 November 1993 the band released their first album "Remember Two Things" which became an immediate success and the rest is history! Sadly, the saxophonist and co-founder of the of Dave Matthews Band, LeRoi Moore, died unexpectedly on 19 August 2008.

From Quiz World Famous South Africans

Answer: Hansie Cronjé

Wessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronjé was a formidable cricket player and became captain of the Orange Free State province of South Africa. He was included in the 1992 World Cup squad when South Africa was allowed to play again after years of isolation due to the country's apartheid policy. In 1994 he succeeded Keppler Wessels as captain of the national team. Under his captaincy they had a series win against every other test cricket nation except for Australia. His 99 wins as captain is still a South African record to date and the third most successful as captain worldwide. In April 2000 he was accused of match fixing to which he confessed. He was sacked as captain and later was banned from playing or coaching cricket for life. On 1 June 2002 Cronjé was the only passenger aboard a cargo flight after his scheduled flight from Bloemfontein to George had been grounded. The plane crashed into the mountains near George airport due to poor visibility and faulty navigational equipment killing Cronjé, aged 32, and the two pilots. Fortunately I was able to meet Hansie Cronjé when the South African team played a friendly match against the Netherlands in Amstelveen in July 1998 in preparation for the 1999 Cricket World Cup tournament.

From Quiz Isizwe - The People of South Africa

Answer: Mark Shuttleworth

Shuttleworth made his mega-millions in the Information Technology sector at a young age, and at 29 he pursued his dream of going into space as a self-funded "space tourist". While in space, he assisted in research related to AIDS and genome analysis.

From Quiz 20th Century Great South Africans

Answer: Kevin Carter

Kevin Carter was born in SA in 1961, and took his own life in 1994 only a couple of months after winning the Pulitzer Prize for photography. He was a freelance photographer who dedicated his career to covering the ongoing conflict in SA. Ken Oosterbroek was another multi-award winning South African photographer. He was shot at age 32 when members of the National Peace Keeping Force panicked - just nine days before SA's first free election day. John Kaplan is a Pulitzer Prize winning American photographer who has worked (among others) in South and West Africa. David Goldblat became the first South African photographer to be honoured with a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His book "The Afrikaners" was a ground-breaking piece of work on white poverty in the mines in the 1960s.

From Quiz South Africans Abroad

Answer: Athol Fugard

Tsotsi is a brilliant movie about a young gang leader in a township who accidentally steals a baby when he hijacks the mother's car.

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:48 AM

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