23 Notable alumni of
University of the Free State
Updated:
The University of the Free State is 1345th in the world, 29th in Africa, and 8th in South Africa by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 23 notable alumni from the University of the Free State sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
-
Maye Musk
- Occupations
- dietitianmodel
- Biography
-
Maye Musk is a model and dietitian. She has been a model for 50 years, appearing on the covers of magazines, including a Time magazine health edition, Women's Day, international editions of Vogue, and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She is the mother of Elon Musk, Kimbal Musk and Tosca Musk. She holds Canadian, South African, and American citizenship. She is a registered dietitian.
-
Wayde van Niekerk
- Occupations
- sprinter
- Biography
-
Wayde van Niekerk is a South African track and field sprinter who competes in the 200 and 400 metres. In the 400 metres, he is the current world and Olympic record holder, having set the record in the Olympic finals. He also holds the world-best time in the 300 metres.
-
P. W. Botha
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Pieter Willem Botha, was a South African politician. He served as the last prime minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and the first executive state president of South Africa from 1984 to 1989.
-
Hansie Cronje
- Occupations
- cricketer
- Biography
-
Wessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronje was a South African international cricketer and captain of the South Africa national cricket team in the 1990s. A right-handed all-rounder, as captain Cronje led his team to victory in 27 Test matches and 99 One Day Internationals. Cronje also led South Africa to win the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy, the only major ICC title the country has won to date. In the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy Final, Cronje played a major role with the bat with his 61 not out, leading the team to victory by 4 wickets. He was voted the 11th-greatest South African in 2004 despite having been banned from cricket for life due to his role in a match-fixing scandal. He died in a plane crash in 2002.
-
Leon Schuster
- Occupations
- film directorscreenwritersingerfilm actorcomedian
- Biography
-
Leon Ernest "Schuks" Schuster is a South African filmmaker, comedian, actor, prankster and singer.
-
Robert C. O'Brien
- Occupations
- political stafferdiplomatlawyer
- Biography
-
Robert Charles O'Brien Jr. is an American attorney who served as the twenty-seventh United States national security advisor from 2019 to 2021. He was the fourth and final person to hold the position during the presidency of Donald Trump. He is currently the chairman of the American Global Strategies firm advising companies on international politics, the U.S. government, and crisis management.
-
Lappies Labuschagné
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
-
Pieter Hermias Cornelius Labuschagné is a professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Japan Rugby League One club Kubota Spears. Born in South Africa, he represents Japan at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
-
Fikile Mbalula
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Fikile April Mbalula is a South African politician who has been the Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC) since December 2022. He was a cabinet minister between 2010 and 2023, most proximately as Minister of Transport from 2019 to 2023.
-
Jannie du Plessis
- Enrolled in the University of the Free State
- Studied medicine
- Occupations
- rugby union playerphysician
- Biography
-
Jan Nathaniel du Plessis is a former South African rugby union player, who played as a prop for Montpellier in the French Top 14 and the Lions in Super Rugby. He played for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and the Cheetahs in Super Rugby until 2007, when he joined Durban-based side the Sharks, where he played until 2015. He won 70 caps for South Africa between 2007 and 2015.
-
Antjie Krog
- Occupations
- journalistpoettranslatorwriter
- Biography
-
Antjie Krog is a South African writer and academic, best known for her Afrikaans poetry, her reporting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and her 1998 book Country of My Skull. In 2004, she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape as Extraordinary Professor.
-
Charles Robberts Swart
- Occupations
- politicianjournalist
- Biography
-
Charles Robberts Swart, nicknamed "Blackie", was a South African politician who served as the last governor-general of the Union of South Africa from 1959 to 1961 and the first state president of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.
-
Nicolaas Johannes Diederichs
- Enrolled in the University of the Free State
- 1921-1925 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in ethics and philosophy
- Occupations
- ministerpolitician
- Biography
-
Nicolaas Johannes "Nico" Diederichs served as the third state president of South Africa from 1975 to 1978.
-
Roelf Meyer
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
-
Roelof Petrus Meyer GCOB is a South African politician and businessman. A Member of Parliament between 1979 and 1997, he was the chief negotiator for the National Party government during the negotiations to end apartheid. He later co-founded the United Democratic Movement.
-
Heinrich Brüssow
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
-
Heinrich Wilhelm Brüssow is a South African former professional rugby union player. His usual position was as open-side flanker and his most recent club was Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
-
Gurthrö Steenkamp
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
-
Gurthrö Garth Steenkamp is a former South African Rugby union player. He plays loosehead prop. Steenkamp had previously played for the Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) the Bulls and the Cats (Super 14). He made his debut for the Springboks in late 2004 against Scotland.
-
Georg Meiring
- Occupations
- military personnel
- Biography
-
General Georg Meiring is a South African military commander. He served as Chief of the Army (1990–93) and Chief of the South African National Defence Force (1993–98).
-
Lionel Cronjé
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
-
Lionel Cronjé is a South African rugby union footballer, currently playing for The Sharks in the Carling Currie Cup. He is a versatile back-line player who can operate as a fly-half or full-back.
-
Zamani Saul
- Years
- 1972-.. (age 52)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Zamani Saul is a South African politician who is the 5th and current Premier of the Northern Cape and a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. He has also been serving as the Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) since his election on 12 May 2017. He previously served as the Provincial Secretary and as the Deputy Provincial Secretary of the party.
-
Karen Muir
- Enrolled in the University of the Free State
- Graduated with laurea in medicine
- Occupations
- physicianswimmer
- Biography
-
Karen Muir was a South African competitive swimmer. Born and raised in Kimberley, she attended the Diamantveld High School, where she matriculated in 1970.
-
Coenie de Villiers
- Occupations
- singer
- Biography
-
Coenie de Villiers, born 11 October 1956, is a South African singer-songwriter, pianist, pop artist who sings in his mother tongue, Afrikaans. If any comparison was required, Coenie's music is best compared to the pop/rock of Herbert Groenemeyer (German language) or Billy Joel (US English language).
-
Philip van der Walt
- Occupations
- rugby union player
- Biography
-
Christoffel Philippus van der Walt is a South African rugby union footballer. He plays as a number eight for the Newcastle Falcons in the IPA Greene King Championship, having previously played for theSharks in Super Rugby, Cheetahs in Super Rugby, the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup, Biarritz in the French Pro D2 and Canon Eagles in the Japanese Top League.
-
Philip Snyman
- Occupations
- rugby union playerrugby sevens player
- Biography
-
Philippus Albertus Borman Snyman is a South African rugby union former player and current coach. As a player, he was the captain of South Africa's National Rugby 7s Team, Blitzbokke. He also played as a centre or winger for the Cheetahs in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup.
-
Wouter Wessels
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Wouter Wynand Wessels is a South African politician and a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa for the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus). He took office as an MP on 1 December 2017 and succeeded the former party leader Pieter Mulder, who resigned from Parliament a day earlier. Wessels was married to fellow FF Plus MP Tammy Breedt.
