Sophiatown key figures

Herman Tobiansky - Sophiatown's Property Developer and Investor
Robert Resha - ANC activist and later a member of the SACP
Jane Dakile - Well known educationist and Sophiatown and much quoted informant on the township
George "Kortboy" Mbalweni - Well known Sophiatown gangster
Don Mattera - Author and former Sophiatown gangster
Can Themba - Sophiatown author and Drum journalist
Sol Rachilo - Sophiatown's socialite and playwright
Henry Nxumalo - Drum journalist and well known Sophiatown personality murdered in the township
Nat Nakasa - Drum journalist who died in the US
Arthur Maimane - Drum journalist
Peter Magubane - Top photojournalist with Drum and later The Rand Daily Mail
Dr. A. B. Xuma - Prominent Medical Practitioner in Sophiatown and President of the ANC from 1949 to 1952
Dr. Nthato Motlana - Sophiatown Medical Practitioner and member of the ANC Youth League in the township
Josias Madzunya - Member of the PAC in the 1950s And 1960s
Phillip Vundla - ANC activist in the 1950s
Mirriam Makeba - 1950s Showbiz personality and successful artist of international acclaim from the 1960s through to the 1990s during her stay in exile in the US, Europe and West Africa
Hugh Masekela - Top South African trumpeter internationally recognized as the finest
Jonas Gwanga - Top South African musician who, along with Masekela and Caiphus Semenya were members of the band "the Union of South Africa" before each had successful solo careers