Eddie Jordan (1948–2025), Formula One team owner

Eddie Jordan was a businessman who founded Jordan Grand Prix, which helped launch seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher’s career, and a television commentator for the BBC.

Mary McFadden (1938–2024), fashion designer known for pleated gowns

Mary McFadden was a fashion designer known for her pleated goddess gowns and the special fabric she created to achieve a draped effect. 

Connie Chiume (1952–2024), Black Panther actress

Connie Chiume was a South African actress known for her performance as the tribal elder Zawavari in Marvel’s “Black Panther” and its sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

Esta TerBlanche (1973–2024), All My Children star

Esta TerBlanche was a South African actress best known for playing Gillian Andrassy on “All My Children.” 

Mbongeni Ngema (1955–2023), playwright who spotlighted apartheid

Mbongeni Ngema was a South African playwright, composer, and activist whose 1988 musical, “Sarafina!” took aim at apartheid.0

Zahara (1987–2023), South African music star

Zahara was a singer and songwriter who became a massive music star in South Africa with such chart-topping singles as “Phendula,” “Impilo,” and “Stay.” 

Dr. David Shaffer (1936–2023), expert in child and teen suicide 

Dr. David Shaffer was a psychiatrist who did pioneering studies on child and teen suicide that led to more effective prevention methods. 

Sixto Rodriguez (1942–2023), 'Searching for Sugar Man' musician

Sixto Rodriguez was an internationally recognized Detroit musician best known in the United States for being featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.” 

Randall Robinson (1941–2023), anti-apartheid activist 

Randall Robinson was a prominent anti-apartheid activist who founded the advocacy organization TransAfrica.

Charlbi Dean (1990–2022), “Black Lightning” actress 

Charlbi Dean was a model and actress best known for a recurring role as the assassin Syonide on the CW superhero series “Black Lightning.”

Jessie Duarte (1953–2022), aide to Nelson Mandela

Jessie Duarte was a South African anti-apartheid activist who was an aide to the country’s first Black president, .

Busisiwe “Busi” Lurayi (1986–2022), “How to Ruin Christmas” star

Busisiwe “Busi” Lurayi was a South African actress who starred in the 2020 Netflix series “How to Ruin Christmas.”

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931–2021), who helped end apartheid in South Africa

Desmond Tutu was a South African Anglican cleric, outspoken opponent of apartheid and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

F.W. de Klerk (1936–2021), former South African president who won Nobel Peace Prize

F.W. de Klerk was the last South African president under apartheid, who shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with for their work ending the nation's oppressive political system.

Cliff Simon (1962–2021), actor who played Ba’al in “Stargate: SG-1”

Cliff Simon was a South African actor who played the villain Ba’al in “Stargate SG-1” for six seasons.

Edward J. Perkins (1928–2020), first Black U.S. ambassador to South Africa

Edward J. Perkins was a diplomat who became the first Black U.S. ambassador to South Africa.

Jeanette Carlson (1929–2020), anti-apartheid activist

Jeanette Carlson was an anti-apartheid activist who was a leader of the South African civil rights organization the Black Sash.

Joseph Shabalala (1940–2020), founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Joseph Shabalala was a singer and musician who founded the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and served as their music director, bringing traditional Zulu music to a worldwide audience. Founded in 1960, Ladysmith Black Mambazo recorded Africa’s first gold album, 1973’s “Amabutho.” They gained international fame when Paul Simon collaborated with them for his 1986 Grammy-winning album “Graceland.” Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang on several tracks, and Shabalala co-composed the song “Homeless” with Simon. Simon produced Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s 1987 album Shaka Zulu,” which won a Grammy, their first of five, for Best Traditional Folk Recording. The group went on to appear in Michael Jackson’s 1988 movie “Moonwalker” and to sing at South African President Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inauguration. Shabalala remained with Ladysmith Black Mambazo until his 2014 retirement; the group continues touring today.

Nicholas Kittrie (1926–2019), Pulitzer Prize-nominated author

Nicholas Kittrie was a legal scholar, a law professor, and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated author of books about international law and morality including “Rebels With a Cause: The Minds and Morality of Political Offenders.” His “The Task Ahead” helped inform the development of the South African constitution, and he co-edited “The Future of Peace in the 21st Century” in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Prize Committee as part of the celebration of the prize’s 100th anniversary. A professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, Kittrie was the college’s longest-tenured professor and taught for more than 50 years.

Johnny Clegg (1953–2019), South African music legend

His multi-racial bands performed in defiance of apartheid segregation.

Mandla Maseko (1988–2019), South African scheduled to be first black African in space

South African Air Force member Mandla Maseko was poised to become the first black African in space.

Winnie Mandela (1936–2018), prominent anti-apartheid activist

Former wife of Nelson Mandela was a major figure in the fight against apartheid in South Africa…

Hugh Masekela (1939–2018), father of South African jazz

Anti-apartheid activist authored the protest song “Soweto Blues.”

Ray Phiri (1947–2017), South African musician on Graceland

South African musician was featured on Paul Simon’s "Graceland" album.

South Africa Bus Crash Victims

A bus accident near Pretoria, South Africa, has killed at least 18 children and two adults.

Ahmed Kathrada (1929 - 2017), anti-apartheid activist

Ahmed Kathrada, the South African anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned for many years along with his close friend, former South African President Nelson Mandela, for resisting the apartheid system of white domination, died Tuesday, March 28, 2017, according to his foundation.

Joost van der Westhuizen (1971 - 2017), rugby legend

Joost van der Westhuizen, the rugby legend who won a World Cup with South Africa in 1995, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 45.

Amman, Jordan, Shooting Victims

A Jordanian policeman opened fire Monday on foreign trainers at a police compound, killing two Americans and a South African before being shot dead, the government spokesman said, according to The Associated Press as well as CNN. Two American citizens and four Jordanians were wounded in the shooting at the police training center, which is on the outskirts of the Jordanian capital, Mohammed Momani told the state news agency Petra. He said one of the wounded is in critical condition. Momani portrayed the shooting as a "crime" and said an investigation has been launched.