24 Notable alumni of University of KwaZulu-Natal
Updated: June 23, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of KwaZulu-Natal is ranked #598 in the world and #5 in South Africa by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 24 notable alumni from University of KwaZulu-Natal sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of KwaZulu-Natal won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Mohammed Valli Moosa
1957-. (aged 69)
politician
minister
Valli Moosa is a South African politician and advocate. A veteran of the South African freedom struggle, He worked closely with Nelson Mandela during the settlement talks, served as negotiator for the ANC, and participated in drafting the South African Constitution. Valli served in President Mandela's cabinet as minister of constitutional development, and in President Mbeki's government as environment minister....
+ show more
2. Adriana Marais
1983-. (aged 43)
biologist
Adriana Marais is a South African theoretical physicist, technologist and advocate for off-world exploration. She is a director of the Foundation for Space Development Africa, the organisation leading Africa's first mission to the Moon, the Africa2Moon Project. She is the founder of Proudly Human, an initiative of which is the Off-World Project, a series of habitation experiments in Earth's most...
+ show more
3. Tlaleng Mofokeng
writer
activist
physician
lecturer
Tlaleng Mofokeng is a South African physician who is the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. She campaigns for universal health access and HIV care. She was named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2021.
+ show more
4. Pregs Govender
1960-. (aged 66)
politician
Pregaluxmi "Pregs" Govender is a South African human rights activist, author, and politician.
5. Goretti Kyomuhendo
1965-. (aged 61)
novelist
Goretti Kyomuhendo is a leading Ugandan novelist and the founding director of the African Writers Trust and TUBAZE African Books. She is the author of five novels: The First Daughter; Secrets No More (1999), which won the Uganda National Literary Award for Best Novel; Waiting (2007), published by The Feminist Press in New York and later translated into Spanish; Whispers...
+ show more
6. Vika Mpisane
Vika Mpisane is a business executive with extensive experience in the Internet sector and the general field of information communication technologies in South Africa and globally. He has extensive experience in policy development, business and sector transformation, strategy development, stakeholder relations, regulation and project management. His previous roles include serving a chief executive officer of ZADNA and as a Programs...
+ show more
7. Janet L Scott
1964-2022 (aged 58)
chemist
Janet L. Scott was a South African chemist who was Professor of Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Bath. She also worked as the Director of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Chemical Technologies.
+ show more
8. Adam Habib
1965-. (aged 61)
academic
cinematographer
Adam Mahomed Habib is a South African academic administrator serving as Vice-Chancellor of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London since 1 January 2021. Previously he served as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, between 1 June 2013, when the term of his predecessor Loyiso Nongxa ended, and 1...
+ show more
9. Sihle Zikalala
1973-. (aged 53)
politician
Sihle Zikalala is a South African politician from KwaZulu-Natal who has been a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa since 2023, representing the African National Congress. He was Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure from March 2023 to June 2024. Before his redeployment to the national government, he had been the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for...
+ show more
10. Simmy
1994-. (aged 32)
artist
songwriter
Simphiwe Majobe Nhlangulela, better known by her stage name Simmy, is a South African singer-songwriter.
11. Blxckie
1999-. (aged 27)
songwriter
rapper
singer
record producer
Sihle Sithole, known professionally as Blxckie, is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Sydenham Heights, Durban. His debut studio album B4Now (2021) was certified gold in South Africa.
+ show more
12. Kirti Menon
1959-. (aged 67)
academic
Kirti Menon is an activist, educator and writer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the Senior Director at the University of Johannesburg and the chairman of the Gandhi Centenary Committee, South Africa. Menon is known for reforming the policy environment in post-secondary education sector in South Africa. She is the granddaughter of Manilal Gandhi and the great-granddaughter of Mahatma...
+ show more
13. Sandy Kalyan
1957-. (aged 69)
politician
Santosh Vinita "Sandy" Kalyan is a South African politician, and a former Democratic Alliance member of Parliament's National Assembly, where she served as the Shadow Minister of Science and Technology until 2012.
+ show more
14. Shamila Batohi
lawyer
jurist
Shamila Batohi is a South African prosecutor. She has led the National Prosecuting Authority as National Director of Public Prosecutions since February 2019. She was formerly an adviser to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court from 2009 to 2019. She was due to be replaced by advocate Andy Mothibi from 1 February 2026 upon her retirement.
+ show more
15. Quarraisha Karim
1960-. (aged 66)
university teacher
researcher
epidemiologist
Quarraisha Abdool Karim is an infectious diseases epidemiologist and co-founder and Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA. She is a professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York and Pro-Vice Chancellor for African Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
+ show more
16. Siyabonga Cwele
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
minister
Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele is a South African politician who served in the cabinet of South Africa from September 2008 to May 2019, most recently as the Minister of Home Affairs between 2018 and 2019. He was appointed as the South African Ambassador to China in December 2020. He is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and represented the...
+ show more
17. Pravin Gordhan
1949-2024 (aged 75)
politician
minister
Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist who held various ministerial posts in the Cabinet of South Africa. He served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014, and again from 2015 until 2017, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015, and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until...
+ show more
18. Constantine Chiwenga
1956-. (aged 70)
minister
military personnel
politician
Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga is a Zimbabwean politician and former army general currently serving, since 2017, as the First Vice-President of Zimbabwe under President Emmerson Mnangagwa. In August 2020, he added the Health Ministry to his portfolio.
+ show more
19. Malusi Gigaba
1971-. (aged 55)
politician
minister
Knowledge Malusi Nkanyezi Gigaba is a South African politician who represents the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly. He served as a cabinet minister between 2010 and 2018, with stints as Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Public Enterprises, and Minister of Finance. He returned to the National Assembly in the May 2024 general election after a hiatus...
+ show more
20. Blade Nzimande
1958-. (aged 68)
politician
minister
Bonginkosi Emmanuel "Blade" Nzimande is a South African politician, sociologist, and former anti-apartheid activist who is currently serving as Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. A cabinet minister since 2009, Nzimande was the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party from 1998 to 2022.
+ show more
21. Tshepo Motsepe
1953-. (aged 73)
politician
Tshepo Motsepe is a South African physician and businesswoman. She is the First Lady of South Africa, as the wife of Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa. She is the older sister of Bridgette Radebe and her brother is Patrice Motsepe.
+ show more
22. Connie Ferguson
1970-. (aged 56)
actor
businessperson
influencer
filmmaker
investor
Constance Connie Ferguson is a South African-Motswana actress, filmmaker, producer and businesswoman. She is best known for her lead role as Karabo Moroka on one of South Africa's most popular soap operas, Generations. She starred on the show from its start in 1993 until she exited in 2010. In 2014, she reprised her role on the show after a 4-year...
+ show more
23. Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi
1962-2021 (aged 59)
politician
Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi was a South African politician who was the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa in the cabinet of Jacob Zuma. She was also President of the National Freedom Party (NFP). Prior to being elected to Parliament, she served for nineteen years as a councillor, fifteen of those years as Mayor of the Zululand District Municipality....
+ show more
24. Hlengiwe Mkhize
1952-2021 (aged 69)
politician
minister
Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize was a South African politician who served as Minister of Higher Education and Training and Minister of Home Affairs under President Jacob Zuma. A member of the National Assembly and national executive since May 2009, she was Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities when she died in September 2021.
+ show more