Here are 8 famous musicians from South Africa died at 43:
Reggie Schwarz (May 4, 1875 Lee, London-November 18, 1918) was a South African personality.
He was a talented all-round sportsman, playing cricket, rugby, and field hockey at a high level. Schwarz represented South Africa in cricket and was known for his exceptional fielding abilities. He also played rugby for the South African national team.
Aside from his athletic prowess, Schwarz was also a skilled lawyer and politician. He was elected to the Cape Provincial Council in 1910 and worked to improve conditions for poor and oppressed communities.
During World War I, Schwarz joined the British Army and fought in France as part of the Royal Field Artillery. He tragically died in 1918 from pneumonia while still in service.
In honor of his accomplishments, the prestigious Schwarz Memorial Scholarship was established in South Africa to support young athletes and promote their development.
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Can Themba (June 21, 1924 South Africa-April 5, 1968 Manzini, Swaziland) was a South African journalist and writer.
He is best known for his short stories, which were published in Drum magazine and were critical of apartheid. Themba also wrote plays and essays that examined the social and political issues of South Africa during the mid 20th century. His most famous work, "The Suit," is a short story that tells the tragic story of a couple whose relationship falls apart due to the husband's jealousy. Themba's writing often drew from his own experiences as a black man living under the oppressive apartheid regime. After facing censorship and harassment from the government, Themba left South Africa for Swaziland, where he continued to write until his untimely death at the age of 43.
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Lucky Dube (August 3, 1964 Ermelo-October 18, 2007 Rosettenville) otherwise known as Dube, Lucky was a South African singer, musician, artist and music artist.
His albums: Lucky Dube Live In Uganda (The King of African Reggae), Trinity, House Of Exile, Prisoner, Serious Reggae Business, Slave, Taxman, Victims, Africa's Reggae King and Rastas Never Dies / Think About the Children. His related genres: Reggae and Mbaqanga.
He died as a result of firearm.
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Donald Barkly Molteno (April 5, 2015 Wynberg, Cape Town-April 5, 1972) was a South African lawyer.
He became involved in the anti-apartheid movement and co-founded the Cape Town-based legal firm, Hofmeyr, Van der Merwe, Van Pelt and Edelstein, in 1935. He dedicated his legal work to defending those who were targeted by the apartheid regime, including activists and political prisoners. Molteno also played a crucial role in the establishment of the Legal Resources Centre, which provided free legal representation to those who could not afford it. He was a member of the South African Communist Party and was arrested multiple times for his activism. Despite facing constant harassment from the authorities, he remained committed to the struggle for justice and equality until his death in 1972. Today, he is recognized as a pioneering figure in the fight against apartheid.
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Victoria Mxenge (January 1, 1942 South Africa-August 1, 1985) was a South African personality.
Victoria Mxenge was a South African lawyer, human rights activist, and anti-apartheid revolutionary. She studied law in the late 60s at the University of Natal, becoming the first black woman to be admitted to the law faculty.
Mxenge was involved in numerous anti-apartheid organizations, including the Black Women's Federation, the Natal Organisation of Women, and the United Democratic Front. She fought tirelessly for the rights of marginalized communities and was particularly outspoken about the police brutality and torture that was rampant in apartheid-era South Africa.
Mxenge played a significant role in the legal cases that challenged the apartheid regime. She was also a fierce defender of the activists who were targeted and persecuted by the government.
Victoria Mxenge's life was tragically cut short when she was brutally assassinated by a group of individuals who were believed to be linked to the apartheid government. Her legacy lives on, as she is remembered as a hero who fought for justice, equality, and human rights in South Africa.
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Bob Gosani (April 5, 2015-April 5, 1972) was a South African photographer.
He was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg and became one of the country's most prominent photographers in the 1950s and 60s. Gosani's work documented life under apartheid, with many of his photographs capturing the daily struggles of black South Africans in the townships. He was also a contributor to the iconic Drum magazine, which focused on black urban life and culture during this time. Gosani's photographs have been exhibited internationally and are now held in several prominent collections. Despite his contributions to South African photography, Gosani died in poverty and obscurity at the age of 57.
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Peter Mokaba (January 7, 1959 Polokwane, Limpopo-June 9, 2002 Johannesburg) was a South African personality.
Peter Mokaba was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and politician. He was a founding member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and played a key role in the 1976 Soweto student uprising. In 1991, he was elected to the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) and later became the chairperson of the ANC Youth League. Mokaba was known for his fiery rhetoric and strong advocacy for black empowerment, often using the slogan "Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer" to rally support for the ANC's cause. After his death in 2002, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Luthuli, one of South Africa's highest honors, for his contribution to the struggle against apartheid.
He died in hiv/aids.
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Robert Calvert (March 9, 1945 Pretoria-August 14, 1988 Ramsgate) a.k.a. Bob Calvert, Calvert, Robert or Robert Newton Calvert was a South African singer, poet, musician and writer.
His albums include Captain Lockheed & The Starfighters, Live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Lucky Leif and the Longships, Hype, Freq, Test-Tube Conceived, Centigrade 232, Repeat Performance and Cardiff 1988: Ejection.
He died caused by myocardial infarction.
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