Pathetic Facts

South African musicians died when they were 71

Here are 16 famous musicians from South Africa died at 71:

Geoff Chubb

Geoff Chubb (April 12, 1911-August 28, 1982) was a South African personality.

He was particularly known for his skills as a cricketer and played for South Africa in five test matches between 1932 and 1936. Chubb was an all-rounder, whose medium-pace deliveries and remarkable off-spin provided a solid support for his team. His performance in the 1935-36 series versus Australia, during which he took seven wickets, was particularly notable. In addition to his cricketing career, Chubb was also a successful businessman and served as the managing director of textile firm, Rex Trueform. He was actively involved in anti-apartheid protests and was a prominent member of the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee. Chubb passed away in 1982 at the age of 71.

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Charles Hime

Charles Hime (October 24, 1869-December 6, 1940) was a South African personality.

He was a businessman, politician, and philanthropist. Hime served as the mayor of the city of Johannesburg twice and was instrumental in the development of the city's infrastructure. He was also a Member of Parliament in South Africa's National Assembly, representing the United Party.

Beyond his political career, Hime was known for his philanthropy, particularly towards education. He was a founder of the University of the Witwatersrand and served as its first chancellor. He also donated generously to other educational and medical institutions in South Africa.

Hime's business interests included mining and he was one of the founders of Consolidated Gold Fields. He also served as the director of several other companies.

Overall, Hime was a key figure in the development of Johannesburg and South Africa, both through his political and philanthropic efforts.

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George Thornton

George Thornton (December 24, 1867 Skipton-January 31, 1939 Kensington) was a South African personality.

George Thornton was a South African personality who was a well-known athlete, entrepreneur, and politician. He was born on December 24, 1867, in Skipton, South Africa, and attended the University of Cape Town. He excelled in sports, particularly rugby, and founded the Rangers Football Club in Johannesburg. Alongside sports, he also ran a successful jewelry business in Johannesburg.

In addition to his sports and business ventures, Thornton was involved in politics. He served as a member of the Johannesburg City Council and as a Member of Parliament for the South African Party. He was a supporter of the white-minority government and opposed the movement for black South African political rights.

Thornton died on January 31, 1939, in Kensington, London, while on a visit to England. He was buried in Johannesburg, where his legacy continues to be remembered in the sporting and political spheres.

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Claude Carter

Claude Carter (April 23, 1881-November 8, 1952) was a South African personality.

He was most known for being a big-game hunter and a conservationist who played an important role in establishing national parks and reserves in South Africa. Carter was a skilled artist who studied at the Royal College of Art in London, and his work often depicted the wildlife and landscapes of Africa. He was a friend of American President Theodore Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, both of whom shared his passion for hunting and conservation. Carter's legacy lives on through the Claude Leon Foundation, which promotes education and research in natural history and conservation in South Africa.

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Cuan McCarthy

Cuan McCarthy (March 24, 1929 South Africa-August 14, 2000) was a South African personality.

He was particularly known for his work as a radio and television presenter, a voice-over artist, and a sports commentator. McCarthy began his career in broadcasting in the 1950s, and he quickly became one of the most well-known and beloved personalities in South African media. In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, he also served as a mentor and teacher to many up-and-coming broadcasters. Throughout his career, McCarthy received several awards and recognition for his outstanding work in broadcasting. He passed away in 2000, but his legacy in South African media lives on to this day.

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Thomas Nkobi

Thomas Nkobi (October 22, 1922 Plumtree-September 25, 1994 Johannesburg) was a South African politician and civil rights activist.

He is best known for his involvement in the anti-Apartheid struggle and his long-standing fight for civil rights for black South Africans. Born in the small town of Plumtree, Zimbabwe, Nkobi moved to South Africa at a young age and became actively involved in politics at an early stage.

Nkobi was an influential figure within the African National Congress (ANC) and served as a Treasurer-General of the organization from 1958 until 1972, contributing to the organization's operations while in exile. He was imprisoned several times for his political activities, and after being released, he continued to work tirelessly towards the establishment of a non-racial democracy in South Africa.

After the abolition of Apartheid, Nkobi held several senior positions in the newly democratic government, including serving as the Minister of Public Enterprises. He passed away in Johannesburg in 1994 at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and commitment to the struggle for human rights in South Africa.

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Alexander Lipmann-Kessel

Alexander Lipmann-Kessel (December 19, 1914-June 5, 1986) a.k.a. Lipmann Kessel was a South African writer.

He was born in Berlin, Germany, and his family immigrated to South Africa in 1936, where he became a naturalized citizen. During World War II, he served in the South African army and was captured by the Germans in North Africa. He spent the remainder of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy.

After the war, he worked as a journalist and editor for various publications in South Africa, including the Sunday Times and Drum magazine. He also wrote several books, including "The Gold Strikers," "The Wall of the Plague," and "The Ghost of the Grand Banks."

In addition to his writing, Kessel was an avid supporter of human rights and was involved in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. He served on the executive committee of the South African Congress of Writers and was a member of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain.

Kessel died in Johannesburg at the age of 71.

Robert T. A. Innes

Robert T. A. Innes (November 10, 1861 Edinburgh-March 13, 1933) was a South African astronomer.

Innes spent the majority of his career working for the South African Astronomical Observatory, eventually becoming its director in 1912. He is best known for his discovery of Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system, in 1915. Innes also contributed significantly to the understanding of comets and advocated for the use of photographic plates in astronomy. He received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. Despite his significant contributions to the field, Innes' personal life was marked by tragedy, as his wife and three children all predeceased him.

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Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef

Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef (August 13, 1886 Pretoria-November 14, 1957 Pretoria) was a South African personality.

He was a renowned painter and considered a master of South African landscape art. Pierneef's art was heavily influenced by the geometric designs of African culture and he became known for his unique style that combined elements of cubism and realism. He created over 2000 artworks during his lifetime, many of which are now considered national treasures. Pierneef also worked as an architect and designed many famous buildings including the Union Buildings in Pretoria. His legacy has had a significant impact on South African art and he is considered one of the country's greatest artists.

Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri

Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (September 18, 1937 Kroonstad-April 6, 2009 Pretoria) was a South African politician.

She was instrumental in fighting for the rights of black South Africans during the apartheid era and helped establish many key policies related to telecommunications, broadcasting and technology in South Africa. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri completed her studies at the University of Fort Hare and went on to complete a PhD at the University of Leipzig in Germany. Throughout her career, she served in various governmental positions such as Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and as the Minister of Communications. She was also a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and served as its National Deputy Chairperson. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri passed away in 2009 after a long illness.

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Joe Nhlanhla

Joe Nhlanhla (December 4, 1936 Sophiatown-July 2, 2008) was a South African personality.

He was a famous jazz musician and composer known for his contribution to the South African music industry, particularly the development of the marabi jazz genre. Joe Nhlanhla grew up in a musically talented family, and his interest in music started at a young age. In his teenage years, he formed his first band, which became popular in the local music scene. He later joined other bands and continued to hone his musical skills.

In the 1960s, Joe Nhlanhla became a founding member of the popular jazz band, The Jazz Maniacs. The band's unique sound, which blended traditional African rhythms with elements of jazz, earned them nationwide recognition. Joe Nhlanhla went on to establish himself as a prolific composer, and his work has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and theatrical productions.

Throughout his career, Joe Nhlanhla remained passionate about promoting South African music and musicians, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He was a mentor to many young musicians and was actively involved in music education. Joe Nhlanhla's contributions to the South African music industry were recognized with several awards, including a National Order by the South African government in 2004. He passed away in 2008, leaving behind a rich musical legacy that continues to inspire and influence musicians both in South Africa and beyond.

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Guy Blaikie

Guy Blaikie (May 8, 1897 Johannesburg-June 8, 1968 Lennoxville, Quebec) was a South African personality.

He was best known as a sportsman, having been a member of the South African national rugby team from 1928 to 1931. He was also an accomplished cricketer and played for various South African teams in the 1920s and 1930s. After his sports career, Blaikie became involved in politics and was elected to the South African parliament in 1948 as a member of the United Party. He later switched to the Progressive Party and was a vocal opponent of apartheid. In the 1960s, Blaikie moved to Canada and became a professor of history at Bishop's University in Quebec, where he remained until his death in 1968.

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Colin Fraser Steyn

Colin Fraser Steyn (November 27, 1887-April 23, 1959) was a South African personality.

He was best known for being a pioneer of the Boy Scout movement in South Africa, serving as the first Chief Scout of South Africa. Steyn dedicated much of his life to advocating for youth development and education, and was instrumental in establishing a number of schools throughout South Africa. In addition to his work with the Boy Scouts, he also served as a member of parliament in the Union of South Africa government. Despite facing criticism and opposition from some for his progressive ideas and efforts to promote racial justice, Steyn remained devoted to his mission of creating a better South Africa for all its citizens.

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John Harcombe

John Harcombe (April 5, 1883 Cape Town-July 19, 1954 Taunton) was a South African personality.

He was a talented sportsman who excelled in cricket and rugby during his youth. After completing his education, Harcombe worked as a journalist for various newspapers in South Africa, including the "Cape Times" and "Rand Daily Mail."

In 1921, he moved to England to become the editor of the "Weston-super-Mare Gazette." He also served as the secretary of the Somerset County Cricket Club from 1924 to 1949, during which time the club saw considerable success, winning six county championships.

Harcombe was also a member of the council of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from 1939 to 1946, and served on numerous other cricket committees.

Outside of his work in sports journalism and administration, Harcombe was an accomplished author and playwright. He wrote several books, including "The Specialist," a detective novel, and "The Happy Husband," a comedy that was later adapted into a film.

He died of a heart attack in 1954 while attending a cricket match at Taunton.

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Alan Dell

Alan Dell (March 20, 1924 Cape Town-August 18, 1995 Westerham) a.k.a. Alan Creighton Mandell was a South African radio broadcaster and disc jockey.

Dell began his broadcasting career in South Africa in the 1940s before moving to the United Kingdom in the 1960s to work for the BBC. He was known for his love of jazz music and his extensive knowledge of the genre, which led to him presenting various jazz radio shows during his career. Dell also wrote several books about jazz, including "The Jazz Age" and "The Golden Age of Jazz".

In addition to his work in radio, Dell also appeared on television, including on the BBC program "The Old Grey Whistle Test". He was a popular and well-respected figure in the music industry, and his contributions to the promotion of jazz music were widely recognized. Dell was awarded the prestigious George Orwell Award for broadcasting in 1979.

Although Dell passed away in 1995, his legacy in the world of jazz music and broadcasting continues to be celebrated. He was posthumously inducted into the South African Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

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Frans Erasmus

Frans Erasmus (April 5, 1896 South Africa-April 5, 1967) was a South African personality.

He was best known as a successful businessman and entrepreneur who pioneered the concept of retail stores in South Africa. Erasmus started his career selling household goods door-to-door and eventually expanded his business by opening his first store in 1927. He continued to grow his business and eventually built a retail empire with several branches throughout the country. In addition to his business ventures, Erasmus was also actively involved in politics, serving as a member of parliament for the National Party from 1953 to 1961. Despite his success and wealth, Erasmus remained committed to community service and philanthropy, supporting various charities throughout his life.

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