List of South African women writers

This is a list of South African women writers, including women writers either from or associated with South Africa.

A

• Barbara Adair (living), novelist
• Wilna Adriaanse (born 1958), romantic fiction writer
• Jani Allan (1952–2023), journalist, columnist, broadcaster
• Phyllis Altman (1919–1999)
• Ingrid Andersen (born 1965), poet
• Diane Awerbuck (born 1974), novelist

B

• Gabeba Baderoon (born 1969), poet
• Margaret Bakkes (1931–2016)
• Lesley Beake (born 1949), children's author
• Dricky Beukes (1918–1999), writer of novels, short stories and radio dramas
• Lauren Beukes (born 1976), novelist, short story writer, journalist and television scriptwriter
• Audrey Blignault (1916–2008)
• Anna Böeseken (1905–1997), history academic, journalist and writer
• Johanna Brandt (1876–1964)
• Sarah Britten (born 1974), writer and blogger
• Babette Brown (1931–2019), writer on race and diversity issues in the United Kingdom.
• Cheryl Brown (living), professor of education
• Penny Busetto (living), novelist

C

• Maxine Case (born 1976), novelist and short story writer
• Cecile Cilliers (1933–2018), journalist and writer
• Yvette Christiansë (born 1954), poet and novelist
• Lindsey Collen (born 1948), novelist and activist
• Jeni Couzyn (born 1942), poet and anthologist
• Hazel Crane (1951–2003), memoirist
• Judy Croome (born 1958), novelist, short story writer and poet
• Sheila Cussons (1922–2004), Afrikaans poet

D

• Alide Dasnois (born 1950), journalist and newspaper editor
• Nadia Davids (born 1977)
• Marike de Klerk (1937–2001)
• Ingrid de Kok (born 1951), poet
• Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (born 1966), poet
• Janette Deacon (born 1939)
• Isobel Dixon (born 1969), poet
• Ceridwen Dovey (born 1980)
• Finuala Dowling (born 1962), poet

E

• Elisabeth Eybers (1915–2007), poet

F

• Dawn Faith (born 1982), author, musician and social activist
• Diana Ferrus (1953–2026), South African writer, poet and storyteller
• Mary Anne Fitzgerald (born c. 1945), journalist
• Corlia Fourie (born 1944), writer of drama, children's books, short stories and novels
• Lynn Freed (1945–2025), novelist, essayist, and writer of short stories
• Patricia Fresen (1940–2024)
• Lisa Fugard (born 1961)
• Sheila Meiring Fugard (born 1932), writer of short stories and plays

G

• Jeanne Goosen (1938–2020), journalist and poet
• Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014), novelist, political activist and recipient of the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature
• Lyndall Gordon (born 1941), literary biographer
• Sheila Gordon (1927–2013)
• Pregs Govender (born 1960), feminist human rights activist, author and former Member of Parliament
• Henriette Grové (1922–2009)

H

• Megan Hall (born 1972), poet
• Joan Hambidge (born 1956), Afrikaans poet, literary theorist and academic
• Stacy Hardy (living), writer, journalist, multimedia artist and theatre practitioner
• Marié Heese (born 1942), novelist and teacher
• Cat Hellisen (born 1977), author of fantasy novels
• Colleen Higgs (born 1962), writer and publisher
• Heidi Holland (1947–2012), journalist and author
• Emma Huismans (born 1947), writer, journalist, and activist

J

• Noni Jabavu (1919–2008), writer and journalist
• Cynthia Jele (living), novelist
• Liesl Jobson (living), poet and musician
• Sarah Johnson (born 1980), poet
• Isabel Jean Jones (died 2008), consumer journalist
• Ingrid Jonker (1933–1965), poet
• Pamela Jooste (living), novelist
• Elsa Joubert (1922–2020), Afrikaans-language novelist
• Irma Joubert (living), novelist
• Leonie Joubert (living), science writer, author and journalist

K

• Ronelda Kamfer (born 1981), poet
• Farida Karodia (born 1942), novelist and short-story writer
• Anne Kellas (living), poet, reviewer and editor
• Olga Kirsch (1924–1997), poet
• Elizabeth Klarer (1910–1994)
• Sheila Kohler (born 1941), novelist and short story writer
• Antjie Krog (born 1952), poet and academic
• Ellen Kuzwayo (1914–2006), women's rights activist, politician and autobiographer

L

• Anne Landsman (born 1959), novelist
• Lauren Liebenberg (born 1972), novelist
• Freda Linde (1915–2013), children's writer and translator
• Anna M. Louw (1913–2003)

M

• Rozena Maart (born 1962)
• Michelle McGrane (born 1974), poet
• Lindiwe Mabuza (1938–2021), poet, academic, journalist, diplomat
• Sindiwe Magona (born 1943)
• Angela Makholwa (living), crime fiction writer
• Barbara Masekela (born 1941), poet, educator, activist
• Mohale Mashigo (living), singer-songwriter, novelist and former radio presenter
• Lebogang Mashile (born 1979), actor, writer and performance poet
• Emma Mashinini (1929–2017)
• Kopano Matlwa (born 1985), novelist
• Dalene Matthee (1938–2005), novelist
• Fatima Meer (1928–2010), writer, academic, screenwriter
• Joan Metelerkamp (born 1956), poet
• Nontsizi Mgqwetho (fl. 1920s), poet
• Gcina Mhlophe (born 1958), actress, storyteller, poet, playwright, director
• Kirsten Miller (living)
• Ruth Miller (1919–1969), poet
• Sarah Millin (1889–1968)
• Natalia Molebatsi (living), performance poet and cultural worker
• Marion Molteno (born 1944), novelist
• Rose Moss (born 1937), writer of novels, short stories, words for music and non-fiction
• Natasha Mostert (living), author and screenwriter
• Isabella Motadinyane (1963–2003), poet and actor
• Ena Murray (1936–2015)
• Sally-Ann Murray (born 1961)

N

• Beverley Naidoo (living), writer of children's books
• Thirza Nash (1885–1962), novelist
• Bongi Ndaba (born 1972)
• Lauretta Ngcobo (1931–2015), novelist and essayist
• Paige Nick (living), novelist
• Michelle Nkamankeng (born c. 2008)
• Cecily Norden (1918–2011)

O

• Bree O'Mara (1968–2010), novelist
• Yewande Omotoso (born 1980), novelist, architect and designer
• Margie Orford (born 1964), author of crime fiction, children's fiction, non-fiction and school textbooks

P

• Joy Packer (1905–1977), author of autobiography and romantic adventure novels
• S. A. Partridge (born 1982), author of young adult fiction
• Amelia Blossom Pegram (1935–2022), poet
• Antoinette Pienaar (born 1961)
• Bridget Pitt (living)
• Marguerite Poland (born 1950)
• Elsa Pooley (born 1947)
• Karen Press (born 1956), poet
• Elaine Proctor (born 1960), film director, screenwriter, novelist, and actress

Q

• Christine Qunta (born 1952)

R

• Jo-Anne Richards (living), journalist and author
• Margaret Roberts (1937–2017), herbalist and author
• Daphne Rooke (1914–2009)
• Henrietta Rose-Innes (born 1971), novelist and short story writer
• Maria Elizabeth Rothmann (1875–1975)
• Rona Rupert (1934–1995)
• Diana E. H. Russell (1938–2020), feminist writer and activist

S

• Arja Salafranca (born 1971), poet
• Lin Sampson (living), journalist
• Riana Scheepers (born 1957), writer of children's books, short fiction and poetry
• Karin Schimke (born 1968)
• Patricia Schonstein (born 1952), novelist, poet, author of children’s books
• Olive Schreiner (1855–1920), novelist, anti-war campaigner
• Judith Sealy (living)
• Jenefer Shute (living), novelist
• Joyce Sikakane (born 1943), journalist and activist
• Ansuyah Ratipul Singh (1917–1978), medical doctor and writer
• Elinor Sisulu (born 1958), writer and activist
• Paula Slier (living), television, radio and print journalist
• Gillian Slovo (born 1952), novelist, playwright and memoirist
• Charlene Leonora Smith (living), journalist and biographer of Nelson Mandela
• Louise Smit (born 1940), writer of children's books
• Pauline Smith (1882–1959), novelist
• Lina Spies (born 1939), poet
• Dianne Stewart (born 1952)
• Wilma Stockenström (born 1933), writer, translator, and actor
• Cynthia Stockley (1873–1936), novelist
• Toni Stuart (born 1983), poet

T

• Jane Taylor (1956–2023)
• Gladys Thomas (1934–2022), playwright, poet and children's writer
• Miriam Tlali (1933–2017), novelist
• Lesego Tlhabi (born 1988), writer and comedian
• Marianne du Toit (born 1970)
• Barbara Trapido (born 1941)
• Jann Turner (born 1964), film director, novelist, television director and screenwriter

U

• Shereen Usdin (born 1962)

V

• Marita van der Vyver (born 1958)
• Marjorie van Heerden (born 1949)
• Mary-Anne Plaatjies van Huffel (1959–2020)
• Marlene van Niekerk (born 1954)
• Verna Vels (1933–2014)
• Lettie Viljoen, pseudonym of author Ingrid Winterbach (living)
• Anna de Villiers (1900–1979)

W

• Zukiswa Wanner (born 1976), journalist and novelist
• Harriet Ward (1808–1873)
• Marie Warder (1927–2014)
• Crystal Warren (living)
• Mary Watson (born 1975)
• Elizabeth Weber (born 1923)
• Mary Morison Webster (1894–1980), novelist and poet
• Zoë Wicomb (1948–2025), author and academic
• Sarah Wild (living), science journalist and author
• Margaret Wild (born 1948)
• Faldela Williams (1952–2014)
• Wendy Wood (1892–1981)

X

• Makhosazana Xaba (born 1957), poet

Z

• Rachel Zadok (living), novelist
• Rose Zwi (1928–2018)

See also

• List of women writers