South Africans - Who am I (Part 1) Quiz | People

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I was born in 1922 in Beaufort West, and studied medicine at The University of Cape Town. I became the Director of Surgical Research at Groote Schuur Hospital, and in 1967 I performed the first successful heart transplant operation. Who am I?

Answer: Christiaan Barnard

Chris Barnard used the heart of a young woman who had been killed in a motor accident to transplant into Louis Washkansky. The operation lasted five hours and was successful. Washkansky developed a lung infection and died of pneumonia 18 days later. The second transplant was performed only a month later and the patient survived for almost two years.

2. Born in the Transkei in 1936 I trained as a social worker, and received my BA from the University of the Witwatersrand. In 1958, I married a political activist and was detained repeatedly over the next two decades. In 1969, I was imprisoned for 18 months. I was President of the ANC's Women's League, but was also implicated in the death of Stompie Sepei. Who am I?

Answer: Winnie Mandela

Albertina Luthuli is the daughter of the late Chief Albert Luthuli. Ellen Khuzwayo was a teacher and social worker who worked with the youth during the aprtheid years. Grace Machel is the third wife of Nelson Mandela, she was first married to Samora Machel, the president of Mozambique.

3. I was born in Uitenhage in about 1873, and studied to become a teacher. I was also a recognised choirmaster and photographer. I wrote the first verse and the chorus of "Nkosi Sikelel i'Afrika", and composed the music. Who am I?

Answer: Enoch Sontonga

Jeremiah Moeketsi was a jazz musician and saxaphone player. He was nicknamed Kippie and Kippies Jazz Club in Newtown Johannesburg was named after him. Gerard Sekoto was an artist and musician who moved to Paris in 1947, where he remained until his death in 1993. Sipho Gumede was a jazz musician who toured worldwide, and produced music until his death in 2004.

4. I studied at Oxford (1931-1934) as a Rhodes Scholar, and was later Nelson Mandela's lead defense attorney at the Rivonia Trials. In 1966, I received a life sentence for sabotage and communism, and died of cancer in 1975, after being denied medical treatment. Who am I?

Answer: Bram Fischer

Pieter Beyleveld was a left wing trade unionist and the first president of the South African Congress of Trade Unions in 1955. Archibald Gumede was a lawyer and political activist who was detained in connection with the Rivonia Treason trial but charges were later dropped. Abdullah Haron was appointed Imam at Al-Jamia Masjid in Claremont in 1954, a post he retained until his death in detention in 1969.

5. I am the only individual to have signed both peace settlements of the First and Second World Wars. I studied at Cambridge in 1891 and was appointed State Attorney in South Africa in 1898. I was Prime Minister from 1919 to 1924. I lost the 1948 election for presidency and died two years later. Who am I?

Answer: Jan Smuts

Hendrik Verwoerd was known as the "Architect of Apartheid", and was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966. Balthazer BJ Vorster was Prime Minister for 12 years, and then president for a year (1978). Paul Kruger was Commandant General of South Africa and in 1880 was elected President of the Transvaal, the Kruger National Park and the Krugerrand are named after him.

6. I was born in Germiston in 1927, and studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, and later completed my Ph.D at Oxford. I was appointed to Director of the Cambridge Medical Research Unit in 1979, and I am a supporter of the Human Genome Sequencing project. I was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology in 2002 for my work in genetics. Who am I?

Answer: Sydney Brenner

Stuart Saunders studied medicine at UCT, and in London and Boston. He was the recipient of the Order of the Baobab for his work in medical research, and in 2004 was working at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. Adrian Hadland was the chief research specialist at HSRC in 2005 having studied at Oxford and UCT. Michelle Ramsay was the head of the molecular genetics laboratory at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2003.

7. I was born in 1905 in Kuilsrivier near Cape Town, and by the age of sixteen I was writing short stories for the Sunday Times (a national newspaper). I taught in the Groot Marico district which inspired the character "Oom Schalk Lourens". In 1926, I killed my stepbrother during an argument and was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to 10 years hard labour. Who am I?

Answer: Herman Charles Bosman

Athol Fugard is a South African playwright, novelist and an accomplished actor.He wrote, amongst other, "Master Harold and the Boys", "The Blood Knot" and "Boesman and Lena". Andre Brink is also an internationally recongised novelist, who writes in both English and Afrikaans - simultaneously! He is the author of "A Dry White Season". Alan Paton, born in 1903 of british immigrants died in 1988 in Durban.

He was Principal of Diepkloof Reformatory for Young Offenders for 13 years and this affected his writing and his political outlook and prompted him to write "Cry, The Beloved Country".

8. Born in 1903 in Natal to deeply religious parents, I went on to write "Cry, The Beloved Country". This book was influenced by the years I spent as the Principal at the Diepkloof Reformatory for Young Offenders. Who am I?

Answer: Alan Paton

Jan Hofmeyr was a child prodigy who received his MA from the University of Cape Town at the age of 17, he became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, the Principal of Witwatersrand University at the age of 25 and a Cabinet Minister by age 39. William Andrews immigrated to South Africa from England in 1893, he was a pioneer of the trade union movement and then became the first general secretary of the Communist Party of South Africa. Jan van Riebeeck was the first commander in the Cape, he was requested to create a fort to supply ships passing South Africa on their way to trade in the East.

9. My father was a bank manager in Bloemfontein at the time of my birth in 1892. I did leave South Africa for a vacation in England when I was three, but a family tragedy prevented my return and I grew up in the area surrounding Birmingham. I wrote a number of novels, one of which was destined to be a Hollywood trilogy. Who am I?

Answer: John Tolkien

Roy Campbell, born in 1901, was a South African poet and satirist. He lived most of his life in Spain and Portugal. Bryce Courtenay was born in Johannesburg in 1933. His first novel "The Power of One" was published in 1989. Peter Abrahams was born in 1919 in Vrededorp and after working in London settled in Jamaica, his novels are based in Africa and deal largely with racism.

10. I studied theology at Stellenbosch and founded the Christian Institute of Southern Africa in 1963. I succeeded Desmond Tutu as the secretary general of the South African Council of Churches in 1985. Who am I?

Answer: Beyers Naude

Kadar Asmal is a teacher/politician who was appointed Minister of Education in 1994. Magnus Malan was Minister of Defence for the National Party from 1980 to 1991. Sam Shilowa started out as a shop steward fighting for the rights of labourers, and went on to become the General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

Source: Author madison_17

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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South Africans - Who am I (Part 1) Quiz

South Africa is a strong nation with even stronger people. Good luck!

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