South Africans in the United Kingdom


South Africans in the United Kingdom include citizens and residents of the United Kingdom with origins in South Africa.

Demographics

According to the 2011 UK census, 186,355 South African-born people were resident in England, 10,607 in Scotland, 4,668 in Wales and 1,847 in Northern Ireland. The 2021 UK census recorded 211,447 South African-born people residing in England, 15,253 in Scotland, 5,733 in Wales, and 2,627 in Northern Ireland.
Unlike the country of South Africa itself, the majority of the South African diaspora living in the United Kingdom are White South Africans. Of all people identifying as South African in England and Wales, 86% identify as white, while 12% identify as black and 2% as mixed. According to the 2021 Census, the majority of South African born people in the UK live in Surrey and South West London, particularly in Putney, Wimbledon, Elmbridge, Woking, Sutton and Merton.

Notable South Africans in the United Kingdom

This list includes those who were born in South Africa and those who were born in another country but primarily raised in South Africa.
South African born British people have contributed heavily in sports, especially in Commonwealth sports such as Cricket and Rugby. 17 South African born players have played for the England national cricket team and over a dozen have played for both the England and Scotland national Rugby Union teams collectively.
NameOccupation
Alex BellScotland Footballer with 1 cap in 1912
Allan LambEngland Cricketer between 1982 and 1992
Amanda Craignovelist
Andrew Feinsteinformer politician
Andrew SurmanEngland U-21 Footballer with 4 caps and 1 goal between 2007 and 2008
Andrew StraussEngland Cricketer between 2003 and 2012
Angelique RockasBritish Actress, Producer and Activist
Antony SherBritish Actor
Basil D'OliveiraEngland Cricketer between 1966 and 1972
Belle DelphinePornographic actress, Internet personality.
Beth TweddleBritish Gymnast, three time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist
Bill PerryEngland Footballer with 3 caps and 2 goals between 1955 and 1956
Brad BarrittEngland and British and Irish Lion Rugby Union Player with 26 appearances between 2012 and 2015
Sir Bradley FriedBritish businessman, ex-chair of the Court of Directors of the Bank of England, chair of Goldman Sachs International
Bob HolnessBritish Quiz Show Host
Brian SteinEngland Footballer with 1 cap in 1984
Cameron NorrieBritish Tennis Player and former world number 66
Caspar LeeBritish YouTuber and Vlogger with 7.5 million+ subscribers
Ciara Charterisproducer and former actress
Chris FroomeBritish cyclist, 7 time grand tour winner and Olympic bronze medallist
Chris SmithEngland Cricketer between 1983 and 1986
Chumisa Dornford-Maymusical theatre actress
Cleve Septembermusical theatre actor
Colin ViljoenEngland Footballer with 2 caps in 1975
Craig KieswetterEngland Cricketer between 2010 and 2013
David RibbansEngland Rugby Union player
Deborah Levynovelist
Doreen MantleBritish Actress
Elize du ToitBritish Actress
Eric Abrahamproducer and former journalist
Frances Rivett-CarnacBritish sailor, Olympic gold medalist
Frank OsborneEngland Footballer with 4 caps and 3 goals between 1922 and 1926
Gordon HodgsonEngland Footballer with 3 caps and 1 goal between 1930 and 1931, 241 goals for Liverpool FC
Ian GreigEngland Cricketer in 1982
Jaco van GassBritish Paralympic Cyclist, Paralympic Champion
Jade DernbachEngland Cricketer between 2011 and 2014
Jason RoyEngland Cricketer from 2014
Jenny RunacreBritish actress
Johan SteynJudge and peer
John HewieScotland Footballer with 19 caps and 2 goals between 1956 and 1960
Jonathan TrottEngland Cricketer between 2007 and 2015
J. R. R. TolkienBritish Author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and World War 1 veteran
Justin RoseEnglish Golfer, Major winner, Olympic champion and former world number one
Justine WaddellBritish producer and former actress
Keaton JenningsEngland Cricketer from 2016
Keri-anne PayneBritish Swimmer, two time world champion and Olympic silver medalist
Kevin PietersenEngland Cricketer between 2004 and 2014
Kyle EdmundBritish Tennis Player and world number 14
Lillian BoardBritish middle-distance runner and Olympic silver medalist
Lizelle BisschoffFilm theorist, academic, curator and the founder of the Africa in Motion film festival in Scotland
Mark ShuttleworthBritish Millionaire
Michael LumbEngland Cricketer between 2010 and 2014
Mike CattEngland Rugby Union player, 2003 World Cup winner
Matt PriorEngland Cricketer between 2004 and 2014
Neil BroadBritish tennis player, former British number one and Olympic silver medalist
Natalie StewardBritish swimmer, Olympic silver and bronze medalist
Nicky Hambleton-JonesBritish Television Presenter
Oti Mabusedancer
Peter HainBritish Politician
Prue Leithrestaurateur and television personality
Quintin BrandSecond World War Royal Air Force Officer
Reg OsborneEngland Footballer with 1 cap in 1927
Richard Masonnovelist
Robin SmithEngland Cricketer between 1988 and 1996
Ronald HarwoodBritish Playwright
Rupert ObholzerBritish rower and Olympic bronze medalist
Sid JamesBritish Actor
Sir Sidney KentridgeBritish lawyer who played a leading role in a number of the most significant political trials in Apartheid South Africa
Simon LessingBritish triathlete
Stuart AbbottEngland Rugby Union player, 2003 World Cup winner
Stuart MeakerEngland Cricketer between 2011 and 2012
Teignmouth MelvillBritish polo player, Olympic gold medalist
Tom CurranEngland Cricketer from 2017
Tony GreigEngland Cricketer between 1972 and 1977
Vanessa Zachosactress
William RawsonEngland Footballer with 2 appearances between 1875 and 1877
Zola BuddBritish distance runner and Olympian