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 Deborah Levy (born 1959), novelist, playwright and poet 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 Fiona Melrose (born 1973), novelist 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