Steve Hofmeyr is a multi-talented South African artist who is known as a singer, songwriter, author, actor and former television presenter.
He is one of the most popular and successful South African musicians, having released over 30 albums and won several awards.
He is also a controversial figure whose views on race, politics and history, particularly on the apartheid era and Afrikaner identity, have sparked anger and criticism.
contour
- Full name: Steve Hofmeyr
- Date of Birth: August 29, 1964
- Age: 60
- Gender: Male
- Birthplace: Pretoria, South Africa
- Nationality: South African
- Occupation: singer, songwriter, author, actor, former television host
- Height: 1.83 m (6 ft)
- Parents: Steve Hofmeyr Sr. and Ria Hofmeyr
- Siblings: Two brothers and two sisters
- Spouse: Janine van der Vyver (m. 2014)
- Children: Devin Hofmeyer, Armand Hofmeyer, Sebastian Hofmeyer, Benjamin Hofmeyer, Lincoln Hofmeyer, Romy Lee Hofmeyer
- Marital status: Married
- Net worth: $2 million
Early life and education
Steve Hofmeyer, 60, was born in Pretoria, South Africa, on August 29, 1964. His father is businessman and politician Steve Hofmeyer, and his mother is teacher and writer Leah Hofmeyer.
He has two brothers and two sisters. He grew up in a conservative Afrikaner family and attended Afrikaner schools.
He also played rugby and cricket and was a good student. He attended Grey’s College in Bloemfontein and the Pretoria Polytechnic Drama School, graduating with a diploma in drama in 1986.
Personal life
Steve Hofmeyer’s personal life was full of ups and downs, including multiple extramarital affairs and divorce.
He married actress Natasha Sutherland after meeting her on the set of the soap opera Edgerley: The Golden Land in 1998. They have two sons, Devin and Armand, who are also musicians.
However, their marriage ended in 2008 following reports of Hofmeyer’s infidelity.
He also has two sons, Sebastian and Benjamin, with his ex-girlfriend Janine du Plessis, and one son, Lincoln, with his ex-fiancee Daniela Barbosa.
In 2014, he married beautician Janine van der Vyver and had a daughter, Romy Lee, in 2015. He lives with his wife and daughter on a farm near Bronkhorstspruit.
Profession
Steve Hofmeyer has had a varied career that spans music, writing, acting, and television hosting.
He launched his music career in 1989 with his debut album Desertbound and has since released over 30 albums, mostly in Afrikaans but also in English and Dutch.
He has sold over 2 million albums and has performed in many countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. His music has won many awards including SAMA, Ghoema, Huisgenoot Tempo and Vonk.
He is known for his romantic ballads, country rock songs and patriotic songs. His most popular songs include Pampoen, Blou Ballon, Agter Elke Man, Die Blou Bul and Ons Sal Dit Oorleef.
He began his acting career in 1987 in the TV series Agter Elke Man. He became famous for playing Bruce Beyers in the soap opera Egoli: Place of Gold, in which he starred from 1992 to 2001. He has also appeared in TV series and films such as 7de Laan, Scandal!, Treurgrond, A Case of Murder and Platteland.
He also produced and directed films such as The Story of Racheltjie de Beer and Die Skatties.
He began his writing career with the publication of his first novel, Die Laaste Tango, in 1997. He has since written several more books, such as Die Onaantasbares, Laaste Dans, Drienie, Die Verste Uur and Die Laaste Ure.
He also writes columns for various newspapers and magazines, such as Rapport, Huisgenoot and Finesse. In 2008, he published his autobiography, Mense van My Asem.
He began his television hosting career in 1993 with “Die Steve Hofmeyr Show”. He has since hosted several other shows including “Dis Hoe Dit Is”, “Die Faktor”, “Die Kliek” and “Kom Ons Praat Daaroor”. He has also been a judge on talent shows such as “Idols SA” and “Afrikaans Idols”.
Awards
Steve Hofmeyer has won numerous awards throughout his career, both for music and acting. Some of the most notable awards are:
- Won the SAMA (South African Music Awards) Award for Best Afrikaans Pop Album in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- SAMA Best Selling Album Award in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- He won the Best Male Vocalist Award at the South African Music Awards in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- Ghoema (Afrikaans Music Awards) Best Male Artist 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- Ghoema won the Best Album Award in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- Ghoema won the Best Song Award in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
dispute
Steve Hofmeyer has been involved in many controversies during his career, primarily due to his racial, political, and historical views.
He has been accused by various critics, media outlets, and organizations of being a racist, white supremacist, neo-Nazi, Holocaust denier, xenophobe, misogynist, and homophobe.
He has also been involved in legal battles, boycotts, injunctions, and protests over his actions and statements.
Some of the most notable controversies include:
- In 1993, he used the racial slur “kaffir” in his song “Die Land”, which was banned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
- In 1999, he sang the former South African national anthem “Die Stem” at a rugby match, which was seen as a sign of support for apartheid and white supremacy.
- In 2001, he was accused of plagiarism by singer Anton Goosen, who claimed that Hofmeyer had plagiarized his song “Lied van die Lewe”.
- In 2004, he was fined for speeding and assaulting a traffic policeman in Pretoria.
- In 2007, he was banned from performing at the Little Karoo National Festival (KKNK), a major Afrikaans arts festival, because of his political views and statements.
- In 2008, he was sued for defamation by singer Sunette Bridges after she called him a “racist bitch” and a “Nazi whore” on her blog.
- In 2011, he was arrested for driving under the influence and resisting arrest in Bronxhorstspruit.
- In 2014, he sparked a social media campaign called #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh after tweeting that he would pull his children out of school if it allowed black girls to wear natural hair.
- In 2015, he sparked a public outcry after he tweeted that “black people were the architects of apartheid” and said he did not believe black people existed before white colonization.
- In 2016, he was dropped by several sponsors including Pick n Pay, Land Rover and Toyota over his support for OASE, an Afrikaner rights group that campaigns for an independent state for white Afrikaners.
- In 2017, he was banned from performing at the Cape Town Stadium after singing “Die Stem” at a concert.
- In 2018, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) condemned his remarks on land expropriation, in which he said he would “die for his land” and he would also “kill for it.”
- In 2019, he was boycotted by several radio stations including Jacaranda FM, Gagasi FM and East Coast Radio for his participation in the #BlackMonday protests, in which he and other white farmers dressed in black and blocked roads to protest against farm murders.
- In 2020, he was criticized by the Jewish community for denying the Holocaust, saying there were “no gas chambers” and that “Hitler was not a bad man.”
- In 2021, he was accused of inciting violence and hate speech after posting a video on his Facebook page calling on fans to “fight back” against government lockdown measures and “black majority rule.”
- In 2022, singer Lira sued him for defamation after he called her a “quota queen” and a “BEE beneficiary” on his blog.
- In 2023, he was banned from entering the UK, US and Australia for supporting AfriForum, a white nationalist group that defends the rights of white Boers.
Social Media
- Twitter: steve_hofmeyr
- Instagram: steve.hofmeyr
Filmography
- Agat Elke Mann
- Egoli: The Land of Gold
- 7 Teresa
- scandal!
- Murder
- Terlund
- Platteland
- Rachel Gee de Beer’s Story
- Scatters
Discography
- Desert
- just me
- No heroes
- Blues Albums
- Loyal to you
- Bookish weekend
- Steve
- Land of the Dead
- Beautiful sound
- Spring Weather
- Platinum Stink
- Ramble
- Rock it
net worth
According to multiple sources, Steve Hofmeyer’s net worth is estimated to be $2 million.
His wealth is derived from his career in music, writing, acting and television hosting, as well as endorsements, sponsorships and investments.
