John W. de Gruchy (born 18 March 1939) is a Christian theologian known for his work resisting apartheid.

[1] For many years, he was Robert Selby Taylor Professor of Christian Studies at University of Cape Town.

He remains an emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town and holds a post as an extraordinary professor at the University of Stellenbosch.

[3] Some of his earliest works were written in the midst of apartheid in South Africa, speaking out against the legislation and engaging the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to argue for the liberation of the oppressed.

[4][5] After apartheid legislation was abolished in 1991, de Gruchy wrote a number of works speaking about the theological role of art in society[6] and advocating for a theology of reconciliation.