List of South Africans

Top 100 Great South Africans

In September 2004, thousands of South Africans took part in an informal nationwide poll to determine the "100 Greatest South Africans" of all time. Votes were cast by telephone, SMS, and the website of the state-run South African Broadcasting Corporation television channel, SABC 3, which aired a series of profiles and documentaries in the weeks leading up to the announcement of the top 100.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The progamme was modelled on the BBC's "Greatest Britons" series, which saw World War 2 leader Winston Churchill lead the rankings as history's Greatest Briton. In South Africa, the list was headed by Nelson Mandela, a predictable and highly-popular choice, given his global stature as a statesman and symbol of post-Apartheid liberation and reconciliation.

Related Topics:
Greatest Britons - Winston Churchill - Nelson Mandela

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other popular choices ranged from Professor Christiaan Barnard, the pioneering heart surgeon, to General Jan Smuts, wartime Prime Minister and co-founder of the League of Nations, to Shaka Zulu, the 19th Century warrior leader of the Zulu Nation, to Internet entrepreneur and civilian space traveller Mark Shuttleworth.

Related Topics:
Christiaan Barnard - Jan Smuts - League of Nations - Shaka Zulu

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While the list was clearly intended as a touchstone for debate and a source of public entertainment, the SABC soon became embroiled in a national controversy over the high rankings accorded to some South Africans who were less widely regarded as "great". For example, Hendrik Verwoerd, the "Architect of Apartheid", ranked higher on the list than Albert Luthuli, South Africa's first Nobel Peace laureate.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other controversial choices included an 11th placing for Hansie Cronje, the disgraced former Captain of the South African cricket squad, who admitted to taking bribes to influence the outcome of international test matches, and Jeremy Mansfield, a radio presenter best known for his prank telephone calls and sexually explicit anecdotes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The national debate over the list reflected the deep divisions still inherent in South African society, even a decade after the nation's first democratic elections. On October 15, bowing to pressure from political commentators and sections of the media, the SABC announced that the show was being cancelled, leaving positions 2 to 10 still formally undecided.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is the original list of "100 Greatest South Africans", with positions 2 to 10 still to be confirmed by public vote, before the show was taken off the air:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1. Nelson Mandela, first president of democratic South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner (1918 - )

Related Topics:
Nelson Mandela - Nobel Peace Prize

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2. Christiaan Barnard, pioneering heart surgeon (1922 - 2001)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3. F.W. de Klerk, former president and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner (1936 - )

Related Topics:
F.W. de Klerk - Nobel Peace Prize

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

4. Mahatma Gandhi, political activist (1869 - 1948)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

5. Nkosi Johnson, child who died of AIDS (1989 - 2002)

Related Topics:
Nkosi Johnson - AIDS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

6. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, politician and 2nd wife of Nelson Mandela (1936 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

7. Thabo Mbeki, current president (1942 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

8. Gary Player, golfer (1936 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

9. Jan Smuts, statesman (1870 - 1950)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

10. Desmond Tutu, cleric and Nobel Peace Prize winner

Related Topics:
Desmond Tutu - Nobel Peace Prize

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

11. Hansie Cronje, cricketer (1969 - 2002)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

12. Charlize Theron, actress and Academy Award winner (1975 - )

Related Topics:
Charlize Theron - Academy Award

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

13. Steve Biko, nonviolent political activist (1946 - 1977)

Related Topics:
Steve Biko - Nonviolent

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

14. Shaka, founder of the Zulu nation (1787 - 1828)

Related Topics:
Shaka - Zulu

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

15. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, politician and a Zulu prince

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

16. Tony Leon, politician (1956 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

17. Brenda Fassie, singer (1964 - 2004)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

18. Mark Shuttleworth, Web entrepreneur, founder of Thawte, astronaut

Related Topics:
Mark Shuttleworth - Thawte

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

19. Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, former prime minister and primary architect of Apartheid (1901 - 1966)

Related Topics:
Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd - Apartheid

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

20. Chris Hani, political activist (1942 - 1993)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

21. Bonginkosi Dlamini, also known as "Zola", poet, actor and musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

22. Patricia de Lille, politician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

23. Johnny Clegg, also known as "The White Zulu", musician (1953 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

24. Helen Suzman, stateswoman (1917 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

25. Eugène Terre'Blanche, right wing activist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

26. Pieter Dirk Uys political satirist and entertainer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

27. Paul Kruger, four times president of South African Republic (1825 - 1904)

Related Topics:
Paul Kruger - South African Republic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

28. Anton Rupert, businessman and environmentalist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

29. Jonty Rhodes, cricketer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

30. Leon Schuster, filmmaker, comedian, actor and prankster

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

31. Oliver Tambo, political activist (1917 - 1993)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

32. Steve Hofmeyr, musician and actor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

33. Walter Sisulu, political activist (1912 - 2003)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

34. Cyril Ramaphosa, politician and businessman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

35. JRR Tolkien, author (1892 - 1973)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

36. Beyers Naude, cleric and anti-apartheid activist (1915 - 2004)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

37. Ernie Els, golfer (1969 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

38. Miriam Makeba, musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

39. Patrice Motsepe, businessman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

40. Trevor Manuel, politician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

41. Albert Luthuli, cleric, politician and 1960 Nobel Peace Prize winner († 1967)

Related Topics:
Albert Luthuli - Nobel Peace Prize

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

42. Robert Sobukwe, political activist (1924 - 1978)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

43. Tokyo Sexwale, politician and businessman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

44. Danny Jordaan, politician and soccer administrator

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

45. Fatima Meer, scientist and political activist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

46. Ahmed Kathrada, political activist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

47. Joe Slovo, politician (1926 - 1995)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

48. Natalie du Toit, disabled swimmer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

49. Jomo Sono, soccer coach

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

50. Francois Pienaar, former Springboks rugby captain (1967 - )

Related Topics:
Francois Pienaar - Springboks

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

51. John Kani, actor, entertainer and writer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

52. Penny Heyns, swimmer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

53. Jeremy Mansfield, radio and TV personality

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

54. Lucas Radebe, former Bafana Bafana soccer captain

Related Topics:
Lucas Radebe - Bafana Bafana

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

55. Mamphela Ramphele, political activist, academic, businesswoman and mother to the son of Steve Biko

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

56. Cecil Rhodes, businessman (1853 - 1902)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

57. Albertina Sisulu, political activist and wife of Walter Sisulu (1919 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

58. Aggrey Klaaste, journalist and editor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

59. Alan Paton, author (1903 - 1988)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

60. Harry Oppenheimer, businessman (1908 - 2000)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

61. Zackie Achmat, AIDS activist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

62. Doctor Khumalo, soccer player

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

63. Jan van Riebeeck, first colonial administrator (1619 - 1677)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

64. Bruce Fordyce, ultra-marathon runner

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

65. Enoch Sontonga, teacher, lay-preacher and composer wrote "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"

Related Topics:
Enoch Sontonga - Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

66. Zola Budd, athlete (1966 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

67. Sol Plaatje, journalist and political activist (1877 - 1932)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

68. Danie Craven, rugby player and administrator (1910 - 1994)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

69. Alan Boesak, cleric and politician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

70. Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, talk show host, public speaker and businesswoman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

71. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

72. "Baby" Jakes Matlala, boxer and junior flyweight champion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

73. Kaizer Motaung, founder of Kaizer Chiefs Football Club

Related Topics:
Kaizer Motaung - Kaizer Chiefs Football Club

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

74. Basetsana Kumalo, former Miss South Africa, presenter and businesswoman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

75. Antjie Krog, poet, novelist and playwright

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

76. Dullah Omar, politician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

77. Mandoza, musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

78. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, politician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

79. Raymond Ackerman, businessman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

80. Nadine Gordimer, 1991 Nobel Prize-winning author (1923 - )

Related Topics:
Nadine Gordimer - Nobel Prize

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

81. Daniel François Malan, former Prime Minister responsible for laying the groundwork for Apartheid (1874 - 1959)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

82. Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, politician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

83. James Barry Munnik Hertzog, former Prime Minister (1866 - 1942)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

84. Hector Pieterson, a young boy whose death has become the symbol of the Soweto uprisings of June 1976

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

85. Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum, golfer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

86. William Smith, TV teacher and presenter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

87. Pieter Willem Botha, former prime minister and state president (1916 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

88. Hugh Masekela, musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

89. Bulelani Ngcuka, politician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

90. Jody Scheckter, Formula One world champion (1950 - )

Related Topics:
Jody Scheckter - Formula One

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

91. George Bizos, lawyer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

92. Mbongeni Ngema, playwright, actor, choreographer and director

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

93. PJ Powers, musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

94. Mimi Coertse, musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

95. Mrs Ples, the oldest hominid skull found at Sterkfontein cave

Related Topics:
Mrs Ples - Sterkfontein

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

96. Abdullah Ibrahim, aka "Dollar Brand", musician

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

97. Govan Mbeki, political activist and father of Thabo Mbeki

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

98. Jamie Uys, Film Director (1921 - 1996)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

99. Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, artist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

100. Athol Fugard, playwright (1932 - )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~