Great South Africans


Great South Africans was a South African television series that aired on SABC3. It was hosted by Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu and Denis Beckett. In September 2004, thousands of South Africans took part in an informal nationwide poll under the series 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, SABC3, which aired a series of profiles and documentaries in the weeks leading up to the announcement of the top 100. The programme was modelled on the BBC's Greatest Britons series.
In South Africa, the list was headed by Nelson Mandela, a predictable and obvious popular choice, given his global stature as a statesman and symbol of post-apartheid liberation and reconciliation. 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 Kingdom, to Internet entrepreneur and civilian space traveller Mark Shuttleworth.
Two days after the list was announced, Nelson Mandela had already received several thousands of votes more than any other candidate.

Controversy

At the time when the competition was announced, in June 2004, the SABC gave the assurance that the South African show would not ban certain political figures, as was the case in the German version which banned Nazis from the list. They soon came to regret their decision when the SABC 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, or Chris Hani, a famous anti-apartheid activist. Also present on the list was Eugène Terre'Blanche, the head of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging.
Other controversial choices included an 11th placing for Hansie Cronje, the disgraced former captain of the South African cricket team, who admitted to taking bribes to influence the outcome of test matches.
On 14 October, the SABC announced that the show was being cancelled, leaving positions 2 to 10 still formally undecided.
Letter columns in some newspapers called the show a farce and used the term "whites with cellphones" to explain the presence of Hendrik Verwoerd and Eugène Terre'Blanche high on the rankings. This view was rebutted by Afrikaans singer-songwriter Steve Hofmeyr who pointed out that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist who was convicted of fraud post-apartheid, scored high on the list as well. According to Peter Matlare, CEO of the SABC, the show was stopped because "wider participation in the voting process" was necessary.
When the competition was announced, the SABC defined a Great South African as someone who contributed to the "country's life and development". When the show was stopped, the SABC claimed that their definition of a Great South African was actually someone who contributed to South Africa's development "and the promotion of humanity" and the fact that quite a few people on the list did not fit this description contributed to the decision to stop the show.

The list

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:
No.NameD.O.B. – D.O.D.Role
1.Nelson Mandelafirst president of post-Apartheid South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner
2.Christiaan Barnardpioneering heart transplant surgeon
3.Mahatma Gandhipolitical activist
4.Nkosi Johnsonchild HIV/AIDS activist who died of the disease
5.Winnie Madikizela-Mandelapolitician and second wife of Nelson Mandela
6.Thabo Mbekisecond president of post-Apartheid South Africa
7.Gary Playergolfer
8.Jan Smutsstatesman and philosopher
9.Desmond Tutucleric and Nobel Peace Prize winner
10.Hansie Cronjecricketer
11.Charlize Theronactress and Academy Award winner
14.Steve Bikopolitical activist
15.Shaka Zulufounder of the Zulu nation
16.Mangosuthu Buthelezipolitician and a Zulu prince
17.Tony Leonpolitician
18.Brenda Fassiesinger
19.Mark ShuttleworthWeb entrepreneur, founder of Thawte, distributor of Ubuntu Linux and second fee paying space tourist
20.Hendrik Verwoerdformer prime minister and primary architect of Apartheid
21.Chris Hanipolitical activist who was Secretary General of the SACP when he was assassinated
22.Bonginkosi Dlaminialso known as "Zola", poet, actor and musician
22.Patricia de Lillepolitician
23.Johnny Cleggalso known as "The White Zulu", musician
24.Helen Suzmanstateswoman
25.Eugène Terre'Blanchefounder of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging
26.Pieter-Dirk Uyspolitical satirist and entertainer
27.Paul Krugerfour times president of South African Republic
28.Anton Rupertbusinessman and environmentalist
29.Jonty Rhodescricketer
30.Leon Schusterfilmmaker, comedian, actor and prankster
31.Oliver Tambopolitical activist who spent 30 years in exile
32.Steve Hofmeyrmusician and actor
33.Walter Sisulupolitical activist
34.Cyril Ramaphosapolitician, businessman, and anti-apartheid activist; later served as president of South Africa
35.J. R. R. TolkienEnglish author, wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; born in Bloemfontein
36.Beyers Naudecleric and anti-apartheid activist
37.Ernie Elsgolfer
38.Miriam Makebamusician
39.Patrice Motsepebusinessman
40.Trevor Manueldraftsman, minister of finance and politician
41.Albert Luthulicleric, politician and 1960 Nobel Peace Prize winner
42.Robert Sobukweformer political activist and founder of the PAC
43.Tokyo Sexwalepolitician and businessman
44.Danny Jordaanpolitician and soccer administrator
45.Fatima Meerscientist and political activist
46.Ahmed Kathradapolitical activist
47.Joe Slovocommunist politician
48.Natalie du Toitdisabled Olympic swimmer
49.Jomo Sonosoccer coach
50.Francois Pienaarcaptain of the Springboks, the winning team in the 1995 Rugby World Cup
51.John Kaniactor, entertainer, writer, and Tony Award Winner
52.Penny HeynsOlympic swimmer
53.Jeremy Mansfieldradio and TV personality
54.Lucas Radebeformer Bafana Bafana and Leeds United soccer captain
55.Mamphela Ramphelepolitical activist, academic, businesswoman and mother to the son of Steve Biko
56.Cecil Rhodesbusinessman and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony
57.Albertina Sisulupolitical activist and wife of Walter Sisulu
58.Aggrey Klaastejournalist and editor who advocated Nation Building during the struggle years
59.Alan Patonauthor
60.Harry Oppenheimerbusinessman
61.Zackie AchmatHIV positive AIDS activist and critic of government AIDS policies
62.Doctor Khumalosoccer player
63.Jan van Riebeeckfirst colonial administrator
64.Bruce Fordyceultra-marathon runner
65.Enoch Sontongateacher, lay-preacher and composer; wrote "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika"
66.Zola Buddathlete
67.Sol Plaatjejournalist and political activist
68.Danie Cravenrugby player and administrator
69.Alan Boesakcleric and politician
70.Felicia Mabuza-Suttletalk show host, public speaker and businesswoman
71.Yvonne Chaka Chakamusician
72."Baby" Jake Matlalaboxer and junior flyweight champion
73.Kaizer Motaungfounder of Kaizer Chiefs Football Club
74.Basetsana Kumaloformer Miss South Africa, presenter and businesswoman
75.Antjie Krogpoet, novelist and playwright
76.Dullah Omarpolitician
77.Mandozamusician
78.Nkosazana Dlamini-ZumaPolitician and activist. Jacob Zuma's ex-wife
79.Raymond Ackermanbusinessman
80.Nadine Gordimer1991 Nobel Prize-winning author
81.Daniel François Malanformer Prime Minister responsible for laying the groundwork for Apartheid
82.Frederik van Zyl Slabbertpolitician
83.James Barry Munnik Hertzogformer Prime Minister
84.Hector Pietersonyoung boy whose death has become the symbol of the Soweto uprising of June 1976
85.Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolumgolfer
86.William SmithTV teacher and presenter
87.P. W. Bothaformer prime minister and state president
88.Hugh Masekelamusician
89.Bulelani Ngcukapolitician
90.Jody ScheckterFormula One world champion
91.George Bizoslawyer
92.Mbongeni Ngemaplaywright, actor, choreographer and director
93.PJ Powersmusician
94.Mimi Coertsemusician
95.Mrs PlesAustralopithecus africanus; the oldest hominid skull found at Sterkfontein cave
96Abdullah Ibrahim
aka "Dollar Brand"		musician
96.Govan Mbekipolitical activist and father of Thabo Mbeki
97.Jamie Uysfilm director
98.JH Pierneefartist
99.Tebogo Modjadji-Kekanaglobally recognised philanthropist and a Royal Princess
100.Athol Fugardplaywright