Great South Africans

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Great South Africans was a South African television series that aired on SABC3 and hosted by Noeleen Maholwana Sangqu and Denis Beckett. 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, SABC3, which aired a series of profiles and documentaries in the weeks leading up to the announcement of the top 100. The programme was modeled on the BBC's Greatest Britons series.

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. 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.

Two days after the list was announced, Nelson Mandela had already received several thousands of votes more than any other candidate.[1]

Controversy[edit]

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.[2] 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.[3] This view was rebutted by Afrikaans singer-songwriter Steve Hofmeyr who pointed out that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, post-apartheid convicted fraudster, scored high on the list as well.[4] According to Peter Matlare, CEO of the SABC, the show was stopped because "wider participation in the voting process" was necessary.[3]

When the competition was announced, the SABC defined a Great South African as someone who contributed to the "country's life and development".[5] 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".[6] 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[edit]

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:[7]

Nelson Mandela
  1. Nelson Mandela, first president of post-Apartheid South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner (1918–2013)
  2. Christiaan Barnard, pioneering heart transplant surgeon (1922–2001)
  3. F. W. de Klerk, former president and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner (1936–)
  4. Mahatma Gandhi, political activist (1869–1948)
  5. Nkosi Johnson, child HIV/AIDS activist who died of the disease (1989–2001)
  6. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, politician and 2nd wife of Nelson Mandela (1936–2018)
  7. Thabo Mbeki, second president of post-Apartheid South Africa (1942–)
  8. Gary Player, golfer (1935–)
  9. Jan Smuts, statesman (1870–1950)
  10. Desmond Tutu, cleric and Nobel Peace Prize winner (1931–)
  11. Hansie Cronje, cricketer (1969–2002)
  12. Charlize Theron, actress and Academy Award winner (1975–)
  13. Steve Biko, political activist (1946–1977)
  14. Shaka Zulu, founder of the Zulu nation (1787–1828)
  15. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, politician and a Zulu prince (1928–)
  16. Tony Leon, politician (1956–)
  17. Brenda Fassie, singer (1964–2004)
  18. Mark Shuttleworth, Web entrepreneur, founder of Thawte, distributor of Ubuntu Linux and second fee paying space tourist (1973–)
  19. Hendrik Verwoerd, former prime minister and primary architect of Apartheid (1901–1966)
  20. Chris Hani, political activist who was Secretary General of the SACP when he was assassinated (1942–1993)
  21. Bonginkosi Dlamini, also known as "Zola", poet, actor and musician (1977–)
  22. Patricia de Lille, politician (1951–)
  23. Johnny Clegg, also known as "The White Zulu", musician (1953–)
  24. Helen Suzman, stateswoman (1917–2009)
  25. Eugène Terre'Blanche founder of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (1941–2010)
  26. Pieter-Dirk Uys political satirist and entertainer (1945–)
  27. Paul Kruger, four times president of South African Republic (1825–1904)
  28. Anton Rupert, businessman and environmentalist (1916–2006)
  29. Jonty Rhodes, cricketer (1969–)
  30. Leon Schuster, filmmaker, comedian, actor and prankster (entertainer)
  31. Oliver Tambo, political activist who spent 30 years in exile (1917–1993)
  32. Steve Hofmeyr, (1964-) musician and actor
  33. Walter Sisulu, political activist (1912–2003)
  34. Cyril Ramaphosa, fifth president of post-Apartheid South Africa, politician and businessman (1952-)
  35. J. R. R. Tolkien, English author (wrote Lord of the Rings) (1892–1973)
  36. Beyers Naude, cleric and anti-apartheid activist (1915–2004)
  37. Ernie Els, golfer (1969–)
  38. Miriam Makeba, musician (1932–2008)
  39. Patrice Motsepe, (1962) businessman
  40. Trevor Manuel, (1956-) draftsman, minister of finance and politician
  41. Albert Luthuli, cleric, politician and 1960 Nobel Peace Prize winner (1898-1967)
  42. Robert Sobukwe, former political activist and founder of the PAC (1924–1978)
  43. Tokyo Sexwale, (1953-) politician and businessman
  44. Danny Jordaan, (1951-) politician and soccer administrator
  45. Fatima Meer, (1928-2010) scientist and political activist
  46. Ahmed Kathrada, (1929-2017) political activist
  47. Joe Slovo, communist politician (1926–1995)
  48. Natalie du Toit, (1984-) disabled olympic swimmer
  49. Jomo Sono, (1955-) soccer coach
  50. Francois Pienaar, (1967-) captain of the Springboks, the winning team in the 1995 Rugby World Cup
  51. John Kani, (1943-) actor, entertainer, writer, and Tony Award Winner
  52. Penny Heyns, olympic swimmer
  53. Jeremy Mansfield, radio and TV personality
  54. Lucas Radebe, (1969-) former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United soccer captain
  55. Mamphela Ramphele, (1947-) political activist, academic, businesswoman and mother to the son of Steve Biko
  56. Cecil Rhodes, (1853-1902) businessman and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony (1853–1902)
  57. Albertina Sisulu, political activist and wife of Walter Sisulu (1919–2011 )
  58. Aggrey Klaaste, (1940-2004) journalist and editor who advocated Nation Building during the struggle years
  59. Alan Paton, author (1903–1988)
  60. Harry Oppenheimer, businessman (1908–2000)
  61. Zackie Achmat, (1962-) HIV positive AIDS activist and critic of government AIDS policies
  62. Doctor Khumalo, (1967-) 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"
  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, (1946-) cleric and politician
  70. Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, talk show host, public speaker and businesswoman
  71. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, (1965-) musician
  72. "Baby" Jake Matlala, (1962-2013) boxer and junior flyweight champion
  73. Kaizer Motaung, (1944-) founder of Kaizer Chiefs Football Club
  74. Basetsana Kumalo, (1974-) former Miss South Africa, presenter and businesswoman
  75. Antjie Krog, (1952-) poet, novelist and playwright
  76. Dullah Omar, (1934-2004) politician
  77. Mandoza, (1978-2016) musician
  78. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, (1949-) politician and former wife of Jacob Zuma
  79. Raymond Ackerman, (1931-) businessman
  80. Nadine Gordimer, 1991 Nobel Prize-winning author (1923–2014)
  81. Daniel François Malan, former Prime Minister responsible for laying the groundwork for Apartheid (1874–1959)
  82. Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, politician (1940–2010)
  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, (1930-1978) golfer
  86. William Smith, TV teacher and presenter
  87. Pieter Willem Botha, (1916-2006) former prime minister and state president (1916–2006)
  88. Hugh Masekela, (1939-2018) musician
  89. Bulelani Ngcuka, (1954-) politician
  90. Jody Scheckter, Formula One world champion (1950–)
  91. George Bizos, (1928-) lawyer
  92. Mbongeni Ngema, (1954-) playwright, actor, choreographer and director
  93. PJ Powers, musician
  94. Mimi Coertse, (1932-) musician
  95. Mrs Ples, the oldest hominid skull found at Sterkfontein cave
  96. Abdullah Ibrahim, aka "Dollar Brand", (1934-) musician
  97. Govan Mbeki, (1910-2001) political activist and father of Thabo Mbeki
  98. Jamie Uys, film director (1921–1996)
  99. Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef, (1886-1957) artist
  100. Athol Fugard, playwright (1932–)
  101. Lucky Dube, Reggae Musician (1964-2007)

Other editions[edit]

Other countries have produced similar shows; see Greatest Britons spin-offs

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Die Burger, Maandag 27 September 2004, p. 3: SA se gewildste is Nelson Mandela". 152.111.1.87. 27 September 2004. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  2. ^ "Die Burger, Donderdag 24 Junie 2004, p. 3: SABC3 soek met kompetisie SA se vyftig heel grootstes". 152.111.1.87. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Die Burger, Vrydag 15 Oktober 2004, p. 6: Uitsaaibaas: Wyer deelname is nodigSABC3 staak reeks oor 'grootste' SA burgersSAUK oorval deur klagtes oor omstrede lys met top-honderd". 152.111.1.87. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  4. ^ "Die Burger, Maandag 18 Oktober 2004, p. 3: Top-100 'wys hoe demokrasie werk'". 152.111.1.87. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  5. ^ Independent Newspapers Online (14 June 2004). "Have you nominated your great South African?". IOL.co.za. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  6. ^ "Die Burger, Vrydag 15 Oktober 2004, p. 9: SAUK staak omstrede program oor top-100". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  7. ^ "The 10 Greatest South Africans of all time". BizCommunity. 27 September 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2017. 

External links[edit]

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