SA trusts celebs
2007-01-29 14:01
Cape Town - Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among the people South Africans trust the most. No surprises there, but research has also found that the public is seduced by celebrity status even when it is mired in controversy.
Madiba ranked number 1 in an AC Nielson study, commissioned by Reader's Digest to discover who South Africans consider worthy of their trust. But the study threw up plenty of surprises with Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana ranked 90 out of the 100 names, while Constitutional Court Chief Justice Pius Langa is also way down the list at number 83, just one place above convicted fraudster Alan Boesak.
In another shocking result the chairman of the Human Rights Commission, Jody Kollapen, ranked 85.
It seems the power of celebrity counts when it comes to trustworthiness in the public eye because while media-shy figures like Langa and Mushwana got poor ratings, controversial but high-profile figures like health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and former deputy president Jacob Zuma all ranked within the top 35.
Having a public profile definitely counts as popular sporting, television and pop stars rated highly, topped by former Bafana Bafana captain Lucas Radebe who was ranked number 2 behind Madiba. Former World Boxing Champion Baby Jake Matlala also ranked in the top 5, ahead of President Thabo Mbeki who ranked 6.
Celebrities including Steve Hofmeyer, Danny K, Zola, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Gary Player, Ernie Els, Natalie du Toit and Roland Schoeman all ranked in the top 50, ahead of political heavyweights like Helen Suzman, Zackie Achmat, Tony Leon, Patrica de Lille, Mongasuthu Buthelezi and Blade Nzimande.
Political figures generally faired poorly, with striking exceptions in finance minister Trevor Manuel who was ranked 3, potential presidential candidate Cyril Ramaphosa at 11 and Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni at 13.
The study also found that men and women sometimes have conflicting views when it comes to trustworthiness. Adelaide Tambo is placed 34 by women but just 87 by men. By contrast women ranked Zuma at 75, while men placed him at 28.
Catch the full report in Reader's Digest which will be published in February 2007.
- News24