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SA's greatest is...
26/09/2004 21:51 - (SA)
Joanna Wright
Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela has been declared the Greatest South African in a TV show that had the country nominate their 100 favourite personalities.
Madiba's win is, however, the only foregone conclusion on a list that ranks Steve Hofmeyr as greater than Walter Sisulu.
The ranking of the rest of the top 10 has yet to be decided. SABC3 will screen documentaries devoted to each person over the next nine weeks until December 9, the culmination of the vote.
The top nine are in alphabetical order: Dr Chris Barnard, FW de Klerk, Mahatma Gandhi, Nkosi Johnson; Winnie Madikizela-Mandela; Thabo Mbeki, Gary Player; Jan Smuts and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Many of the people nominated are nothing if not controversial. On a list with its fair share of apartheid struggle heroes, there were also a handful of men who did much to advance the opposite cause. Among these is Hendrik Verwoerd, the architect of apartheid, assassinated in 1966, who came in at number 19.
As Helen Suzman, parliamentarian and with a place on the list herself, at number 24, said on the show: "He had a huge influence (on SA), but great he was not."
Another such surprise was Allan Boesak, former UDF member and activist, but also a convicted fraudster.
Perhaps not a great South African, but arguably the greatest surprise, was none other than AWB leader Eugene Terre'Blanche (25), included perhaps, as radio personality Gareth Cliff said, for his service to the struggle in making militant white supremacy look ridiculous.
Some eyebrows will also be raised at the inclusion of Highveld Stereo's "shock jock" Jeremy Mansfield, who presents the popular morning show Rude Awakening, at no 53, and low-brow comedian Leon Schuster at number 30.
Also surprising was that singer and actor Steve Hofmeyr came in as high as no 32, beating even trade unionist Cyril Ramaphosa (34).
Less surprising, but perhaps more deserving, are a pantheon of apartheid struggle greats, including Albert Luthuli (41), Walter Sisulu (33), Oliver Tambo (31), Robert Sobukwe (42) and Beyers Naude (36).
Appreciation was also shown for the women of the apartheid struggle. Albertina Sisulu, wife of Walter, comes in at no 57, due, said the presenters, to her "quiet but strong" role in the struggle.
Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko (13) and his former partner Mamphela Ramphele (55), the first woman and the first black person to be appointed vice chancellor of an academic institution, were also honoured.
Sports-mad
South Africa is a sports-mad nation and the list reflects that. Dr Danie Craven (68), Zola Budd (66), Bruce Fordyce (64), Doctor Khumalo (62) and Jomo Sono (49), to mention a few, made it on.
"Man-of-the-moment" Danny Jordaan was recognised for this year's successful bid for SA to host the World Cup 2010, coming in at 44, and Paralympics multi-medallist Natalie du Toit nabbed the 48th spot.
Penny Heyns, "arguably the greatest female breast-stroke winner of all time", was at number 52. Disgraced cricket captain, the late Hansie Cronje, just missed the top 10, taking the 11th ranking.
The top 100 SAfricans included a number of writers, actor and singers, but only one painter, JH Pierneef at 99. Athol Fugard came in as the 100th greatest South African of all time and his friend, struggle actor John Kani, reached 51.
Impressario Mbongeni Ngema came in at no 92 and is one of the list's many controversial postings. Nobel literature laureate JM Coetzee was another surprise absence, but fellow laureate Nadine Gordimer is at number 80.
But it was Brenda Fassie's placement as the greatest musician (she pipped husband and wife team "Mama Afrika" Mirriam Makeba (38) and jazz great Hugh Masekela (88), to come in at no 17) that highlighted a possible criticism of the list.
Writer and columnist Darrel Bristow-Bovey said of her placement: "She's an example of greatness confused with popularity."
Can the same be said of many of the South Africans on this list? For example, there are those who would question the inclusion of such figures as the television presenter Felicia Mabuza-Suttle (70) and DA leader Tony Leon (16).
However, executive producer Anant Singh defended these choices, saying the list is not supposed to be a definitive guide to greatness. "It is important to remember that this list is a snapshot of a moment in time when South Africans nominated their greats. It' unique, it's disputable, but also fascinating," he said.
- The Witness
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South Africa
