Who are the historical figures of South Africa? 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: Nelson Mandela Cecil Rhodes Desmond Tutu Steve Biko Thabo Mbeki Frederik Willem de Klerk Oliver Tambo Albert Luthuli Helen Suzman Walter Sisulu Albertina Sisulu Hendrik Verwoerd Jan Smuts Mangosuthu Buthelezi Paul Kruger Chris Hani Ahmed Kathrada Joe Slovo Sol Plaatje B. J. Vorster Basil Rathbone Brenda Fassie P. W. Botha Robert Sobukwe Nelson Mandela No. Name D.O.B. – D.O.D. Role 1. Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) first president of post-Apartheid South Africa and joint Nobel Peace Prize winner 2. Christiaan Barnard (1922–2001) pioneering heart transplant surgeon 3. Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) political activist 4. Nkosi Johnson (1989–2001) child HIV/AIDS activist who died of the disease 5. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (1936–2018) politician and second wife of Nelson Mandela 6. Thabo Mbeki (1942–) second president of post-Apartheid South Africa 7. Gary Player (1935–) golfer 8. Jan Smuts (1870–1950) statesman and philosopher 9. Desmond Tutu (1931–2021) cleric and Nobel Peace Prize winner 10. Hansie Cronje (1969–2002) cricketer 11. Charlize Theron (1975–) actress and Academy Award winner 14. Steve Biko (1946–1977) political activist 15. Shaka Zulu (1787–1828) founder of the Zulu nation 16. Mangosuthu Buthelezi (1928–2023) politician and a Zulu prince 17. Tony Leon (1956–) politician 18. Brenda Fassie (1964–2004) singer 19. Mark Shuttleworth (1973–) Web entrepreneur, founder of Thawte, distributor of Ubuntu Linux and second fee paying space tourist 20. Hendrik Verwoerd (1901–1966) former prime minister and primary architect of Apartheid 21. Chris Hani (1942–1993) political activist who was Secretary General of the SACP when he was assassinated 22. Bonginkosi Dlamini (1977–) also known as “Zola”, poet, actor and musician 22. Patricia de Lille (1951–) politician 23. Johnny Clegg (1953–2019) also known as “The White Zulu”, musician 24. Helen Suzman (1917–2009) stateswoman 25. Eugène Terre’Blanche (1941–2010) founder of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging 26. Pieter-Dirk Uys (1945–) political satirist and entertainer 27. Paul Kruger (1825–1904) four times president of South African Republic 28. Anton Rupert (1916–2006) businessman and environmentalist 29. Jonty Rhodes (1969–) cricketer 30. Leon Schuster (1951–) filmmaker, comedian, actor and prankster (entertainer) 31. Oliver Tambo (1917–1993) political activist who spent 30 years in exile 32. Steve Hofmeyr (1964–) musician and actor 33. Walter Sisulu (1912–2003) political activist 34. Cyril Ramaphosa (1952–) fifth president of post-Apartheid South Africa, politician and businessman 35. J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) English author, wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; born in Bloemfontein 36. Beyers Naude (1915–2004) cleric and anti-apartheid activist 37. Ernie Els (1969–) golfer 38. Miriam Makeba (1932–2008) musician 39. Patrice Motsepe (1962–) businessman 40. Trevor Manuel (1956–) draftsman, minister of finance and politician 41. Albert Luthuli (1898–1967) cleric, politician and 1960 Nobel Peace Prize winner 42. Robert Sobukwe (1924–1978) former political activist and founder of the PAC 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 (1926–1995) communist politician 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 (1974–) Olympic swimmer 53. Jeremy Mansfield (1963-2022) 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 57. Albertina Sisulu (1918–2011) political activist and wife of Walter Sisulu 58. Aggrey Klaaste (1940–2004) journalist and editor who advocated Nation Building during the struggle years 59. Alan Paton (1903–1988) author 60. Harry Oppenheimer (1908–2000) businessman 61. Zackie Achmat (1962–) HIV positive AIDS activist and critic of government AIDS policies 62. Doctor Khumalo (1967–) soccer player 63. Jan van Riebeeck (1619–1677) first colonial administrator 64. Bruce Fordyce (1955–) ultra-marathon runner 65. Enoch Sontonga (1873–1905) teacher, lay-preacher and composer; wrote “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” 66. Zola Budd (1966–) athlete 67. Sol Plaatje (1877–1932) journalist and political activist 68. Danie Craven (1910–1994) rugby player and administrator 69. Alan Boesak (1946–) cleric and politician 70. Felicia Mabuza-Suttle (1950-) 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 activist. Jacob Zuma’s ex-wife 79. Raymond Ackerman (1931–2023) businessman 80. Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014) 1991 Nobel Prize-winning author 81. Daniel François Malan (1874–1959) former Prime Minister responsible for laying the groundwork for Apartheid 82. Frederik van Zyl Slabbert (1940–2010) politician 83. James Barry Munnik Hertzog (1866–1942) former Prime Minister 84. Hector Pieterson (1963–1976) young boy whose death has become the symbol of the Soweto uprising of June 1976 85. Sewsunker “Papwa” Sewgolum (1930–1978) golfer 86. William Smith (1939–2021) TV teacher and presenter 87. P. W. Botha (1916–2006) former prime minister and state president 88. Hugh Masekela (1939–2018) musician 89. Bulelani Ngcuka (1954–) politician 90. Jody Scheckter (1950–) Formula One world champion 91. George Bizos (1928–2020) lawyer 92. Mbongeni Ngema (1954–) playwright, actor, choreographer and director 93. PJ Powers (1960–) musician 94. Mimi Coertse (1932–) musician 95. Mrs Ples (2 million BC) Australopithecus africanus; the oldest hominid skull found at Sterkfontein cave 96 Abdullah Ibrahim aka “Dollar Brand” (1934–) musician 96. Govan Mbeki (1910–2001) political activist and father of Thabo Mbeki 97. Jamie Uys (1921–1996) film director 98. JH Pierneef (1886–1957) artist 99. Tebogo Modjadji-Kekana (1977–) globally recognised philanthropist and a Royal Princess 100. Athol Fugard (1932–) playwrights