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:
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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
| 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 |