Mandela leads online poll

Former President Nelson Mandela is leading the field in an SMS and Internet poll to find the greatest South African ever.

The Great South Africans Project, run by SABC 3, is being staged to find who is regarded as the greatest South African ever and looks at the role played by individuals in the country's life and development.

The top 100 nominations will be revealed in a 90-minute broadcast on 26 September, after which the public will vote for their favourite among the top 10 nominees. The winner will be announced in December. Similar projects are being run in Germany, France, Canada and Russia. The winners in each country will be pitted against each other in a “Great Human” contest.

Mandela tops the list of 400 nominees, having earned 1 000 nominations out of 8 000. However, other names on the list include less 'current' South Africans, like Mrs Ples, the hominid whose skull was found at the Cradle of Humankind; mining magnate Barney Barnato; apartheid architect Hendrik Verwoerd; and Jan van Riebeek. Others on the list include sporting greats, writers, musicians, academics and political leaders.

From the local ICT arena, nominees include Internet millionaire Mark Shuttleworth and Jay Naidoo.

To nominate a Great South African, call or send an SMS to 083 920 6933, or vote online before 30 June.

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