For the longest time, it has perplexed me about how hard we are on ourselves here in

Mzansi. We are a demanding people and thats a good thing, because it means we wont be
stomped on. But it also means we often fail to harvest the life lessons of the good and the
great among us. This is our effort to do so.
This, my pet project, is a collection of South Africans who have staked a claim to
greatness not only on our shores but also abroad. I know world class can be a contested
term, but I use it unapologetically. If we are to reach our potential as a nation then we must
strive to be a world class nation. To my mind, we are not that far away, though the popular
narrative may paint a different picture.
One of the many adverse legacies of apartheid is an inferiority complex if a system
tells you often enough that you are not good enough, you begin to believe it. I think
sometimes we still suffer the afiction. So, here is a collection of men and women who can
guide us to a different path, people who have reached their destinies and often beyond an
accepted ability to do wonderful things. To make art, make peace, cross deserts, to judge,
to bless, to act and to create. We salute them all and learn from the many wonderful
examples of persistence, talent and truth-telling we chronicle here.
There are gaps, but thats the difculty of trying to squeeze it all into 100 people
it was hard to edit down the list and we chose based on obvious impact, on awards and
on consultations with industry experts. If you know of people who absolutely must be
included next year, let me know. You will recognise some familiar faces from last year,
whom we have included again this year because they continue to make their mark often
in new ways but there are also a whole bunch of new people in this, our second edition.
Enjoy this antidote to the daily news and our big challenges. If we look beyond them,
we will see that we have, in abundance, the greatest asset: a class full of world beaters.
THE TEAM
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Clare ODonoghue
EDITOR
Caroline Webb
ART DIRECTOR
Piers Buckle
PICTURE EDITOR
Zandile Xabendlini
WRITERS
Tamara Rothbart
Zama Nkosi
Nokwazi Mkhize
Greg Gordon
CITY PRESS
EDITOR
Ferial Haffajee
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Nicki Gules
NEW MEDIA
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Sandra Ladas
GENERAL MANAGER
Maria Tiganis
GENERAL MANAGER:
OPERATIONS, PRODUCTION & SYSTEMS
Lucrezia Wolfaardt
MANAGER: PRODUCTION & TRAFFIC
Shirley Quinlan
GROUP HEAD OF CREATIVE
Crispian Brown
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
John Psillos
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Irna van Zyl
MANAGING & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bridget McCarney
PRINTED BY Paarl Media Gauteng.
Published on behalf of City Press by
New Media Publishing (Pty) Ltd,
New Media House, 19 Bree Street, Cape Town,
PO Box 440, Green Point, Cape Town 8051.
Tel 021 417 1111. Email: info@newmediapub.co.za.
All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure
the accuracy of information, neither the editor, publisher, City
Press nor New Media Publishing can be held responsible for any
inaccuracies, injury or damages that may arise. The opinions
expressed in articles may not reect those of the publisher.
INTRODUCTION
FERIAL HAFFAJEE
EDITOR, CITY PRESS
ferial.haffajee@citypress.co.za
Follow me on @ferialhaffajee
May we learn from
them and grow
generations anew.
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