In rankings released by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) after an national campaign, Gandhi figured in the list of 100 for his campaign against apartheid. During his stay in South Africa, Gandhi had organised protest marches against racial discrimination; established the Phoenix Settlement in Durban to promote his philosophy of satyagraha and formed the Natal Indian Congress.

Mandela, who was the country's first President after the democratic elections of 1994, was chosen as the country's number one great South African in the list.

In addition to Gandhi and Mandela, the others in the top ten bracket are President Thabo Mbeki, heart surgeon Chris Barnard; former President F W. de Klerk; former ANC women's leader Winnie Madikizela-Mandela; AIDs activist Xolani Nkosi Johnson; former white Prime Minister Jan Smuts; religious leader and activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu; and golfer Gary Player.

The list of 100 included many anti-apartheid activists as well as controversial figures such as right-wing leader, Eugene Terblanche; Paul Kruger; and JB Hertzog.

The rankings were arrived at after an intensive nation-wide campaign by SABC in which South Africans were asked to nominate their greatest South Africans of all time by phone, sms or through the SABC 3 website. The names of more than 2000 candidates from all walks of life were suggested.