People of the Year
2024
Each year, we spotlight individuals and organisations who have significantly influenced the events of the past year, for better or worse. Chosen by you, our readers, here are the 2024 People of the Year.
Person of the year
A person who has had the broadest or most significant positive impact in 2024.
Lawyers in ICJ case make SA feel immensely proud – and so does our President
The judges in the case were impressed by what the team seeking justice for Palestine argued, and they were joined by everyone who followed the proceedings. Meanwhile, our prez gets kudos for being a skilled navigator of turbulent waters.
Shérie Vollenhoven
22 December 2024
Person of the Year: Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa impresses by being able to keep lights on
For his emphasis on transparency and accountability, and for taming load shedding, Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is our readers’ first choice.
Ethan van Diemen
22 December 2024
Villain of the year
The Cambridge Dictionary defines it best: “a person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime.”
Villain of the Year: It feels like déjà vu, but that’s because Zuma can’t let go of the perch
The former SA and ANC president, renowned for welcoming the Guptas and serving them a State Capture feast, remains steadfast in his pursuit of money, power and a place in the public limelight.
Richard Poplak
23 December 2024
Businessperson of the Year
Not necessarily the person who made the biggest profit, but those whose influence went beyond the balance sheets.
Shoprite gets it right: CEO’s vision helps to alleviate hunger and narrow economic inequality
CEO Pieter Engelbrecht is leading Shoprite to new heights through innovation and affordability.
Lisakanya Venna
23 December 2024
Businessperson of the Year: Eskom chair Nyati brings light and hope back
With engineering expertise and private-sector experience, the Eskom chair is leading the utility out of the bog in which it’s been stuck for years.
Ray Mahlaka
23 December 2024
OBP Dirtbag of the year
Those individuals and entities who are hell bent on putting profits and pollution before people.
Dirtbag of the Year: Russia plunges ahead with war on environment
South Africa and the UK’s Foreign Office also earned dishonourable mentions.
Tiara Walters
25 December 2024
An animal rights abuse ‘death ship’ and a polluting coal mine
The Al Mawashi cattle company’s ‘death ship’ Al Kuwait clinched the first runner-up position this year for its air pollution and animal rights abuse. Ikwezi coal mine in KwaZulu-Natal, with its blatant disrespect for the local community and disregard for the natural environment, followed in third place.
Nkululeko Ndlovu
25 December 2024
OBP Champions of the year
The green warriors fighting for our planet’s survival.
Environmental Champ of the Year runners-up: Kumi Naidoo and Clean Creatives
Activist Kumi Naidoo, the former secretary-general of Amnesty International and executive director of Greenpeace, understands that climate justice and social justice are interlinked.
Daily Maverick Team
28 December 2023
Environmental Champ of the Year: Civil justice activist Ferrial Adam
The executive manager of WaterCAN is turning the tide on water security in South Africa.
Julia Evans
28 December 2023
Grinch of the Year
Those who have done their best to suck the cheer from our lives in 2024.
Nersa’s curse is how tight to hold the purse
Grinch of the Year runner-up the National Energy Regulator of South Africa must weigh up Eskom’s bottomless need against South Africans already struggling to stay afloat. Shame.
Ethan van Diemen
24 December 2024
Johannesburg: Grinch council can’t pinch our spirit
The determined and resilient people of the City of Gold step up to solve the problems their wicked and gormless rulers create.
Ferial Haffajee
24 December 2024
Moegoe of the year
Those whose behaviour perhaps falls short of “villain of the year”, but have in some way acted idiotically.
Roman Cabanac’s racist remarks and Thabi Leoka’s fake PhD
Our more-than-worthy runners-up in this hotly contested category are a podcaster known for his racist remarks on social media, who John Steenhuisen appointed as chief of staff, and a former adviser to Cyril Ramaphosa who lied about her qualification.
Marianne Thamm
26 December 2024
Moegoe of the Year: Toilet preaching Ponzi schemer talks real kak
Charlatan Louis Liebenberg conned followers out of billions.
Marianne Thamm
26 December 2024
Sportsteam of the Year
A team that has stood out from the rest in 2024 either on or off the field of play.
Sporting brilliance in cricket and soccer
The Sportsperson of the Year runners-up are the Proteas women – who might not have won the T20 World Cup but showed real spirit at the last hurdle – and Mamelodi Sundowns, the unbeaten champs.
Keanan Hemmonsbey
23 December 2024
Sports Team of the Year: The Boks dominate. So what’s new?
Without a World Cup to win, the SA rugby team did the next best thing, scooping up every possible title, all while building depth.
Craig Ray and Yanga Sibembe
23 December 2024
Sportsperson of the Year
A sportsperson whose positive impact has been felt either on or off the field of play.
Pieter-Steph du Toit and Dricus du Plessis push themselves to the top of their games
Pieter-Steph du Toit and Dricus du Plessis, the Sportsperson of the Year runners-up, have the silverware to back their claim to the top tier of sporting brilliance.
Keanan Hemmonsbey
23 December 2024
Sportsperson of the Year: Tatjana Smith flies the South African flag in Paris
World swimming sensation Tatjana Smith lives up to the daunting expectations she set in Tokyo four years earlier.
Craig Ray and Yanga Sibembe
23 December 2024
Artist of the Year
Hitmakers whose musical or social influence has towered above others this year.
Community Champion of the Year
The people uplifting, defending and representing ordinary South Africans, often against all odds.
Health and housing activists fight passionately for their respective constituencies
A women’s reproductive health warrior and an advocate for affordable housing for impoverished people in Cape Town do groundbreaking work in their fields.
Tamsin Meterlerkamp
24 December 2024
Community Champion of the Year: Life Esidimeni activist Christine Nxumalo’s victory for mental health
Christine Nxumalo, whose sister died in the Life Esidimeni tragedy, helped open the door for justice for the families of those who lost loved ones.
Lerato Mutsila
24 December 2024
A person who has had the broadest or most significant positive impact in 2024.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines it best: “a person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime.”
Not necessarily the person who made the biggest profit, but those whose influence went beyond the balance sheets.
Those individuals and entities who are hell bent on putting profits and pollution before people.
The green warriors fighting for our planet’s survival.
Those who have done their best to suck the cheer from our lives in 2024.
Those whose behaviour perhaps falls short of “villain of the year”, but have in some way acted idiotically.
A team that has stood out from the rest in 2024 either on or off the field of play.
A sportsperson whose positive impact has been felt either on or off the field of play.
Hitmakers whose musical or social influence has towered above others this year.
The people uplifting, defending and representing ordinary South Africans, often against all odds.
See the 2023 People of the Year
These stories first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R29.
DM168 e-edition is available for free to Maverick Insiders.
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