Cape Town – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has joined the likes of Hilary Clinton, Edward Snowden and even Miley Cyrus on Time magazine’s The 100 Most Influential People.
Every year Time identifies individuals, from pioneers to icons, whose ideas and talents are changing the world.
This year she is the only South African to make it to the list.
In Time’s piece on her written by Lamido Sanusi former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Madonsela is described as “an inspirational example of what African public officers need to be”.
He said as the public protector, it is her ability to address corruption in high places that has made her a fearless leader and which has secured her on Time’s 100 list.
Earlier this year Madonsela found that President Jacob Zuma and his family had unduly benefited from the R246m upgrade of his private Nkandla estate in Nkandla.
She had also recommended Zuma pay back portion of the cost.
Sanusi also calls Madonsela courageous and a patriot, who gives hope to the future of the African continent.
‘Humbled’
Madonsela’s spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi told Sapa: “Humbled by the gesture, the public protector said she was taken by surprise that the modest efforts of her office were not only being recognised at home but elsewhere in the world too."
Madonsela said, like other accolades bestowed upon her, her inclusion in the US publication's list was not just a recognition of her contribution as an individual.
"It is an acknowledgement of the selfless efforts of the public protector team at large."
Sapa reported that Madonsela and her team would continue to draw inspiration from the fact that their efforts in helping government find and eradicate maladministration did not go unnoticed.
The full list would appear in the 5 May issue of Time.
Madonsela, along with the other people selected for the list, have been invited to attend the Time 100 Gala in New York on Tuesday, 29 April, where the list will be officially announced.
Masibi said: "She plans to use the opportunity to meet and share good practice and experiences with the officials from the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Unit, the office of the New York Inspector General and the Washington DC Investigation Unit, among other people."
Other African leaders who managed to make it on Time 100 include: Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Kenyan activist Ory Okolloh and Egypt’s Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.