Noah voted ‘South African of the Year’
COMEDIAN Trevor Noah has been named South African of the Year.
The accolade was awarded to a South African who has achieved global recognition in their chosen field.
The winner was judged by votes made on Twitter.
Noah, pictured, was competing for this title against Proteas cricketer AB de Villiers, 400m world champion sprinter Wayde van Niekerk and Team MTN-Qhubeka.
The project was founded by Jan Braai of the National Braai Day campaign.
Braai said: “The South African of the Year is someone who with a single phenomenal achievement made you extremely proud of being a South African.”
He said the aim of having such an award was to highlight exceptional performances by South Africans that “for a brief moment brought the country to a standstill”.
“Those special moments where the hearts of the nation beat together united in pride.”
Noah, who’s already a household name in the country, was nominated for reaching greater heights this year when it was announced that he would be replacing Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.
Noah will make his debut on Monday.
Braai said: “Trevor’s sensational achievement embodies the spirit of the greatest nation on earth…
“We can achieve great things in South Africa, Trevor is leading the way, raising our spirits and showing that anything is possible.”
Voting opened on Twitter on Monday this week and closed at midnight on Wednesday.
De Villiers was nominated for his 149 against the West Indies in January at the Wanderers, which included him hitting the fastest ever-century in a One-Day International off 31 balls.
In July, Team MTN-Qhubeka was the first South African and African team to compete in the Tour de France. Team member, Steve Cummings, sprinted to a victory on stage 14.
“In doing so, Team MTN-Qhubeka became the first South African and African team to win a stage of the Tour de
France.” Last month, Van Niekerk stunned the athletics world when he won the gold medal in the 400m at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.
Van Niekerk’s record time of 43.48 seconds made him the fourth fasted person ever to run the 400m. – Staff Reporter