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It was found that the controversial Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, was the most prominently featured foreign personality in the South African media during the first half of 2005. The ever increasing crisis in South Africa's neighbouring country, along with the crippling effect of Mugabe's leadership on the Zimbabwean economy and society has placed Mugabe at number one on the list. Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, however, received a lot less coverage than Mugabe but still managed to make it to number thirteen on the list.

US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, second and third respectively, also received a large number of coverage and both featured noticeably in reports of the ongoing tension in Iraq.

In April, Pope John Paul II featured in the media during his illness and shortly after his death. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI also made it onto the list but he did not appear as prominently in the South African Media as his predecessor.

Research showed that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine still received high amounts of coverage and that Arial Sharon, of Israel, along with Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority continued to appear noticeably in the media. The withdrawal of Israeli settlers from the Gaza strip ensured ongoing coverage of these Middle Eastern leaders. The only celebrity that made it onto the list was the US pop star Michael Jackson, whose position in 10th place can be credited to his sensational child molestation court case.

Two surprising entries on the list were members of the British Royal Family, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. They received coverage which can be attributed to Prince Charles' wedding in April to Camilla Parker-Bowels.

UN Secretary Kofi Annan, Sadam Hussein of Iraq, Councillor Gordon Brown of the UK, Nigerian and African Union president Olesugan Obassanjo, French president Jacques Chirac, Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder were the other personalities who made it onto the list. Queen Elizabeth and the US Secretary of State, Condeleeza Rice were the only women to make it onto the list of foreign personalities for the first half of 2005. Together with Margaret Thatcher, they were the only foreign woman most referenced in South African media. Interesting to note, is that the other women on the list are mostly politicians who demonstrate that South African politics received the most attention during the first half of the year.

Health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, emerged as the most referenced woman in the media. Her controversial statements on HIV/Aids and the treatment thereof received, predictably, a lot of negative attention. Second on the list of prominent women, was the then minister of Minerals & Energy Affairs, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. This can be credited to the work she had done within her department and to coverage she received shortly after deputy President Jacob Zuma was 'fired' in June. She was a hot favourite to become the next Deputy President on the 22 June 2005 and received high amounts of media attention during the last two weeks of June.

Other ministers who featured on the list were minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, minister of Foreign Affairs, Nkosazana Zuma, minister of Justice, Briggite Mabandla, minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu, minister of Communications, Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi, minister of Public Service & Administration, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, minister of Agricultural and Land Affairs, Angela Didiza, minister of Home Affairs, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and minister of Water Affairs & Forestry, Buyelwa Sonjica. Non-government politicians who featured on the list were Independent Democrat leader, Patricia de Lille, Winnie Mandela, the Democratic Alliance's Helen Zille and Sheila Camerer. Maria Ramos, CEO of Transnet was the only company representative to receive a high amount of coverage during the first half of the year and featured 11th. Other women to feature were South African MEC's and MP's. Mugabe's dominance in the South African media is likely to continue with the coverage he is currently receiving on his 'Operation Clean-up' campaign and the financial crisis his country is facing. There is a good possibility that he will probably be back on top of the foreign personalities list for the second half of 2005. Back home, newly appointed Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is likely to overtake Health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang as the most referenced woman in South African media.