Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has been chosen as the Forbes Africa Person of the Year for 2016.

The feisty Madonsela is the sixth recipient of the accolade‚ which was announced at an award ceremony in Kenya on Thursday evening.

Madonsela graced the awards in a flowing silk red gown with detailed lace patterns.

Adv Thuli Madonsela on Twitter

“Thanks @forbesafrica for an awesome evening and everything regarding #POY16‚” Madonsela tweeted.

Forbes said Madonsela was the winner of the award because for her bravery “in her quest to bring inconsistencies to the fore”.

She beat two African presidents‚ a fellow South African and a country.

Fellow nominees for the Person of the Year award included Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli‚ Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib‚ fellow South African and founder of Capitec Bank Michiel le Roux‚ and the people of Rwanda.

The first winner of the Person of the Year award was former Nigeria central bank governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi‚ now Muhammad Sanusi II‚ emir of Kano.

2012 winner – James Mwangi‚ chief executive of Equity Bank‚ Kenya

2013 winner – Akinwumi Adesina‚ the Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria and now head of the African Development Bank

2014 – Aliko Dangote‚ chairperson and chief executive of the Dangote Group‚ Nigeria

2015 – Mohammed Dewji‚ chief executive of MeTL Group‚ Tanzania

2016 – Thuli Madonsela‚ former public protector of South Africans