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President Thabo Mbeki to honour Extraordinary Men and Women Twenty-six
extraordinary men and women, some of whom have passed on, will receive the highest
awards South Africa bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals at a
prestigious event to take place on Thursday, 20 April. The President of
the Republic, Mr Thabo Mbeki, will for the first time in this landmark year of
anniversaries in which we commemorate the golden jubilee of the historic women's
march to the Union Buildings in 1956 and the 30th anniversary of the Soweto uprisings
in 1976 - bestow National Orders of our democratic and freed nation. They are
the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of the Companions of
OR Tambo and the Order of Mapungubwe. This is the seventh time South Africa has
had the occasion to salute such distinguished men and women. Eight distinguished
individuals will be admitted to the Order of the Baobab. They are: - Grace
Masuku, for her outstanding contribution in the field of environmental conservation;
- Mamohau Ntsoane, for her outstanding contribution in the field of community
upliftment and social welfare;
- Ivan Toms, for his outstanding contribution
to the struggle against apartheid and sexual discrimination;
- Sheena Duncan,
for her excellent contribution to the struggle for a non-sexist, just and democratic
South Africa;
- Wolfram Kistner, for his excellent contribution to the
fight for justice, equality and democracy in South Africa;
- Lindiwe Myeza,
for her excellent contribution to the economic upliftment of women and underprivileged
communities in South Africa;
- Barney Pityana, for his excellent contribution
to a just and democratic South Africa and for the spiritual upliftment of the
oppressed and
- Epainette Mbeki, for her exceptional contribution to the
economic upliftment of the underprivileged communities in the Eastern Cape and
her commitment to the fight against apartheid.
The Order of Luthuli
will be presented to those who have served the interests of South Africa by making
a meaningful contribution in the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building,
justice and peace as well as conflict resolution. They are: - Fort Calata
(posthumous), Sicelo Mhlauli (posthumous), Sparrow Mkhondo (posthumous) and Isaac
Lesiba Maphotho, for outstanding contribution and dedicating their lives to a
free, just and democratic South Africa;
- Ruth First (posthumous), for
excellent contribution to the struggle against apartheid and promoting media freedom
in South Africa;
- Joe Nzingo Gqabi (posthumous), for excellent contribution
to the struggle for a non-racial, just and democratic South Africa;
- Ama
Naidoo and Amina Pahad (both posthumous) for excellent contribution to the struggle
for democracy, equality and justice in South Africa;
- Albert Louis Sachs,
for excellent and selfless dedication to human rights activism and the struggle
against apartheid;
- John Tengo Jabavu (posthumous), for his exceptional
contribution to South African journalism and his commitment to a non-sexist, non-racial
and democratic South Africa; and
- Pixley Seme (posthumous), for exceptional
contribution to the struggle for a non-racial, just and democratic South Africa.
Six individuals from outside our country will be admitted into the
Order of the Companions of OR Tambo. They are: - Sotiris Mousouris of
Greece, for excellent contribution to South African journalism and fighting for
the ideals of freedom and justice;
- Anthony Sampson of England (posthumous),
for his excellent contribution to the struggle and for contributing to the development
of the African continent;
- Modibo Keita of Mali (posthumous), for exceptional
contribution to the liberation struggle of the African continent;
- Seretse
Khama of Botswana (posthumous), for exceptional contribution to the struggle against
apartheid through supporting the liberation movement in times of need, and contributing
to the development of the African continent; and
- King Moshoeshoe of Lesotho
and King Sobhuza of Swaziland (both posthumous) for exceptional contributions
to the struggle against apartheid through supporting the liberation movement in
times of need.
The Order of Mapungubwe - for persons whose activities
can only be described as excellent and unmatched - will be presented to George
Ellis for his excellent contribution in the field of science and putting South
Africa on the world stage. The ceremony will be held at the Union Buildings,
Tshwane, starting at 10H30. Enquiries: David Hlabane
Cell: 082
561 9428 Lindo Nkomonde
Cell: 082 875 9631 Issued by: The
Presidency and Government Communications (GCIS)
18 April 2006
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