BuaNews (Tshwane)
Mantshele Wa Ga Tau And Matome Sebelebele
27 April 2002
Pretoria — President Thabo Mbeki today unveiled South Africa's three new national orders at the Freedom Day celebrations in Bloemfontein in the Free State.
The Orders of Mapungubwe, of the Baobab and of the Companions of OR Tambo are the highest awards bestowed by the President to citizens and eminent foreign nationals for outstanding achievements.
They replace the old awards, the Orders of the Southern Cross, of Good Hope, of the Star of South Africa and of Meritorious Service, as well as the Woltemade Cross for Bravery.
'The unveiling of the medals was part of our process to ascertain that our freedom is a departure from a bad past and that we are constructing a future that all of us will be proud of.' The President added that the medals represented 'our steady move forward in a direction that will reassert our march towards our new humanity, a new culture of human rights and respect for the dignity of the human spirit that all characterise our nation.' The new orders followed wide consultation with the South African society, after a Presidential Advisory Council was tasked in 1998 to find replacements for the old orders.
Designer of the approved new orders, Mr Gold Mametja, is an industrial designer at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria.
The soft-spoken former Wits university student who originally hails from Oak in Limpopo (formerly Northern province), said he felt honoured by the recognition he gained for designing the medals.
'It was the best thing that ever happened to me,' he said, adding that it was the best accolade that the country could give him.' The Order of Mapungubwe will be awarded to South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement in three categories - platinum, gold and bronze.
The order has been named after the Mapungubwe Kingdom, which existed in the northern corner of the country a millennium ago.
The medal features the gold rhino statue that was found in a grave at Mapungubwe, against the background of the hill where the city was located.
The Order of the Baobab, named after the giant tropical tree found in the far north of the country and which symbolises endurance and tolerance, will be awarded to South African citizens for distinguished service above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.
Categories for the award are: the struggle for democracy; building democracy and human rights; nation-building; peace and security; journalism, literature, arts, culture, sport and music; business and the economy; science, medicine and technological innovation, and community service.
Recipients of the medal - presented in gold, silver or bronze - could be named either Supreme Counsellor, Grand Counsellor or Counsellor of the Order of the Baobab.
The third award, the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo, was named after the late liberation struggle icon Oliver Tambo, who played a major role in the growth and development of the international movement of solidarity against racism and apartheid.
It will be awarded to foreign heads of state and government, including foreign dignitaries, for friendship shown to South Africa.
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Thursday, director-general in the Presidency Frank Chikane said the old medals had ceased to exist.
'The new orders have now been put into place in line with the new developments that have been taking place since the dawn of a new South Africa in 1994,' he said.
The Reverend Chikane said, however, that more national orders could be added in the future.
'Since 1994 we have been preoccupied with re-inventing ourselves as South Africa to reflect identity of the nation that we are. And we started with the national flag which is unique and among the best in the world.'
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