BuaNews (Tshwane)
Matome Sebelebele
6 December 2002
Pretoria — President Thabo Mbeki will honour - for the first time using the new national orders - distinguished local and foreign personalities, who made significant contribution to the socio-economic and political transformation of the country over the years.
The ceremony to be held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria next Tuesday, will see scores of South Africans and foreign nationals receiving the new Order of Mapungubwe, the Order of Baobab and Order of the Companion of O.R Tambo.
President Thabo Mbeki unveiled the new orders, which replace the old ones used by the previous government such as the Cape of Good Hope, during this year's Freedom Day celebrations in Bloemfontein, Free State.
National Orders are the highest honour that a country, through its head of state, can bestow on citizens and deserving foreign nationals, and these awards are traditionally viewed as events of importance in the national life of many countries.
Amongst those who will walk away with the order of Mapungubwe will be Nobel Prize laureates and former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW De Klerk, while the late former Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme and human rights activist Mahatma Ghandi and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda will receive the Order of Companion of O.R Tambo, which is bestowed on foreign heads-of-state and government for their solidarity.
Locals such as Constitutional Court Judge Arthur Chaskalson, Dr Sam Motsoenyane and Adelaide Tambo will take home the Order of Baobab.
The latter award is bestowed on local citizens who have gone well above and beyond the ordinary call of duty in peace and security, arts, culture and music, science and technological motivation and community service.
But perhaps the most inspiring honours going to locals would be that going to former Groote Schuur Hospital gardener Hamilton Naki, who was instrumental in assisting heart surgeon Chris Barnard perform the world's first heart transplant and the Venda-born Noria Mabasa, who is regarded as a pioneer in her contribution to visual arts in rural areas.
Briefing reporters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria yesterday, director-general in the Presidency Reverend Frank Chikane said the new orders, which were crafted by Limpopo born Mr Gold Mametja, represented a break from the colonial and apartheid past when only white South Africans were recognised.
He said the new historic orders symbolised a 'new identity' for the country.
'By awarding excellence, the awards would assist in reinforcing the South African democracy's new identity,' added Reverend Chikane.
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