BuaNews (Tshwane)
Bathandwa Mbola
17 April 2008
Pretoria — President Thabo Mbeki will bestow the first set of National Orders for 2008 to thirty eight men and women, at a ceremony in the Union Buildings next week.
The orders, to be awarded on 22 April, will recognise distinguished South Africans and eminent foreign nationals who have rendered exceptional service to the people of South Africa.
Orders to be bestowed next week are the Order of Baobab, the Order of Luthuli and the Order of OR Tambo.
Some of the recipients of the Orders include Sir Sydney Kentridge and Chief Justice Pius, who will be awarded the Order of the Baobab in Gold, for promoting constitutional jurisprudence and human rights.
The Order of the Luthuli in Gold will be awarded to James Arthur Calata, Robert Resha and Walter Rubusana for their contribution in music, activism against injustice and theology.
The Order of the Companions of O.R Tambo in Gold will be awarded to Chief Emeka Anyaoku for his exceptional contribution to the struggle for freedom, justice and democracy in South Africa and on the African continent.
Briefing the media on Thursday, the Director-General in the Presidency Reverend Frank Chikane who is also Chancellor of the Orders told reporters that the National Orders are the highest honour that a country, through its Head of State, can bestow on citizens and deserving foreign nationals.
"Government through the National Orders seeks to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and human rights," he told reporters.
Some orders are given to organisations, while others are awarded posthumously. They are traditionally viewed as events of importance in the national life of many countries, he said.
The Order of Baobab which is among the orders to be conferred next week is, awarded to South Africans for distinguished service, well above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.
It is an award for exceptional and distinguished contributions in the struggle for democracy; building democracy and human rights; nation building; peace and security; journalism, literature, arts, culture and music; business and the economy; science, medicine and technological innovation.
The Order of Baobab is awarded in three categories, namely Supreme Counsellor of the Order of Baobab in gold, the Grand Counsellor of Baobab in silver and the Counsellor of Baobab in bronze.
The Order of Luthuli is awarded to South Africans who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice and peace, and conflict resolution.
It symbolises the vision of the late Chief Albert Luthuli for African people to participate fully in the socio-economic and political development of South Africa.
The legendary liberation struggle leader became the first African recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961.
This order is also conferred in gold, silver and bronze.
The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo is awarded to foreign nationals, be they heads of state and government or other dignitaries, for friendship shown to South Africa.
It is therefore an order of peace, co-operation and active expression of solidarity and support. The Order primarily constitutes an essential pillar of international and multilateral relations.
The Order of the companion of O.R. Tambo is also awarded in the three classes of Supreme Companion of O.R. Tambo (gold), Grand Companion of O.R. Tambo (silver) and Companion of O.R. Tambo (bronze).
President Mbeki first awarded the National Orders in 2002.
Previous recipients in various categories include paralympics athlete Oscar Pistorius for inspiring achievements in his field and the University of South Africa's Vice-Chancellor Barney Pityana, for his excellent contribution to democracy.
A group which was awarded an order was the Executive Committee of FIFA, an award accepted by FIFA President Sepp Blatter in 2004.
Other National Orders are the Order of Mapungubwe, Order of Ikhamanga and the Mendi Decoration for bravery.
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