President Thabo Mbeki became the first recipient of South Africa’s new national orders on Monday.
He opted at his inauguration in 1999 not to receive the orders as they existed then, but rather wait for new ones to be developed. Every president receives the orders at his inauguration.
”In your case, we had to wait three years,” Yvonne Muthien, chairperson of the president’s advisory council on national orders told Mbeki as she presented him with the new designs.
Among the orders bestowed on the president included the very highest –the platinum order of Mapungubwe. It is awarded to South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement on the international stage.
He was also given the order of the Boabab, which South Africans receive for distinguished service in a number of fields, as well as the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo — reserved for foreigners.
”You can feel the weight,” the president remarked as the Mapungubwe medallion was hung around his neck.
Mbeki is also the grand patron of national orders, and is to bestow orders on 28 people in Pretoria on Tuesday morning.
Director-general in the presidency, Frank Chikane, who is also the chancellor of national orders, also used the occasion to unveil the new attire of the ceremonial ”crier”, who is to perform at award ceremonies in future.
Mbeki thanked the advisory council for their work, and for their recommended list of recipients.
”There are too many people who deserve to be awarded something,” he said.
Former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk as well as the late Indian human rights campaigner Mohandas Gandhi are among the 28 people to be honoured on Tuesday.
National orders are the highest honour a country can bestow on its citizens and foreign nationals.
Other recipients will include Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson, his predecessor Ismael Mahomed who died two years ago, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda and the late Swedish prime minister Olof Palme.
The new orders were unveiled on Freedom Day on April 27. – Sapa