Zuma to honour eight Indian-origin South Africans

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Veteran Indian diplomat Enuga Reddy and seven Indian-origin South Africans will receive the National Orders for contributing to democracy and prosperity of the nation.

The honours will be given by President Jacob Zuma on April 27, the Freedom Day, that marks the day when Nelson Mandela was installed as South Africa’s first democratically elected President after decades of apartheid rule.

National Orders are the highest awards, which recognise the contribution made by individuals who contributed and continue to contribute to a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in its Constitution.

President Zuma will bestow on 38 recipients the Order of Mendi for Bravery, the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe, and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.

Reddy will be one of the four foreign nationals to receive the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in Silver, which recognises eminent foreign nationals and other foreign dignitaries for friendship shown to South Africa.

Reddy was at the forefront of the international struggle against apartheid started by India at the UN in 1948.”As head of the United Nations (UN) Centre Against Apartheid for over two decades, he played a key role in promoting international sanctions against South Africa and organising the world campaign to free Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners,”
Chancellor of the National Orders Cassius Lubisi said.

Leading the group of South African Indian awardees is Quarraisha Abdool Karim who will receive the Order of Mapungubwe in Bronze for her role in health policy development that is placing South Africa on the international stage.

The Order of the Baobab, which recognises South African citizens who have contributed to community service, business and economy, science, medicine and technological innovation, will be awarded in bronze to Suraya Bibi Khan for her selflessness and outstanding contribution to the upliftment of disadvantaged communities in South Africa and abroad.

The Order of the Baobab in Silver will be bestowed on journalist and social activist Yusuf Abramjee for his excellent contribution to the field of community development. The award will also be given to Sayed Mohamed Ridwan Mia for his excellent contribution to the field of medicine and giving hope to victims devastated by burn injuries, as he pioneered artificial skin cloning in South Africa last year.

The Order of Luthuli, which recognises South African citizens who have contributed to the struggle for democracy, nation-building, building democracy and human rights, justice and peace as well as for the resolution of conflict, will be bestowed in bronze on South African Indian struggle veterans Amina Desai (Posthumous), Essop Jassat and Moosa Moolla.

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