By Moshoeshoe Monare
Richard Maponya and the late Eric Molobi, two of South Africa's black business pioneers, will be awarded the Grand Counsellor of the Baobab when President Mbeki bestows national orders on 23 citizens and foreigners in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Maponya, 81, proved himself to be a top businessman long before 1994, while Molobi is credited with laying the groundwork for black economic empowerment.
Mbeki will also confer the Order of the Supreme Companion of OR Tambo, posthumously, on the late leader of Lesotho, Leabua Jonathan, who supported the ANC.
One of the recipients of the Grand Companion of OR Tambo is US music sensation and actor Harry Belafonte.
Continues Below ↓
Belafonte, 80, was one of the organisers behind the Grammy Award-winning song We Are The World, a multi-artist effort to raise funds against hunger in Africa.
Johnstone Makatini, a diplomat who put the ANC on the international map, will posthumously be honoured with the Order of Luthuli in silver.
Author and US scholar Dr Ali Mazrui will receive the Order of the Grand Companion of OR Tambo.
A former Palestinian ambassador to SA, Salman El-Herfi, will receive the Order of the Companion of OR Tambo.
- This article was originally published on page 6 of The Star on April 22, 2007
|