By Jacques Breytenbach
Nelson Mandela has been awarded the highest symbol of traditional leadership on the African continent.
This in the form of a stuffed male lion for the way in which he facilitated peace among his people in a time of extreme prejudice.
Mandela became the first recipient to receive the African Royal Award at a ceremony held at Freedom Park in Pretoria yesterday.
The ceremony also marked the first time in the history of South Africa, where all the country's traditional leaders gathered in one venue to conduct a divine and a royal exercise to salute Mandela for his outstanding contribution to reconciliation and nation building.
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The event was hosted under the auspices of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa and is supported by the National House of Traditional Leaders and the National Khoisan Council.
Those in attendance included President Jacob Zuma, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sicelo Shiceka, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Tshwane's executive mayor Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, chiefs and kings representing the different tribes.
Mandela's grandson, Nkosi Mandla Mandela - who received the award on his behalf - said it was a "great privilege" for him to receive the award on his grandfather's behalf.
"Nelson's life and passion has influenced and shaped all his people. We are honoured that he was chosen to be the first recipient of this award. We also think of the many men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of this country," he said.
The ceremony was sanctioned by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Shiceka said the country's diversity and the beauty thereof was present at the ceremony.
"South Africa will never be the same in this day and age, but the traditional way of doing things must remain a way of life.
"The country should accept that people are not the same, but diverse and it is this diversity which we must promote in next year's soccer World Cup so that it becomes a truly African World Cup," Shiceka said.
Swati Prince Masitsela Dlamini commended Mandela on his leadership. "When he was in jail, instead of fighting, he chose to facilitate peace. In order to do this, a leader needs to come down to earth and swallow his pride. A leader will always smile while his heart is bleeding and this was the philosophy of Mandela," said Dlamini.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of Pretoria News on November 06, 2009
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