By Arthi Sanpath
Two of KwaZulu-Natal's struggle heroes will be posthumously honoured with national orders by President Thabo Mbeki Tuesday.
Johnstone Mfanafuthi Makatini and Monty Naicker will both be awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver for their contributions to the liberation struggle.
Makatini, who died in 1988, was in exile for many years, during which time he raised awareness about apartheid as well as ensured that the international community placed pressure on the government to change its policies.
Monty Naicker was a respected doctor and political activist. He was imprisoned several times and founded the Hindu Youth Movement in 1935, which promoted social and sporting activities for disadvantaged youth.
He used his medical training to help the poor and disadvantaged during the struggle.
From the early 40's, Naicker participated in many anti-apartheid campaigns, being an active participant in the Natal Indian Passive Resistance Campaign. He was instrumental in forging an alliance between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress (SAIC). Naicker died in 1978.
The Silver Order of Luthuli is awarded for contributions in the fields of struggle for democracy, human rights development, nation-building, justice, peace and conflict resolution.
President Mbeki will bestow honours on 23 people in total, including foreign nationals.
Some of those receiving national orders include Joyce Piliso-Seroke, chairperson of the Gender Commission, and Eric Molobi, a prisoner on Robben Island who died last year. An astute businessman, Molobi co-founded Kagiso Trust Investments in 1994.
He was awarded the prestigious Order National de la Legion D'Honneur by the French government in 1994.
Salman El-Herfi, a former Palestinian ambassador to SA, will be awarded the Order of the Companion of O R Tambo.