New names for highest awards

2002-04-27 12:27

Bloemfontein - An ancient South African civilisation and giants of nature and of the apartheid struggle have served as the inspiration for South Africa's new national orders, unveiled by President Thabo Mbeki at a Freedom Day celebration on Saturday.

The Orders of Mapungubwe, of the Baobab and of the Companions of OR Tambo will replace the current highest awards made by the President for outstanding achievements.

More orders might be added later, Director-General in the Presidency Frank Chikane told journalists earlier in the week.

"We must see this as part of the building blocks of the nation," said Deputy Minister of Arts, Science, Culture and Technology Bridgitte Mabandla.

"We are looking at transforming the symbolism of the country."

A presidential advisory council was tasked in 1998 to find replacements for the Orders of the Southern Cross, of Good Hope, of the Star of South Africa and of Meritorious Service, as well as the Woltemade Cross for Bravery.

Several workshops and design efforts later, an industrial designer aptly named Gold Mametja succeeded in creating the approved medals.

The Order of Mapungubwe will be awarded to South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement and in three classes - platinum, gold and bronze.

It is named after the Mapungubwe kingdom that existed in the far Northern Province a millennium ago. Archaeologists have established that it was a relatively sophisticated civilisation that traded with China.

The focus of the medal is the gold rhino statue that was found in a grave at Mapungubwe, with the hill where the city was located in the background.

The Order of the Baobab was named after the giant tree that is found in the far north of the country and around which many African legends and mysteries are woven.

As the tree is regarded as a symbol of endurance and tolerance, the order will be made to South Africans for distinguished service well above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.

It will be made in several categories - the struggle for democracy; building democracy and human rights; nation-building; peace and security; journalism, literature, arts, culture, sport and music; business and the economy; science, medicine and technological innovation; and community service.

Those awarded with this medal could be named either Supreme Counsellor, Grand Counsellor or Counsellor of the Order of the Baobab, and accordingly receive either a gold, silver or bronze medal.

Similar distinctions will be made with the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo, an award to foreign heads of state and government and other foreign dignitaries for friendship shown to South Africa.

Chikane said the order was named after Oliver Tambo, an African National Congress president who died in 1993, to illustrate how friendship could be projected internationally.

Tambo established the first missions of the liberation movement abroad.

"OR Tambo went out to create friendships with the world," Chikane said.

Like the other two, this order will be embodied in a neck badge, a miniature and a lapel rosette.

However, only those honoured with the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo would also receive a walking stick.

A motif of the medal and walking stick is the legendary majola snake.

"It comes when a baby is born," Chikane said.

"It is peaceful and protects the child."

The only friendly way to make the snake go away is for the mother to squirt some breast milk at it, he said.

Chikane could not say when the new orders would be awarded for the first time. This would only be known once the tender process for their production had been completed, he said.

Project leader Patti McDonald said advertisements inviting nominations had been published earlier, but that press, radio and television advertisements would be placed anew to call on South Africans to nominate worthy candidates.

- SAPA