Hello 

Create Profile

Creating your profile will enable you to submit photos and stories to get published on News24.


Please provide a username for your profile page:

This username must be unique, cannot be edited and will be used in the URL to your profile page across the entire 24.com network.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.









Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.

 
 

Presidents salute Coetzee

2003-10-03 11:24
line

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki has hailed the Nobel victory of former University of Cape Town academic and author JM Coetzee.

"Our country has won a number of accolades in the world in a diverse array of human endeavours. This latest Nobel victory by JM Coetzee joins the greatest of the honours bestowed upon some of our colleagues."

"On behalf of the South African nation and indeed, the continent of Africa, we take off our hats to and salute our latest Nobel Laureate and bask with him in the glory radiating from this singular recognition."

Former president Nelson Mandela also congratulated compatriot JM Coetzee.

"For a small country here on the southern tip of Africa to have produced two Nobel Prize winners in literature is indeed a remarkable achievement," Mandela's office said in a statement.

Coetzee was named the winner of the prestigous award on Thursday, following in the footsteps of anti-apartheid activist Nadine Gordimer, who won the Nobel prize for literature in 1991.

Deputy Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Buyelwa Sonjica congratulated Coetzee on behalf of her ministry. She said: "Mr Coetzee gained literary recognition and accolades when he published a book called Waiting for the Barbarians in 1980. The book deals with relations between the colonial powers and indigenous communities. "

"He consolidated this achievement by publishing The Life and Times of Michael K for which he received the coveted Booker Prize. In this literary work, Coetzee presents human beings in relative situations of powerlessness."

"As a writer, he distinguishes himself through the manner in which he conveys elements which portray what saves a soul and what damns it."

"His latest work called "Disgrace" won him a second Booker Prize. It created controversy and debate in the way that it conveyed a very bleak outlook of contemporary South Africa. It is appropriate that arts provokes debate in a democracy such as ours.

The Ministry "acknowledges and holds in high esteem the literary contribution that Coetzee has made in South Africa and it is indeed befitting that he has been awarded the highest literary prize in the world."

Five other South Africans have won Nobel Prizes, including Mandela and South Africa's last white president, FW de Klerk, who jointly received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993.

Coetzee was born in South Africa but now lives in Australia.

"His consistent portrayal of the violence and distortions of colonialism and apartheid have made him an intellectual hero in the history of our country," Mandela said.

"He might have emigrated but we shall continue to claim him as our own." - I-Net Bridge / AFP

inside news24

 
1 of 10

140
1
 
Traffic
Lottery
 
  • Friday Carletonville - 10:01 AM
    Road name: N14
    ROAD CLOSED due to a large sink-hole between the two Carletonville exits - traffic is diverted onto a local bypass route
  • Sunday Volksrust - 07:33 AM
    Road name: N11 Both Ways
    Stop / go controls for construction works at Majuba Pass - expect delays between Volksrust and Newcastle
  • Monday Centurion - 15:41 PM
    Road name: Jean Avenue
    ROAD CLOSED between Rabie Street and Gerhard Street for sink hole repair works
 
More traffic reports...
 

Jobs [change area]

Intermediate - Senior Web Designer

Cape Town, South Africa
Nu Beginnings Recruitment Specialists
Market Related

Case Manager

Western Cape
Die Burger

Workshop Technician

Kramerville, Sandton, South Africa
CEB Maintenance Africa (Pty) Ltd
Market Related

Cars[change area]

MAZDA

B2500TD D-Cab Dsl
2003
R 119,995.00

AUDI

A4 2.0 MY05
2006
R 129,900.00

VOLKSWAGEN

Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5-dr
2011
R 109,950.00

Property [change area]

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Romance at the President

Spend two nights at the Protea Hotel President in Cape Town from R2601 per person sharing. Includes return flights, taxes, car hire and accommodation. Book Now!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

The Big Mama Sale

The Big Mama Sale is now on. Get up to 80% off Books, Music, DVDs, Games, Electronics, Toys & Gifts. Shop now.

Electronics on Sale

Up to 80% off electronics + 24hr delivery. Shop now.

50% Off Educo toys

Join the Big Mama Sale madness at kalahari.com and get 50% off all Educo toys for your kids. Terms and conditions apply. Shop now.

Books on Sale

Up to 80% off books & 1000s Of books to choose from. First come, first served. While stocks last. Shop now.

Blu-ray special offer

Buy 10 blu-rays and get a free Sony blu-ray player. Offer valid while stocks last. Shop now.

OLX Free Classifieds [change area]

Drain & Pipe Inspection System

For Sale, Garage Sale in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 21

2011 Mazda 2 1.5 Dynamic

Vehicles, Cars in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 22

Estimator

Jobs, Engineering Jobs - Architecture Jobs in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date January 21

The Big Mama Sale

The Big Mama Sale is now on. Get up to 80% off Books, Music, DVDs, Games, Electronics, Toys & Gifts. Shop now.

Visit www.kalahari.com for millions of books, music, DVDs, games & more!

Apple iPad 64GB 9.7" Tablet With WiFi

The best way to experience the web, email, photos, and...

From R9312.66

I'm shopping for:

A local community where you can meet people, upload photos, videos and loads more...
There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.