And the torch bearers are...

2004-06-11 10:08

Cape Town - The flame of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games is coming to Cape Town to be used in the Olympic Torch Relay - an event that will see the flame travel across the city by foot, cablecar and helicopter across some of the South Africa's most historic landmarks.

The flame itself arrives on Saturday morning, carried by Cape Town mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo on a flight from Cairo, where the flame will on Friday be carried by camel past the pyramids.

It will be the first time the flame, lit from a "mother" flame in Greece, comes to South Africa. A range of distinguished South Africans, including Nelson Mandela, will carry the flame across the city.

The distinguished torch bearers are:

Fundile Baloyi, Khayelitsha

Fundile has been playing club soccer for a number of years and is making his mark on the soccer field. In his spare time, he encourages children from the community to participate in the 5 and 10 km races run through the township to introduce them to the sport.

George Bizos, Parktown North

A distinguished human rights advocate who has dedicated his working life fighting for basic human rights under apartheid, and since the collapse of apartheid, he has fought to ensure that those rights, guaranteed under the Constitution, are accorded to all South Africans.

Beatty Braaf, Grassy Park

Beatty has been an active member of the Retreat Swimming Club for the past 25 years of the club's 29-year history and passion is to teach the children in the community how to swim.

Zunaid Bulbulia, Johannesburg

Zunaid joined MTN prior to its commercial launch in January 1994. Besides being the year that heralded the birth of the new South African democracy, it proved to be the year that MTN (despite having to fight the Government Telecommunications monopoly) launched cellular communication into South Africa. This heralded a decade of activity that has notably resulted in creating an organisation that employs more than 3 000 people in South Africa, connected more than 7 million customers and generates an annual turnover of more than R10 billion. Zunaid is the Financial Director at MTN+F54.

Edries Burton, Plumstead

Often referred to as the 'inspirational' Santos caption, Edries has made his mark on the soccer field.

Amien Dharsey, Retreat

In his 42 years as a schools sports administrator, Armien has learnt not to take anything for granted. However, he admits, "school children have many more opportunities today than before, although it will be a long time before the inequalities are finally done away with." According to Armien, one of the driving forces behind the formation of the United Schools Sports Association (USSASA) in 1994, was that it gave all South African children the opportunity to play sport together.

Zunaid Dinath, Johannesburg

Zunaid is the Director of Operations at Vodacom. He joined Vodacom in February 1996 as a specialist in the procurement department and worked himself up to the current position since October 2003. Dinath was born and lived in the Indian township of Laudium, West of Pretoria. He matriculated with distinctions from the Laudium Secondary School in 1989 and studied for a B.Com at University of the Witwatersrand from 1990 to 1994. Zunaid obtained an MBA from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia (part-time) and worked in the retail clothing industry from 1994 to 1996. He is actively involved in social and community activities focussing on the underprivileged. He is married to Feroza with two children (daughter, Shaista, and son, Muhammad Uzayr, aged 8 and 4 years respectively). Zunaid actively participates in sport, such as golf, soccer and squash.

Magdalene Dladla, Kwa Nqetho/Ngcolosi In the townships around Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal, everyone knows - and loves - Mama Magdalene Dladla. In a province devastated by the HIV/Aids pandemic, this "Checkers Woman of the Year" nominee (1999) has given herself wholeheartedly in the service of her community by helping to raise funds to build a clinic, a centre for victims of violence and an all-purpose community hall. She also uses her own home to care for HIV/Aids orphans.

Natalie Du Toit, Southfield

Anything's possible - if you put your mind to it. This is the philosophy that has seen Natalie emerge as one of South Africa's top competitive and endurance swimmers despite having lost a leg in a motor accident in 2001. Natalie's courage and determination has not only seen her achieving her ambition of swimming at the Olympics (Sydney 2000) and the Commonwealth Games (Manchester 2002), but has also inspired thousands of her compatriots.

Desiree Ellis, Hannover Park

For nine years, between 1993 and 2002, Desiree captained South Africa's national women's soccer side, Banyana Banyana. Since retiring from international soccer, Desiree has, among other things, joined the battle against HIV/Aids through her involvement with Sports Heroes Walk Against HIV/Aids. She has also served on the National Sport Commission.

Johan Engelbrecht, Johannesburg

Johan is the Executive Director: Network Engineering and Support at Vodacom. He has been with the company since 1993.

Mzonke Fana, Khayelitsha

Over the years, South Africa has produced an impressive line-up of boxers and Mzonke Fana, a junior lightweight from Khayelitsha, is up there with the best. When he won the national title in 2003, he said to himself: "This is mine " and I'm going to keep it." And keep it he did, successfully seeing off seven challenges, until he was eventually beaten in 2003. He presently holds the World Boxing Council's International junior lightweight title.

Brian February

Brian, a resident of Mitchells Plain, is currently the Head of Scouting in the Western Cape. He joined the Scout Movement in 1963 as an 8 year old and has held various leadership positions over the years. Brian is very committed to the Scout Movement and its programmes believing that Scouting can play a big role in the development of the youth in South Africa. He is a recipient of various awards including the Medal of Merit, and a 40 year Long Service Medal.

Damaris O Fritz, Voorbrug

Any resident from the Western Cape township of Delft who is unhappy about the standard of the health service provided by the state, goes to Damaris Fritz. She has a reputation for getting things done - even if this means treading on the toes of prominent people. "I believe that when promises are made, they ought to be kept," she says. Damaris, who has a nursing background, has been involved in community work, including opening her house to vulnerable women and children, for the past eight years.

Caroline Gabuza, Ottery

Caroline is a community worker who has been instrumental in the development of community recreation centres in the black townships of Cape Town. Caroline has also been instrumental in the establishment of several youth clubs at the centres.

Gregory Garitsis, Orange Grove

Gregory has packed a whole lot of marathon running into his 61 years - 157 to be exact. He has also found the time and the energy to compete in a number of ultra-marathons, most notably 11 Comrades Marathons. Gregory, who arrived in SA from Greece 33 years ago, has participated in 1 000 races (most of them over long distances). "I took up running seriously after retiring from professional soccer," he says.

Dawn Hare, Kalk Bay

Dawn's life changed forever when, at the age of 15, she broke her neck in a diving accident. Shortly after this, she decided to dedicate her life to the cause of uplifting the lives of others. Sport and other outdoor activity continued to play a large role in her life and between 1964 and 1988 she won gold and silver medals in paraplegic games for tennis, bowling, swimming and archery. In 1997, she founded the Fish Hoek-Kommetjie-Noordhoek Welfare Association. Since then, she has started and chaired 13 other such organisations.

Llewelyn Herbert,Pretoria

In 1997, Llewellyn delivered a stunning performance in the men's 400m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Athens. Immensely talented, but prone to injury, Llewellyn's next target in his favourite 400m race was Olympic gold at Sydney. He didn't quite make it, but bronze was noteworthy all the same. Unfortunately, injury forced him out of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

Penelope Heyns, Pretoria

Penny's swimming career was short, but very sweet. Few South Africans will forget how Penny, with a Springbok tattooed on her forearm, became the first woman in Olympics history to win both the 100m and 200m breaststroke at the Atlanta Games in 1996. Over a three-month period in 1999, she broke world records 11 times in her favourite breaststroke events.

Ragmat Jaffer, Heathfield

Quietly spoken Raghmat epitomises the inner strength of so many women who drew a line in the sand during the darkest days of apartheid and said: "Strike the woman and you strike a rock!". A member of a well-known family of anti-apartheid activists, she was particularly active in the Wynberg area of the Cape Pensinsula during the 1976 school boycotts, helping to spread political awareness in her community and organising lawyers to represent children who had been detained and arrested. She was also prominent in the Women's Movement of the 1980's and 1990's.

Jordan Joannisdes, Senderwood

Head Boy at Saheti School, which is the only Greek school in South Africa.

Gail Johnson, Melville

She is the foster mother of Nkosi Johnson, who died of Aids in 2001 at the age of 12. Nkosi first came into the limelight in 1997, when Gail challenged a school in Melville, Johannesburg, for refusing to enrol him because of his HIV status. Johnson established Nkosi's Haven as a shelter for destitute people living with HIV and Aids in 1999. It currently houses 17 children - between three weeks and 18 years old - and 14 adults. Some of the children are HIV-positive; some are Aids orphans while others are healthy and live with their HIV-positive mothers.

Donny Jurgens, Crawford

Donny has sought to promote sport on the Cape Flats for most of his adult life. After qualifying as a teacher at the age of 20, he was a prominent player in anti-apartheid activities in Hanover Park and Mitchell's Plain, heading up youth structures in these areas. He was also the general secretary of the Cape Youth Congress, as well as its sport and culture convenor. Donny left teaching after 10 years to pursue a full-time career in sport management. He was a founder member of the National Sports Congress, which unified sport in South Africa after the unbanning of the ANC and other organisations.

Archilles Kallos, Frenaye

At school, Achilles seemed destined for a glittering career in rugby or cricket. But it was later that he discovered his real niche - weightlifting, bodybuilding and amateur wrestling. In fact, in 1959, 1960 and 1964 he won Western Province titles in these codes. In 1954 and 1959 he won the coveted Mr South Africa bodybuilding title and in 1965, he came fourth in his division in the Mr Universe test. A recognised authority on weight training, he has written hundreds of articles on the subject.

Alexander Karakallos, Sea Point

Not many people can boast about being related to someone who has won a medal at an olympic games. Alexander can. His grandfather, Telemachos Karakalos, won gold for Greece in fencing at the 1896 Games in Athens. "It's a wonderful connection for me," says Alexander. "It will be an honour for me to carry the flame on its first ever journey to the African continent."

Anita Kassel, Thornton

Anita has been involved in competitive scrabble since 1980 when she formed a scrabble club in Thornton. Since 1986, when SANSPA (South African National Scrabble Player's Association) was formed she has been an instrument in assisting other clubs in Cape Town. She served as chairperson of SANSPA from 1995 to 2000 and currently holds the position of treasurer. SANSPA is currently promoting Scrabble in schools. Anita is one of nine players who participated in the inaugural Pan African Scrabble (PANASA) games in Nairobi in 1994. In 1998, Cape Town hosted the PANASA games.

Marlon Kolbee, Retreat

Marlon has been totally blind since the age of five when an operation to remove a tumour near one of his eyes damaged his optic nerve. However, that hasn't stopped him from enjoying a game of cricket - as a player. Twenty-three-year-old Marlon is a member of a blind cricket club (there are four in the Western Cape and three in the Boland). He was deemed good enough to gain selection to the Western Province blind cricket team that took part in an inter-provincial tournament in Durban at the end of March.

Nomathemba Kontyo

Earlier this year, a 16-year-old Capetonian, Nomathemba, won the prize of a lifetime: two weeks in the US with the National Aeronautical Space Agency (Nasa). Nomathemba, a Grade 11 pupil at Fezeka High School in Guguletu, was one of 16 student astronauts from around the world chosen to work with the Mars Exploration Rover mission team at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. She won the trip on the strength of an excellent entry in an international essay contest run by the world renowned Planetary Society.

George Koumandarakis, Cowies Hill

He is already a popular figure in soccer being as his grandfather Kosta Koumantarakis was the original Torch Bearer for Greece in the 1936 Olympic Games. His grandfather was the u/17 100m champion at the time of the Berlin Games. George inherited his grandfather's torch, as well as certificates.

Marianne Kriel, Bellville

"Anything is possible" is what Olympics swimmer Marianne likes to stress to audiences who come to listen to her motivational talks. The secret, of course, is hard work and self-belief. In the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Kriel was not everyone's favourite to bring home a medal, but she snatched a bronze. These days, Marianne spends her time working for her church and giving motivational talks, aimed at children.

Rhea Kritas, Claremont

Name supplied by the Greek Consulate

Talaat Laham

Chairman and CEO for Cell C, Talaat has headed up Cell C since February 2000. He is a modest man, so it is not widely known that he is one of Saudi Oger's principal shareholder's most experienced turn-around specialists. He has a reputation for ensuring the successful outcome of a variety of projects in difficult and unusual circumstances. Prior to joining Cell C, Talaat was Advisor to the Minister of Posts and Telecoms, Lebanon, on matters related to the fixed and mobile telephone networks. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the American University of Beirut, and speaks Arabic, French and English. Talaat joined Saudi Oger in 1984, moving around the Middle East in several of its construction, maintenance, printing, engineering and trading subsidiaries. Associates say Talaat is particular about making sure that people receive credit where it's due. He is also described as having a good sense of humour - but, say colleagues, he's a workaholic, starting at 7am.

Mark Lamberti, Johannesburg

Executive Chairman at Massmart - F64South Africa's biggest and most successful retail channel.

Mpho Lebogo, Rembrandt Park

He introduced the Lobola Contract or agreement, which has been endorsed by the Proudly South African Campaign and the Department of Home Affairs & Customary Marriage Section has approved it. He is currently doing presentations among the traditional leaders and indigenous people of SA.

Byungwoo Lee

Vice President: East & Middle East Africa for Samsung.

Mildred Lesiea, Guguletu

Nominee of the Mayor of City of Cape Town.

Fadiel Lodewyk

Sakhiwo Luthuli, Shukushukuma

Sakhiwo is a scholar athlete and was nominated through a competition in the local neighbourhood for a representative of the area to participate in relay. The entire neighbourhood participated in the process.

Jacqueline Maarohanye, Naturena

Jacqueline provides assistance to various causes on a voluntary basis in Soweto. Jacqueline has received various accolades as a voluntary worker and provides capacity building programmes in the community.

Miriam Makeba

"Mama Africa", as she is affectionately known, is a great South African musician who changed the way SA music was seen across the globe.

Thompson Mangaliso, Manenberg

Weightlifter Development Officer @ Silvertree.

Alan Marshall, Constantia

A recipient of the Premier's Commendation Certificate in the 2004 Western Cape Honours Award and long-standing Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service, Alan has been flying mercy flights across SA for more than 30 years on a volunteer basis. Whether it is flying a critically ill baby from a regional hospital to a specialised children's ward or transporting a seriously injured miner to a metropolitan hospital, Alan always responds instantly to the call for help - whatever the time of day or night. Under Alan's direction, the SA Red Cross Air Mercy base in Cape Town has expanded from a one aircraft operation that flew once a week, to an organisation that provides timely, lifesaving care to thousands annually from its bases in Cape Town, Kimberley and Durban.

Vuyeya Mathebula, Limpopo

Vuyeya is the first black lady from Limpopo Province to become a farmer in 1999. She recently came second in a national competition and has shown that women need not to stay at home, but can also do work previously done exclusively by men.

Jake Matlala, Winchester Hills

Apart from being a disciplined boxing world champion, Jake has continued to be not only a motivation and a source of inspiration to young South Africans, but also a role model who encourages the spirit of "ubuntu".

Shaun Mellors, Gordons Bay

Shaun is an HIV/Aids activist living with HIV/Aids and the founder of NAPWA (National Association of People Living with HIV/Aids, an NGO of People Living with HIV/Aids. NAPWA was formed in 1994 as a PWA volunteer-based organisation. After 1994 NAPWA transformed itself to be a Non-profit PWA NGO. NAPWA was formed to deal with the issues of discrimination, care and support for People Living with HIV/Aids.

Nomsa Memela, Klippoortie Park

Nomsa always wanted to help people less privileged. So in 2002, she started a job agency. Umqondo we Sizwe community Business has developed a two-pronged approach to helping disabled people: the agency either helps them to find employment or tries to set them up with work at home.

Yong Ho Min, Johannesburg

MD and CEO for Samsung South Africa.

Nowabo Eric Mjoli, Nyanga

Eric lost his sight in 1975. "It's not easy to be a runner when you're blind and it's even harder to be a cyclist when you can't see." Eric is blind, but this hasn't put him off from taking part in his two favourite sports. Eric is a member of the Varsity Old Boys Club and the highlight of his running career, he says, was going to New York in 1999 to participate in a race.

Arun Nagar, Nairobi

Samsung Distributor in Nairobi

Hamilton Naki, Langa

For more than 20 years, Hamilton's job description at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town said sweeper, cleaner or gardener. However, he was also a pretty good actor. At a time when the apartheid system refused to believe that a black man could do nothing more than menial labour, Naki was, in fact, a surgeon - and an extremely good one.

Brain O'Connell, University of Western Cape

As the Rector of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Brian has always been passionate about education - as his record shows. Prior to stepping into the hot seat at UWC in October 200, he was the Head of the Western Cape Education Department (a position he assumed in 1995). He has studied both in South Africa and the United States (at New York's Columbia University) and his contribution to education has seen him being awarded with a US Fulbright Scholarship, two British Council grants and an Anglo-American Chairman's Fund grant.

Kemel Omar, Rylands

Before being employed by the Office of the Mayor of Cape Town, Kemal was a high school teacher in Mitchells Plain. And, it was in this capacity that he contributed immensely to the political and educational struggle that existed in the townships of the Western Cape during the 1980s. He is the son of the late Minister of Transport in the national government, Dullah Omar.

Jennifer Peers, Pinelands

Jennifer is a leading light in Africape Tours, which describes itself as "township specialists" committed to "combining tourism with transformation". As part of a carefully planned itinerary by Jennifer and her group, tourists who undertake a cultural tour are introduced to Xhosa-speaking residents of a small informal settlement in Guguletu, enjoy a meal at a traditional Xhosa restaurant and finish it all with a trip to Robben Island.

Alban Peterson, Parow Valley

Alban is a well-known Afrikaans Western Cape gospel singer who has appeared in events such as the Klein Karoo Nasional Kunstefees.

Gert Potgieter, Faerie Glen

Gert is best known for winning the 440 yards hurdles at the 1958 Empire Games held in Cardiff, Wales.

Malcolm Pringle, Newlands

At the 2000 Sydney Paralymics he won a gold medal for the 800m.

Philip Rabinowitz, Hout Bay

A truly inspirational man who at one hundred years of age, is the oldest competitive walker in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Lucas Radebe, Kinross

A true South African ambassador for the sport of soccer. Not only is he a great South African soccer player, but he made history as the first African-based player to captain an English side (Leeds United).

Fhatuwani Ramabulana, Thohoyandou

Fhatuwani is a successful Limpopo Province poultry farmer and in 2001, she was awarded the title of Farmer of the Year by the province. In 2002, she was named Shoprite/Checkers Businesswoman of the Year in the Business Category and also received a trophy from the Thulamela Municipality. In 2003, she was acknowledged by the International Marketing Council of South Africa, as well as the Black Management Forum.

David Rapson, Johannesburg

Dave is the Operations Manager at MTN. He has been involved in the cellular industry since 1992 and has been procuring cellular products for MTN since 1998. During that time, he has been responsible for procuring over 40% of the cellular handsets for South Africa (in excess of 8 million units). By implementing bulk buying techniques, he has reduced the acquisition costs dramatically to the benefit of all South Africans, thus making them more affordable for the average person. His passion for the industry, as well as his integrity, are well known.

Vince Raseroka, Johannesburg

Prior to his current position of MD at Cell C, Vince was the Managing Director of various divisions within the Nampak Products Limited group before his most recent position of Chief Executive Officer with South African Airways, Technical. He has a BA(Hons) Cum Laude Admin. Economics from Fisk University, Nashville, USA, and was nominated to Who is Who amongst students in the USA. Vince gets his passion for his job from always wanting to assist people to uplift and develop themselves. In his spare time he plays golf.

Paul Roux, Gardens

It was during his fourth year at UCT's medical school that Paul made up his mind about which branch of medicine he wanted to specialise in. "I enjoyed working with children so much that I decided to become a paediatrician. Paradoxically, of course, this would have meant running the risk of being surrounded by sick and suffering children for most of my working life." One way of avoiding this, he decided, was to look after the health of his patients as well as he possibly could. With much of his time spent with children with HIV/Aids, Paul began looking for ways of treating them with anti-retroviral therapy and creating opportunities for their mothers to earn an income. This is how the Kidzpositive Family Fund came into being.

Manish Shah, Nairobi

Samsung Distributor in Nairobi.

Zanele Sithu

Zanele became paralysed after an illness. However, this did not stop her from reaching her goal in taking part in the Paralympics 2000 winning a gold medal.

Allan Smart, Cape Town

CEO for Lewis Stores - the biggest furniture retail chain in South Africa.

Christmas Tinto, Guguletu

Nominee of the Mayor of City of Cape Town

Tambo Tolbat, Guguletu

At 18 years of age, Tambo is an avid soccer player and has been playing the game since he was seven. He currently plays for Mother City and recently had to honour of playing in a tournament in Sweden.

Chester Williams, Cape Town

Chester is without a doubt a great South African rugby player and was a member of the South African winning team 1995. He coached the South African 7-a-side to international tournament victory. Chester is clearly a role model for achievement of disadvantaged sports people.

Joy Wilson, Oranjezicht

Joy heads Joy for Life, a non-profit community-based organisation that strives to represent, help and co-ordinate the needs of people living with HIV/Aids through education and information. Joy for Life runs a day care and educational centre and also offers a community centre-day home to those who would, in the normal course of events, be housebound or isolated.

Natasha Yiannoulie, Senderwood

Head Girl at Saheti School, which is the only Greek school in South Africa.

- News24