South
Africa is doing much to address many of the key challenges confronting its Men
and Boys. November 2015 saw the
inauguration of the South African Men’s Awards as a component of its International Men's Day observances.
The South African Men’s Awards acknowledges and celebrates Men from
diverse professional backgrounds who are positive male role models and have
strengthened and empowered their communities.
Facilitated by the National Chair for the South African Men’s Awards, Mr. Bongani
Ngomane, the 2017 South African Men’s Awards was conducted
under the theme “Transforming South
African Men” on 29 November 2017 in
the Carnival City Casino in Brakpan, Johannesburg, South Africa. Honorees were:
Honoured Legend
– Dr.
Richard John Pelwana Maponya, a South African entrepreneur and
property developer. Best known for
overcoming the restrictions of apartheid and successfully building a business
empire, Dr. Maponya worked to help
economically develop the Soweto Township.
Honoured Legend
– The
Honorable Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada was a South African politician,
political prisoner, and anti-apartheid activist who was born on 21 August 1929
and died on 28 March 2017. His
involvement in the anti-apartheid activities of the African National Congress
(“ANC”) resulted in his long-term imprisonment on Robben Island and Pollsmoor
Prison. Subsequent to his release in
1990, Kathedra was elected to serve in the South African Parliament where he
represented the ANC. He authored a
book, “No Bread For Mandela—Memoirs of Ahmed Kathrada, Prisoner No. 468/64”.
Joining
The
Honorable Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada and Dr. Richard Pelwana Maponya
as honorees at the 2017 South African Men’s Awards were:
Dr. Donato Francisco Mattera, better known as Don
Mattera, is a South African poet and author. His political activism
resulted in his being banned from 1973 to 1982 and as a result he spent three
years under house arrest. He became a
founding member of the Black Consciousness Movement and joined the African National
Congress Youth League. He helped form
the Union of Black Journalists as well as the Congress of South African
Writers. A recipient of an Honorary
Ph.D. in Literature from the University of Natal in Durban, Dr. Mattera also
worked as a journalist for The Sunday
Times, The Sowetan, and the Weekly Mail (now known as the Mail and Guardian).
Mr. Andrew Mokete Molakene is a South African
political activist and Anti-Apartheid campaigner, who along with the late Honorable
Nelson Mandela and others was held as part of the Rivonia Trial,
found guilty, and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. Subsequent
to his release from prison in 1990, Mr. Molakene seved as a member of
Parliament for the African National Conference from 1994 through 1999.
Dr. S.D. Gumbi is a motivational speaker, marriage
counselor, evangelist, and accomplished music composer and producer who created
a gospel group – S.O.S. Choir – in 1984 which has a platinum album to its
credit, “Hamba Mzalwane”.
Mr. Condry Ziqubu, born on 28 July
1951 in Alexandra, Johannesburg, is an accomplished musician who toured with
American entertainer Mr. Harry Belafonte and was a member of Harari, South
Africa’s premiere importers of soul and funk music which were sung in Zulu and
Sotho.
Mr. Linda Twala, born in 1944, is a
funeral services businessman who helped build a community center in Alexandra –
a city that, under apartheid, the South African government attempted to
destroy. Twala’s home served as a
meeting place for anti-Apartheid activists.
As a result, authorities of the South African government purposefully
set his house on fire. Mr. Twala
continues to enrich the life of his community.
Mr. Peter Mokoena is known as the “Father of Afro-Gospel” and for having a
“hawk’s eye for talent”. He has launched
the careers of a number of successful South African creative artists who
include Brenda
Fassie, the late Vuyo
Mokoena, Rebecca Malope, Winnie Khumalo and the
musical group Pure Magic.
Pastor Angus Buchan was born in Bulawayo
before moving to Greytown in kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in 1976. Buchan is the founder of Shalom
Ministries. In 1985, he established the
Beth-Hatlaim (House of Lambs) Orphanage which 25 orphaned and abandoned
children call home and the Halalisani Farm School which has an enrollment of
approximately 200 students. Pastor
Buchan is the author of a book, “Faith
Like Potatoes” which was adapted into a semi-biographical film entitled, “Ordinary People”.
Mr. Babsy Mlangeni is a South African
musician and an inspiration to individuals with disabilities not just in South
Africa but around the world. Mr.
Mlangeni, who is blind, became a music professional in 1968, One year later, his first single, “Sala Emma” skyrocketed up the music
charts and put Mr. Mlangeni on the path to becoming South Africa’s first blind
superstar. Aware of the fact that the
general public in South Africa had very little knowledge about the capabilities
and talents of its disabled citizens, Mr. Mlgangeni composed awareness songs “Motho Keo” and “Minia Ngiyaphila”. In an
effort to resolve the financial exploitation of Black artists by
Caucasian-owned and controlled music companies, Mr. Mlangeni established We Black Artist Management.
Mr. Thulani Sibisi, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Sports Award
Mr. Dev Mamabolo, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Science and Technology Award
Mr. Amos Zhou, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Leadership Award
Dr. Putswana Senoamadi, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Health Award
Mr. Khangelani Sibiya, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Education Award
Mr. Steven du Plessis, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Community Development Award
Mr. Jerry Zwane, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Arts and Culture Award
Mr. Becker Simela, recipient of the 2017 South Africa Men’s Media Award
Mr. Brandon Tshabangu, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Entrepreneurship Award
Mr. Matthews Mogafe, recipient of the 2017 South African Men’s Man Of The Year Award
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