Struggle heroes honoured

Contributions to public life across all walks of life have been acknowledged by President Thabo Mbeki during an honours ceremony.

Among the awards given in Pretoria on Tuesday was one to former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who posthumously received the prestigious gold Order of the Champions of Oliver Reginald Tambo.

This is conferred only to foreign citizens who made an exceptional contribution to democracy in South Africa.

Nehru, a fierce opponent of apartheid, died in 1964 and received the award for "striving for the ideals of equality and justice in the world".

Russian national Vladimir Shubin was awarded the silver Order of the Champions of Oliver Reginald Tambo for his contribution to the struggle against apartheid and colonialism in Southern Africa.

Shubin, who spent three years at the University of the Western Cape, is a published author on the liberation struggle and is working on a book detailing the effects of the Cold War on Southern Africa.

Mbeki said recipients of the orders deserved tribute in that their efforts had enabled all South Africans to live in freedom without oppression or exclusion.

"The lifetime contributions of the heroes and heroines light our way as we advance to the better world that is being born."

Former transport minister Dullah Omar was posthumously awarded the silver Order of Luthuli for his "excellent contribution to the building of a democratic and non-racial South Africa".

Frene Ginwala, speaker of the National Assembly between 1994 and 2004, also earned the silver Order of Luthuli for her "excellent contribution to the struggle against gender oppression and struggle for a non-sexist, democratic society."

Urbania Mothopeng, 88, of Soweto, received the silver Order of the Baobab for her efforts to uplift women.

"I have no words at the moment to say how I feel," said the frail, veteran schoolteacher.

Madimetja Phokanoka, 67, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years, collected the silver Order of Luthuli for his contribution to nation-building, human rights and peace.

The former Umkhonto weSizwe commissar is now blind and living in Sekhukhuneland.

Germiston-born Dr Sydney Brenner's pioneering efforts in medical research, specifically genetics, were rewarded with the gold Order of Mapungubwe.

He is a distinguished professor at the Salk Institute in La Jolla in the United States.