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The Democratic Alliance (DA) congratulates Colin Eglin on receiving Liberal International’s Prize for Freedom 2012 this weekend. The last South African to win the prize was Helen Suzman in 2002.

Liberal International presents the annual Prize for Freedom to an individual that made an outstanding contribution to human rights and political freedoms. Past winners include Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi and Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland.

Mr Eglin is indeed a deserving recipient of the Prize for Freedom for his contribution to the realization of a democratic South Africa. Nelson Mandela described Mr Eglin as: “one of the architects of our democracy" and that aptly describes the pivotal role he played in the constitutional negotiations. President Mandela also called him “a remarkable man, a true son of South Africa, and no stranger to the new patriotism that is healing our land.”

As a founding member of the Progressive Party - a predecessor of the Democratic Alliance – Mr Eglin fought against Apartheid in Parliament for over forty-five years. His contribution to the struggle against Apartheid in Parliament led to him being named as Parliamentarian of the Century in 2004.

Mr Eglin is an inspiration to the DA and all South Africans.