Oration of the Grand Patron of the National Orders, President Thabo Mbeki: National Awards Ceremony, Union Buildings

In the name of the people, I welcome you all to the Union Buildings, the seat of government.

This ceremony is convened to admit into the ranks of the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli and the Order of the Companions of O R Tambo, men and women who deserve high tribute for what they have done. These include our honoured friends who come from other parts of the world.

Those we honour today have enriched our lives and made it possible for our diverse nation to strive to define itself according to the ancient and humane tradition of ubuntu.

This is the eleventh time that our free people have had occasion to salute in humble gratitude such distinguished men and women who are, indeed, the stars on our national firmament.

Today they are admitted into the ranks of those who belong to the National Orders of our Republic. Because of their efforts, we are able to live and develop in a world of freedom, without the fetters of oppression or exclusion.

The honours that we bestow today tell the story of what and who we are, of what and who we shall be. These are our National Orders, the symbols that represent the nobility of human endeavour, constituting a hall of fame that will, today, be enriched by new and distinguished members.

We are especially pleased that we are able to admit these members into the ranks of Members of the National Orders during a period we have described as our Age of Hope.

We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit some among us into the Order of the Baobab. These are compatriots who, without discrimination and at great cost to themselves, have rendered exceptional service to the people of South Africa, far beyond the call of duty.

They have acted like the Baobab colossus given to us by the natural world, which has served the people through the millennia.

We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit some among us into the Order of Luthuli. These fellow South Africans made an immense contribution to the realisation of our long-standing dream for a free, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.

All of them sacrificed much, as Chief Albert Luthuli did, so that their compatriots can satisfy the natural human yearning to live, grow and develop in a society free of oppression, racism and bigotry. We have convened today at the seat of government, the Union Buildings, to admit our friends from the rest of the world into the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.

These are citizens of other countries, who, without discrimination and at great cost to themselves, their countries and people, have made an exceptional contribution to the efforts of the people of South Africa to define themselves as human beings, towards which objective Oliver Reginald Tambo devoted his entire life.

All these distinguished Members of our National Orders are the guardians of ubuntu, handmaidens of our liberty, and defenders of a shared human destiny. They stand as beacons that must guide us forever as we build a society founded on the high ideals of freedom, justice, equality and human solidarity.

For all time, these men and women will live on as esteemed Members of these Orders which constitute an affirmation of our new nationhood, as do our National Anthem, our National Flag, and our National Coat of Arms, which represent the highest symbolic repositories of our common nationhood.

The lifetime contributions of the heroes and heroines who are the principals of today's National Orders ceremony light our way as we advance to the better world that is being born.

Their footprints are the indestructible signposts that indicate our route of march, even for generations that have still to emerge out of the distant mists of future time.

We are especially blessed that this ceremony permits us to share an encounter with the honoured Members of the National Orders who live. We are especially privileged that this ceremony brings us into communion with the noble souls of the honoured Members of the National Orders who have departed from the world of the living.

To them all, the living and the dead, on this day, the nation says - bayethe!

On this day, let all citizens and patriots proclaim:

Glory to the Honoured Members of the National Orders!

God bless Africa!

Save her children!

Grant her peace!

Enquiries:
Thabang Chiloane
Cell: 082 888 8783

Sam Matome Bopape
Cell: 082 318 5251

Issued by: The Presidency
22 April 2008