Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan received special honours at the 2016 Mahatma Gandhi Awards held in Durban on Monday.
Welcoming guests, the eThekwini councillor Sipho Kaunda took the opportunity to address the political instability in the country.
“We are even attacking each other like there is no tomorrow, let us focus our eyes on the economy, the poor and the hungry who also want a slice of this growing economy.
“They are not interested in the factions and ideological battles. Our duty is to refocus our energy and the spear of Gandhi. We are deeply disturbed by the scenes of violence in our campuses, burning of libraries and the brutal force by the police.”
He said students who were involved in the #FeesMustFall campaign should protest peacefully.
The prestigious awards were held in the Durban City Hall and awards were also given to Dr Bernard LaFayette Jnr, Shaka Sisulu, Dr Rick Turner, Professor Jairam Reddy and Judge Albie Sachs.
Madonsela received a Satyagraha Award for the contribution she made to the country in her position as Public Protector. She was honoured for her integrity, commitment and courage as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
Gordhan, also received the Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha Award for his contribution to promoting integrity and commitment in his various roles.
Dr Bernard LaFayette Jnr received the International Award for Peace and Reconciliation.
Lafayette is a longtime civil rights activist and organizer, who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He played a leading role in early organizing of the Selma Voting Rights Movement.
He was a member of the Nashville Student Movement and worked closely throughout the 1960s movements with groups such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the American Friends Service Committee.
In his acceptance speech, he said he was inspired by Gandhi’s life and had learnt a lot from him. LaFayette, who worked with Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, said some might ask why no one had ever heard of him.
“It is because my hand has been down rather than up. I have been down lifting others up. In leadership sometimes you have to bow and be humble in order to help others take a stand.”
LaFayette said he had lent a hand to some of South Africa’s most popular leaders.
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