With just over one month to go before the coveted 2009 Royal Bafokeng Excellence Awards, committee members are busy with the final stages of organizing this much anticipated event on the calendar of the Royal Bafokeng nation.
Scheduled to take place in the heart of the Royal Bafokeng nation, Phokeng, on Saturday 15th August 2009, the awards are also expected to play a significant role in boosting Vision 2020, a programme which aims to foster sustainable development for the Bafokeng through the effective use of resources.
A total of 1 500 people are expected to attend the awards ceremony which will be graced by His Majesty, Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, and various other dignitaries. Entertainment for the event will be provided by the versatile, Big John from Phokeng and Culture Spears.
The event will see a total of 14 people from 10 different categories walking away with the ultimate accolade for excellence bestowed upon members of the Royal Bafokeng nation. The awards recognise those who have excelled in their vocation and or community service, and stand out as embodiments of the tenets espoused in the nation’s Vision 2020.
The nomination process opened on the 4th of May 2009 and will close on the 10th July 2009. The judging panel is expected to deliberate from the 27th – 31st July 2009. The judges will be on the lookout for individuals, organizations and projects that have displayed good citizenship, have exhibited an appreciation & aptitude for quality performance in their respective profession and areas of service, and have stood out as resourceful, innovative and enterprising people.
The categories for the awards include Community Builder of the Year; Educational Institution of the Year (Primary, Middle & High School; Learner of the Year (Primary, Middle & High School); Sports Person of the Year; People living with disabilities – Achiever of the Year; Mofokeng Cultural icon of the Year; Senior Citizen of the Year; Best Lekgotla Award; Businessperson of the Year; and Non-Mofokeng Award.
The judges for this year’s awards are:
· Leemang Eva Mahlangu – Deputy Director responsible for Mainstreaming and Capacity Building in the Office on the Status of Disabled Persons in the Presidency.
- Lot Ntjipa Mahlangu – Managing Director of Tirhani Auctioneers (Pty) Ltd and a Managing Member of Mtungwa Investments.
- BONOLO BLOSSSOM BLANCHE NAMANE (nee MAKGOTHI) – Community Builder
· Kingsley Mmatshwene Duba – Founder and Chief Executive of Mokoena Holdings
· THAPELO MOLAIOA - Training & OD Specialist at Siyakhula Trust
In the build up to the Awards, the Royal Bafokeng Excellence Awards Committee has organized a Media Tour of the Royal Bafokeng Nation scheduled for the 21st of July 2009. The tour is expected to provide members of the media with the opportunity to interface directly with some of the nation’s community projects, as well as highlight Vision 2020 projects which have been celebrated at previous Excellence Awards.
RBN spokesperson, Mr. Mpueleng Pooe said the Excellence Awards had brought about a sense of achievement and accomplishment among the Royal Bafokeng.
“We are seeing admirable efforts being made by our people to ensure that the goal of self-sustainability becomes a reality. We are seeing people venturing out and coming up with creative business ideas in their quest to become empowered.
“Our King, through Vision 2020 and vehicles like the Excellence Awards, has taken a personal stance to shift the mindset of the Bafokeng away from being just work-seeking employees towards becoming job-creating employers thereby transforming the economy from a resource-based economy to one that is knowledge based”, he said.
He added that with the right attitude, the right frame of mind, and the right vehicles, Vision 2020 is destined to positively influence the people of the Royal Bafokeng Nation.