The importance of the 31st of May in South African history

May 31, 2013 by Who's Who of Southern Africa 

In 1902 the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed.

This Peace Treaty ended the Second Boer War, which was waged against the British Empire by the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. The two independent Boer Republics surrendered their independence and agreed to swear allegiance to the authority of Edward VI while the British Empire guaranteed them protection of the Dutch language in schools, general amnesty, the maintenance of property rights and a few other predetermined conditions. Interestingly, the Treaty is named after the town Vereeniging even though it was signed at Melrose House, Pretoria. It was signed on 31 May.

In 1910 the Union of South Africa was formed.

The Treaty of Vereeniging also stated that the Boer Republics would eventually be granted self-government status even under British possession. Eight years later, the Union of South Africa was created on 31 May 1910. The Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State together became the Union of South Africa and the united colonies shared a flag. This means that the Union of South Africa initially remained under the British Empire but the Empire could no longer legislate on behalf of South Africa and the Union thus gained self-governing authority. Although not an independent country yet, it was considered equal in status with other dominions like Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1961 the Republic of South Africa was established.

In 1961, the United Kingdom surrendered control of South Africa, and it became an independent state under the government of PW Botha. Queen Elizabeth II thus became the last reigning Queen of our nation. As decided upon by other member states, the Republic of South Africa’s membership to the Commonwealth was revoked on 30 May 1961. The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organization that consists of 53 countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. Alongside shared values and equal status, trade with another Commonwealth member has been shown to be higher than with a non-member.

In 1994 South Africa resumed its membership of the Commonwealth of Nations.

On 31 May 1994, in the year that South Africa held their first democratic elections, we rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations. It was exactly 33 years and a day after the British monarch ceased to be the Head of State in South Africa.

Former President Nelson Mandela was delighted and said that the Commonwealth’s decision was ‘a tribute to the momentous changes that have taken place in our country as well as a challenge for South Africa to play its part in the worldwide quest for a peaceful, harmonious and caring world.’

By Lauren van Schalkwyk, Online Content Administrator at Who’s Who

Spotlight On: David, Sales Executive and Entrepreneur

April 30, 2013 by Who's Who of Southern Africa 

DavidWe asked David Mckenna a few questions about his career as Sales Executive of a language services firm called North by North Communications. He was also integral to the conception and formation of the company.

When discussing various roles and duties during the start-up phase of the company, it was decided that David would be the most suitable candidate for the sales executive position because of his previous experience and his aptitude. He therefore didn’t apply for the position in the conventional sense.

David plans to further his studies but he is currently focusing all his attention on NBN Communications. Although he has not had any formal tertiary education, he credits hard work, life experiences, travelling and entering the work force at young age for his current success. His first job was as a direct salesman for an Internet company based in the UK. That job required him to do door-to-door sales in the middle of the British winter. Those experiences equipped him with indispensable personal skills such as time management and the mastering of inter-personal relationships. It also enabled him to build a network of who’s whos in his industry. He considers his attendance at networking events a priority, which he enjoys as he not only prefers, but also takes pleasure in, face to face communication more than emails and calls.

He admits that there aren’t a fixed number of hours that he is required to work a day because as an entrepreneur one is constantly thinking of new ideas and strategies. He adds that not having the typical fixed daily routine elevates the level of enjoyment. The field of sales is generally difficult, according to David, and he claims that it requires a positive and competitive attitude to be successful. He relies on his instincts and his ability to perform better under pressure to motivate himself, especially since he knows that his results are constantly measured.

He says, “Working in sales can be one of the most rewarding vocations out there, provided that you have the right attitude and can handle working under pressure.”

By Lauren van Schalkwyk, Online Content Administrator at Who’s Who

What are South Africa’s ‘National Orders’?

April 26, 2013 by Who's Who of Southern Africa 

The President of South Africa is able to award citizens with the highest form of recognition that a country can bestow. These awards are presented to carefully chosen South Africans and foreign nationals who have played a part in developing this country. After becoming a democracy in 1994, the pre-existing titles of South Africa’s National Orders changed slightly, to reflect a country that is committed to non-racism, non-sexism and human rights, while emphasising the importance of recognising the country’s unsung heroes and heroines.

The newly redesigned and renamed six National Orders were first presented in 2003 by the South Africa’s president at the time, Thabo Mbeki. A person does not have to be a well-known personality to receive an order; everyone is eligible to receive the honour and it can be awarded posthumously. The Chancery of Orders invites members of the public and all non-governmental organisations to complete a nomination form and provide a motivational letter detailing the eligibility of the candidate. These documents are then sent to the National Orders Advisory Council for consideration.

The six different awards each consists of Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. Each Order represents a specific industry or a particular area of civil service in which the recipient has excelled, or contributed greatly towards.

  • The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo is awarded to heads of state and other dignitaries for promoting peace, co-operation and friendship towards South Africa.  One memorable receiver of this Order was Rev. Jesse Jackson who received this honour in 2013 for dedicating his life to the fight against inequality and for “his excellent contribution to the fight against apartheid”
  • The Order of Mapungubwe (the only Order to include a Platinum category) is awarded to South African citizens for achievements that have caused international waves and served the interests of the Republic of South Africa. John Maxwell Coetzee received this honour in 2005 for his “contribution in the field of literature and for putting South Africa on the world stage.”
  • The Order of the Baobab is awarded to South African citizens for distinguished service in the fields of business and the economy; science, medicine and technological innovation; and community service. Franklin Sonn was honoured in 2008 for his excellent contribution to education and the course of justice in South Africa.
  • The Order of Luthuli is awarded to South Africans who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, peace and conflict resolution. The Gold category was bestowed upon Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma  for her life’s work to the cause of freedom and the development and consolidation of our democracy to create a better life for all.
  • The Order of Ikhamanga is awarded to South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport. Former President Mbeki decorated Gary Player in 2003 for excellence in golf and his contribution to non-racial sport in South Africa.
  • The Mendi Decoration for Bravery is awarded to South African citizens who have performed extraordinary acts of bravery. Phindile Ndlovu sacrificed herself in an attempt to save the lives of young children from the fire and was commended in 2009 posthumously.

Freedom Day on the 27th of April marks the 19th investiture ceremony where the names of the 2013 National Order recipients’ will be announced by President Jacob Zuma.

By Lauren van Schalkwyk, Online Content Administrator at Who’s Who

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