Gateway News launching monthly column to celebrate ‘True Champions’
Men and women who the public have nominated because of their stand against corruption were honoured at a function at the Communitas Auditorium in Waterkloof Glenn, Pretoria, on Monday (November 18) evening.
“The idea was not to have a competition, but rather to give recognition to people that are doing things right in their effort to curb the wave of corruption in our country”, said Marcel Versfeld, National Coordinator of UE. He went on to say: “We want to highlight the feel good stories in contrast to the sickening reports of bribery and corruption in order to give hope to ordinary South Africans that will encourage them to stand up for ethics, values and clean living.”
Those honoured at the Gauteng Recognition Function represented the following categories: Business, Church, Education, Government, Health, NPO, Sport and Youth. They include ordinary South Africans as well as public figures like Johan Ackerman (Golden Lions), Rev Dirkie van der Spuy (Dutch Reformed pastor Moreleta Park) and Myan Subrayan (sports book author). Jannie de Beer (former Springbok fly half) was the patron of the Sport category.(See names of all the nominees at the end of this report).
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A special Award ceremony was held in Bloemfontein on October 18 and one is also planned for Cape Town on March 7, 2014. Versfeld said that this is just the beginning. “We hope that this will grow into an annual event where South Africans will be influenced to take responsibility in their own communities to do the right thing.”
Send us your suggestions for the monthly column
Meanwhile, Gateway News, in association with Unashamedly Ethical, will shortly be launching a new monthly column to share the testimonies of some of South Africa’s ‘True Champions’ who bring glory to God and bless their fellow-citizens, by opposing the tide of corruption in their spheres of influence. The new column will be launched on December 19. You are warmly invited to suggest anybody you think deserves recognition as a ‘True Champions’. Please email your suggestions to news@gatewaynews.co.za.
The nominees at the Gauteng Recognition Function:
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| Ewald Meyer | Business |
| Teresa Conradie | Business |
| Patrick Kuwana | Business |
| Ethel Lues | Business |
| Greg Gow | Business |
| Dirkie van der Spuy | Church |
| Gerald Hugo | Church |
| Ilse du Plessis | Education |
| Pieter van Wyk | Education |
| Michelle Clark | Education |
| Sharleen Schalkwyk | Education |
| Mike Tshishonga | Government |
| Chris Lodewyk | Government |
| Bets van Schalkwyk | Health |
| Esmeralda Kilian | Health |
| Trevor and Violet Brink | Health |
| Leon Myburgh | Health |
| Tony Paladin | Health |
| Hennie Hannekom | NPO |
| Elza Meyer | NPO |
| Johan Ackerman | Sport |
| Myan Subrayan | Sport |
| Arno Botha | Youth |
| Billy Harper | Youth |
| Te-Nida Naude | Youth |
More than 15 000 South Africans have signed the Unashamedly Ethical commitment to a public life of ethics, values and clean living. If you haven’t committed yet, why not do so now, here.
Excellent initiative. There are so many reports of Corruption, so few of those who stand up against it, who expose it, who live lives of Integrity. There are more than mere ‘feel-good’ stories, though they do have that effect. But these are motivating stories that inspire hope and actual action.