Cape Town, 21 September 2000
Former South African president Nelson Mandela added yet another award to his string of international honours when he was conferred with the World Methodist Peace Award in Cape Town on Thursday.
It was presented to Mandela, a Methodist, by the entire leadership of the World Methodist Council.
Council chairwoman Francies Alguire said the award recognised the inspiration and hope Mandela brought to South Africa, the continent of Africa and the people of the world.
"For over half a century your name has become synonymous with freedom and reconciliation," Alguire said.
"In your struggle for peace and justice you have called us all to a brighter future and to nobler lives."
Alguire said Mandela had shown that suffering and dignity wherever it was found could be overcome and fairness, justice and reconciliation could prevail.
"In you we see the criteria of the World Methodist Peace Award -courage, creativity and consistency exemplified," she said.
Guests at Cape Town's Central Methodist Church were kept laughing with Mandela making jokes about receiving his award.
Mandela told guests that he had never been given any awards while he was state president, or before then.
"I have been given this award for no other reason than that I am no longer a threat to anybody," he said to rounds of laughter.
On a serious note, Mandela said words could not describe the depth of appreciation the award had brought to him and many South Africans.
"Anything that you, in your great ignominy, honour me for, would have been impossible without our comrades and colleagues.
"I would like my acceptance of this award to be understood as an acknowledgement of the church's great job in providing schools to black people at a time when the government neglected its duty."
He also spoke strongly against the wave of terror in the Western Cape.
Referring to the church leaders who presented him the award, Mandela said: "You are meeting in a city that is suffering from a cowardly onslaught of terror by people working against peace and stability."
Mandela said all those who were denied fundamental rights such as education, the church stood to help.
The award is given to people who, due to their convictions, usually face physical danger or put personal interest at risk.
Among international luminaries who have received the award are United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev and the late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.
Mandela is the third South Africa to receive the award, the first being Abel Hendricks in 1980, a clergyman who lived in exile during apartheid, and the former Bishop of the Southern African Methodist Church, Stanley Magoba.
Magoba proudly displayed his medal as he sat among the dignatories.
Also at the ceremony were South African Methodist Church head, Bishop Mvumbe Dandala, who said the church was excited about the award, and Cape Town mayor Nomaindia Mfeketho.
Sapa press report