Isitwalandwe/Seaparankoe, until 1994 known as the Isitwalandwe Medal,[1] also known as the Isitwalandwe Award[2] and also spelt Isithwalandwe[3] and Isitwalandwe/Seaparankwe,[4] is the highest award given by the African National Congress (ANC) "to those who have made an outstanding contribution and sacrifice to the liberation struggle", that is, those who resisted the apartheid regime in South Africa (1949−1991) in various ways.[5]
Isitwalandwe means "the one who wears the plumes of the rare bird",[5] in particular the blue crane, which featured in both Zulu and Xhosa culture[2] and is the national bird of South Africa.[6] It was customarily only given to the bravest warriors, those distinguished by their leadership and heroism.[2]
Recipients
Recipients include:[5]
- 1955 Yusuf Dadoo
- 1955 Father Trevor Huddleston
- 1955 Chief Albert Luthuli
- 1975 Moses Kotane
- 1980 Govan Mbeki
- 1980 Bishop Ambrose Reeves
- 1982 Lilian Ngoyi
- 1988 Ahmed Kathrada[7]
- 1992 Harry Gwala
- 1992 Helen Joseph
- 1992 Nelson Mandela
- 1992 Raymond Mhlaba
- 1992 Wilton Mkwayi
- 1992 Andrew Mlangeni
- 1992 Elias Motsoaledi
- 1992 Walter Sisulu
- 1992 Oliver Tambo
- 1994 Joe Slovo
- 2004 Rachel Simons
- 2008 Chris Hani
- 2014 Ruth Mompati
- 2014 Gertrude Shope
- 2019 Denis Goldberg[8]
- 2019 Sophia De Bruyn,[8][9]
- 2019 John Nkadimeng[10][4][11]
- 2019 Winnie Madikizela-Mandela[8][9]
- 2019 Ahmed Timol[8][9]
- 2019 Albertina Sisulu[8][9]
- 2019 Charlotte Maxeke[8][9]
References
- ^ "Isithwalandwe/Seaparankoe". Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Kooopman, Adrian (December 2017). "Isithwalandwe: The wearing of the crane feather" (PDF). Natalia (47): 43–46. Retrieved 1 May 2020. Natlia
- ^ "Isithwalandwe". A Dictionary of South African English. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ a b "ANC National Chairperson, Comrade Gwede Mantashe speaks on behalf of the ANC after the Officials lead by the President awarded Isitwalandwe/Seaparankwe Ntate John Nkadimeng the highest honour of the ANC". African National Congress. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Isitwalandwe / Seaparankoe the Highest Award of Honour, 1955 - 2014". South African History Online. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "National Symbols" (PDF). South Africa. Dept of Trade and Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada Timeline: 1929 - 2017". South African History Online. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Struggle hero Denis Goldberg honoured by his award from the ANC". IOL (Cape Argus). 23 January 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Madikizela-Mandela bestowed Isithwalandwe Award". SABC News. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ Tandwa, Lizeka (15 April 2019). "Ramaphosa hands over ANC's highest honours to struggle veteran John Nkadimeng". News24. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ Mvumvu, Zingisa (15 April 2019). "ANC endorsed by family of veteran John 'Joe' Nkadimeng". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 1 May 2020.