One of Vhembe's longest-serving educationists, Mr Ronald Mutsila, said the award presented to him could not have come at a better time. Mutsila was one of the more than 25 recipients who received awards during the 2012 Annual Calvary Community Empowerment Awards.

The ceremony, which saw many personalities being acknowledged for their selfless contribution to society, was held at the church hall on Saturday. Among the recipients were blind singer Steve Kekana, former soccer star Phil Masinga, Limpopo boxing promoter Josias Maphepha and well-known late clergyman and author Muendane Mahamba, whose award was conferred posthumously.

Speaking after receiving the award,  former circuit-manager-turned-businessman Ronald Mutsila, who retired at the end of last year, said the award was a fitting farewell to his career, which spanned more than 40 years. “I laboured all those years, not knowing that people were watching what we were doing. We were just doing our job and not expecting much from the community."

Mutsila, who now owns two restaurants in Thohoyandou, as well as other businesses, said he once volunteered to go and assist an underperforming circuit at Sambandou and the circuit became the best that year. He encouraged the new crop of teachers to work extra hard and not expect financial rewards but to do so for the benefit of the community.

The church's leader, Dr Maxwell Masakona, said the awards were meant to encourage people from all walks of life to work hard for the improvement of humankind. “We have been doing this for years and we always strive for the improvement of the awards on an annual basis. We will continue to identify individuals who sometimes go beyond the scope of their calling to improve their communities,” he said.