A group of residents from the Sinthumule/Kutama area received awards for their efforts to develop the community on Saturday evening.

The Mawestern Project Infinite awards ceremony was held at the Zamenkomste African Rebirth Church.

The receivers of the awards were people who have excelled in different spheres of life. They include a former member of parliament, Ms Elder Lishivha. The recipients were awarded in the fields of politics, administration, traditional leadership, religion, media, music, sports, education, business and community building.

The chairperson of the project, Mr Michael Mutshinya, said his organisation was development orientated. "We feel we should do something to motivate the heroes and heroines of this country," he added. He mentioned that they were touched when some countrymen and women "worked tirelessly in trying to improve the fortunes of our people”.

He added that the main reason for rewarding community builders was to encourage them to keep on developing the country. He told the guests that it was no use to honour people who had passed away.

The former mayor of Greater Louis Trichardt TLC, Mr Norman Mabila, commended the recipients for achieving great things in life. "We are all destined for great things and we will never become great unless we help our community members to achieve their goals."

One of the recipients, Mr Madidimalo Kutama, who is a teacher by profession and a writer of radio dramas, said the youth had potential that should be unleashed.