THOHOYANDOU- Several people around the jurisdiction of Thulamela Municipality were awarded with trophies for their achievements in 2002/03 in a variety of areas. The function was held at Thohoyandou Town hall on Saturday night.

The ceremony was attended by several MECs in the Limpopo Province, include the MEC in the premier's office, Ms Catherine Mabuza, the MEC for Local Government, and the MEC for Public Works, Mr Collins Chabane. Chiefs from around Thulamela and community members also attended the well-organized function.

According to the Mayor of the Thulamela Municipality, Mr Thivhilaeli Makumbane, the main purpose of the function was to motivate people who do good things for their community and themselves. As the municipality, "we have the right to motivate those who committed themselves to doing good things in order to benefit other people," he said.

Makumbane elaborated that this was just the beginning, since it will be an annual function. He encouraged those who are still discouraged to work in order to get something they deserved. Makumbane appealed to those who received the awards to go and work hard and not to relax, as the municipality regard them as role models for other younger people. "You are the ambassadors of our municipality," the Mayor said. He expressed his pride in the South African welter-weight boxing champion, Philip Ndou, who hails from this municipality.

In the media category, one of the award winners was the senior correspondent of Mirror, Mr Frank Mavhungu, who received his sixth trophy for good reporting and promoting sport in the Thulamela Municipality. In July this year, Mavhungu won the award for the best print journalist, beating journalists who report to the daily newspapers, who participated in the competition of the Castle Regional Soccer league. Joes Mashimbe, a sports presenter at Munghana Lonene FM, SABC Radio, was chosen as the best for scooping awards in different soccer competitions. Mashimbye won the Telkom Charity cup Presenter of the tournament, SABC Radio Broadcasting Live event commentary awards and COSAFA Radio best Journalist of the year in the whole South African Region.

Other people who received awards in the media category are Mpho Nefale from Phalaphala FM, Bishop Baloyi from Jacaranda FM and Ndivhuyafhi Mathode for current affairs. The South African boxing champion, Philip Ndou, was one of the recipients for putting the Thulamela Municipality and the whole of South Africa on the map. Other boxers who received awards include Michael Baloyi. In the athletics category, Azwinaki Ndou, who participated in France in May and won the 10km junior category, and his coach, Baldwin Masutha, received trophies. In the soccer category, the people who received awards were a young lady, Mukondi Mulaudzi, who was selected to represent South Africa in Brazil and Portugal, Christopher "Matari" Netshidzivhe of Black Leopards, who was selected for Bafana Bafana to play against the Ivory Coast and for the camp of the COSAFA match, and Tonic Chabalala, the former captain of Dynamos. Other people who collected awards were Barry Ramunenyiwa of Vevisa lodge, and George Magwabeni as the best businessman. Seventy-three people received awards.

The MEC for Local Government, Mr Joe Maswanganyi, encouraged those who received trophies to work for the development of the country, and praised the municipality for what they are doing to motivate those deserving of receiving the awards.