WORTHY WINNER ... Banks Gwaxula(centre) is congratulated by Herald editorHeather Robertson and GM Africa presidentEdgar Lourencon.Picture: SAM MAJELA

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Education top of class with Citizen of Year win2010/10/27 Nomahlubi Jordaan jordaann@avusa.co.za

COMMUNITY builder Banks Gwaxula was named winnerof The Herald General Motors Citizen of the Yearaward at a glamorous event on Friday night.The prestigious ceremony, held at the TsitsikammaConference Centre at the Boardwalk to recognisecitizens who go beyond the call of duty to make apositive difference in the lives of others, wascharacterised by warm conversation, good food andwine.The finalists of the awards, who had already beenselected winners in their respective categories, werealso honoured.They are Zamuxolo Mgoduka (Arts and Culture), Dr NeilLittleton (Business), Russell Domingo (Sport) and RanerSchimpf (Environmental Conservation).Actress and theatre practitioner Nomhle Nkonyeni andSakhisizwe High School principal Mzimkhulu Quntareceived lifetime and merit awards respectively.Accepting his award, Gwaxula said the honour showedthat the team at Ubuntu Education Fund, a non-government organisation, were making a difference inpeople’s lives. “It’s good to get a pat on the back tosay you are doing good. This makes us want to do

more,” Gwaxula said.Among those who attended were Sister Ethel Normoyle, the first winner of The Herald GM Citizen ofthe Year award in 1989, last year’s winner, Jenny Rump, Miss PE Bianca Harper, Protea netballplayer Zanele Mdodana, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University vice-chancellor Prof Derrick Swartzand Nelson Mandela Bay businessmen and women.NMMU Business School director Piet Naude was the master of ceremonies and kept guestsentertained with witty anecdotes.The Herald editor Heather Robertson welcomed guests, citing the importance of the awards.“I am astounded by Nelson Mandela Bay because of the involvement and connectivity of theresidents of the city. People here are concerned, engaged and want to make a difference.”GM Africa president and managing director Edgar Lourencon said the partnership between thecompany and The Herald was “a great element of our contribution to the community”.The guest speaker was business leader Sipho Pityana, who gave a powerful and moving speech.He spoke about the role South African citizens needed to play in society.

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“Societies often attribute growth, development and human progress to technologies and access tocapital. Often, people as the pre-eminent driver of development, are considered last or, worse still,forgotten,” he said.On the role of the media, he said: “When a veil of secrecy is drawn through an introduction ofprotection of information laws that go beyond reasonable requirements of a modern democracy, andwhen we seek statutory interference with a free press, we must know that an attack on freedom ofexpression and resistance to public accountability will follow.”

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