Lions Club of Kirstenbosch has presented Denis Goldberg with the international service organisation’s highest honour, the Melvin Jones Fellowship.
Mr Goldberg, one of the last two surviving Rivonia trialists, was imprisoned for 22 years during the Struggle against apartheid.
Lions Club International’s Melvin Jones Fellowship is bestowed on patrons of humanity, possessed of a world-view and who perform deeds that outlast a lifetime, according to outgoing Lions Club of Kirstenbosch president Rehana Khan Parker.
The Louis Volks Humanitarian Award was awarded to two individuals.
This is the highest recognition presented in South Africa. It is presented to a Lions club member or non member who through their involvement in the community has enhanced the quality of lives of many. The recipients were Yasmina Abrahams of Jabulani Feed the Nation and Shukoor Mowzer of Nakhlistan.
Jabulani Feed the Nation, in Parkwood, serves meals to approximately 400 people daily.
For many, who are impoverished, it is their first meal of the day.
A series of iftars (breaking of the fast) sees close to 26 000 people being served during Ramadaan.
Mr Mowzer, who 35 years ago vowed not to prepare lavish Eid lunches, started Nakhlistan, serving people with only two pots of food. During this year’s Ramadaan, 169 pots of food were served to 85 000 people.
Lions Club of Kirstenbosch is part of the world’s largest philanthropic organisation with more than 1.3 million members in more than 206 countries.
The awards were handed out at the induction of the club’s new president, Hassan Khan, on Saturday July 20.