The MEC for Sport and Recreation, Mr A Rajbansi, was acknowledged by the India International Friendship Society (IIFS) for his lifelong and outstanding contribution towards nation building and uplifting the lives of disadvantaged people throughout the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

The Award was presented to the MEC at a glittering ceremony held at the Indian Habitat Centre in Delhi, India on the 2 January 2009 by the Chief Minister of Delhi, a political icon in her city, Smt. Sheila Dikshit. The MEC was a chief guest of the IIFS on the occasion of the Global Friendship Day. The IIFS acknowledges the contribution of people of Indian origin throughout the world and seeks to unite and foster closer working relationships between all in the diaspora.

An upbeat Rajbansi said that it was an immensely proud moment for him to be acknowledged and he was thrilled with this achievement considering that only 6 people throughout the world received this award. Amongst the other recipients were Dr Bhagwan Sani, a world renowned neurologist and medical lecturer at Oxford and Harvard University, Dr Althaf Hoosen from Wales, for his contribution to advancements in orthopaedic surgery, and Dr Abdul Razzak Rumane from Kuwait for his contribution to engineering.

The MEC joked that the Tiger had come back home! A crouching tiger he may be but in reality he is a hidden political genius. From a very early age the MEC abhorred suppression and oppression and became a keen student in the African struggle for liberation. Amongst other prominent leaders he worked closely with, were the late Inkosi Albert Luthuli and Moses Mabhida. Involved in politics for 52 years (1956 – 2008) and often described by the media as “the mythical cat with nine lives”, he is a cunning politician, excellent debater and champion of the rights of minorities. Mr Rajbansi is renowned for “getting the job done”. He has best been described by political reporter Norman West in a 1988 Sunday Times article as the “kanniedood”, a Karoo plant that refuses to wither and die despite the extremes of temperature to which it is exposed.

Under his astute leadership, the fledgling Department of Sport and Recreation, has made giant strides in its first 5 years in developing and promoting sport and recreation in the remotest parts of the province. Kwazulu-Natal has seen a total transformation in the delivery of sport and recreation and he has succeeded in granting access to athletes from all walks of life to sport and recreation programmes – from simple mass based recreation activities to provincial and national competitions. Innovative programmes and the construction of sports facilities in deep rural areas are just some of the achievements under his belt. He has successfully launched the School Sport Mass Participation Programme in 483 rural schools, set up the Siyadlala Mass Participation Programme which has seen a significant increase in the number of activity hubs to 90 benefiting over 700 000 people and creating 650 temporary jobs for unemployed youth in the communities.

In his address to the august gathering in Delhi, the “marathon man” of political debate, Mr Rajbansi, made reference to the influence of Mahathma Gandhi, Pundit Jawharlall Nehru, Nelson Mandela and John Dube towards shaping the future leadership of the world and the fight for freedom of minority groups throughout the world. He advocated a closer relationship with the motherland and urged the government of India to take up the cudgels of non-resident Indians who have been subjected to exploitation and oppression. The Chief Minister, Smt. Sheila Dikshit advocated global unity as means of overcoming the present economic recession and announced that India was amongst the top 5 economic powerhouses in the world. She urged all governments to be transparent and for all political leadership to be accountable to the people.

From the IIFS Awards in Delhi the MEC will wing his way to Chennai where he is a Guest of Honour for the Regional Working Session on Africa at the 7th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention from 7 – 9 January 2009. The MEC has been accompanied by his wife and Member of the Provincial Legislature, Mrs Shameen Rajbansi and the Head of Department, Sport and Recreation, KwaZulu-Natal, Mrs Sumayya Khan.