Let us salute our Lifetime Achievers, says Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula

LET me turn up the volume. I want my speakers blaring! We are the children of legendary strategists and warriors such as Moshoeshoe, Gungunyani, Shaka, Sekhukhune, Hintsa and Makhado, among others.

We are the children and grandchildren of Nelson Mandela. We are the future - no one can stop us!

This week newspapers, including Sowetan, and social network sites were screaming about Clayton Misoya, aka Luclay, having been robbed of his chance to raise and kiss the R1,3million cheque in celebration in the Big Brother Africa competition.

It was good to hear that Luclay took the loss in good spirits. We hope that in games like these, the organisers will wear their thinking caps and remember to thoroughly educate their audience to avoid such embarrassing situations .

To Luclay: "You represented the country well, son. You are a winner in the hearts and minds of many on the continent. Congratulations."

Two days before Big Brother Africa was caught in a compromising situation, we launched the eKhaya - Home Away from Home project, Bok Day (part of the Magnificent Friday campaign) and the Andrew Mlangeni Legendary Jacket at Freedom Park, Tshwane.

I was asked if I'll be wearing the Green Jacket on the day. I answered: "I am not on the list of the first recipients of the legendary jacket, but if Ntate Mlangeni wants to honour me for having a black belt in karate I received when I was still in the streets of Bochabelo, then I'll be honoured to wear it." This jacket is a symbol of hope, honour and appreciation to those individuals who walked and made a statement in our country.

Still on Friday, I was asked about my look, whether it's a Sport and Recreation look since former minister Ngconde Balfour also had an afro. I said: "It was never my intention to copy the former minister's hairdo."

Anyway, my image consultant is coming with my new look - watch this space. Enough said.

One of the most important aspects of the day was the Steve Tshwete Lifetime Awards, which will be conferred on three men of great stature: Ernie Els, Dr Irvin Khoza and Dr Danny Jordaan. These three gentlemen have inspired and united our nation.

Let me take you on this memorable journey. I was still with the police department as the deputy minister when I got to listen to Dr Irvin Khoza (he and Danny are doctors now because of the role they played in South African sport and politics) at some event. Dr Khoza witnessed a scenario that was going to hurt South Africans and Africans unfolding in a hotel lobby in Switzerland, on the eve of the announcement of the 2006 World Cup host. He saw a certain Charles Dempsey, now late, deep in conversation with former UEFA chief Leonard Johanssen, in the still of the night, just a few hours before the votes would be cast. Dempsey's vote was crucial to the country in hosting the global event.

"Walking down the hotel lobby to my hotel room, listening to classic music, I decided against using the lifts due to my love for that kind of music. I used the stairs to enjoy this classic beat," Dr Khoza said.

"As I slowly walked up the stairs, two characters caught my attention, they were in deep conversation. I looked deep into these characters. I said afterwards, there goes the African dream."

This is a part that is missing in the beautiful 2010 movie by SA's best movie maker, Anant Singh.

That setback did not deter us, but rather motivated us to cover all the corners. We bounced back and hosted the successful vuvuzela-filled Fifa 2010 showpiece.

We laid the ghost of colonialism and despotic rule to rest and charted a way forward for South Africa, taking our rightful place in the community of nations. Through this lesson, Dr Khoza and Danny Jordaan had to soldier on with the firepower in their system and never gave up because we are of the kings and chiefs of Africa and winning is in our DNA. We are proud of these lifetime achievers.

Thank you to the two doctors for the role they played in South Africa becoming a strategic global player. From Nelson Mandela's release to his ascension as the first president of a united South Africa, to winning the 1995 IRB World Cup, hosting the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations and other memorable moments like Joel Stransky's drop goal, Phil Masinga's siyaya eFrance goal, Hendrick Ramaala's New York Marathon victory, Ernie "Big Easy" Els's inauguration in the Golf Hall of Fame, Penny Heyns's never seen, never heard performance underwater, Siphiwe Tshabalala's magnificent opening goal at the Calabash and many other memorable moments. We are a miracle nation indeed.

To Ernie Els, your victories on various golf courses around the world at a young age made many sports lovers and citizens - young and old, white and black - proudly South African. I raise my fist in the air, in the spirit of the late Steve Tshwete, in saluting these three Lifetime Achievers who will be honoured on the Night of the Stars at the Sun City Superbowl on August 21.

• The writer is Minister of Sports and Recreation