Fifty Indian community leaders here have been conferred with special awards for their humanitarian work while promoting religion, culture and traditions.
They were given the award at the inaugural Humanitarian Service Awards hosted at the Actonville Hindu Seva Samaj Auditorium in the town of Benoni, east of Johannesburg.
Dr Jaintylal Nana of the Benoni Hindu Seva Samaj explained how Vincent James Cook of Ganapathy Promotions had come up with the idea of honouring past and present leaders of the local community.
Indian dance and music groups from all over the Gauteng province participated in the event.
Nana detailed how the forebears of the Actonville community had made great financial and personal sacrifices in under-developed areas in the neighbouring towns of Boksburg and Benoni before Actonville was established.
"But despite all the hardships and difficulties the one important aspect of their lives was that they never forgot or gave up or neglected their religion, their culture and their traditions.
"Their legacy is evident in the manner in which we in this age foster, practice and preserve our religion, culture and traditions.
This is evident in the temples, mosques and churches that we have built in Actonville without any government assistance or funding," Nana said.
"We are making these awards to instil in the present and future generations a sense of pride, hope and identity for who we are, to share with other people, and to take care of the destitute.
