The Order of the Baobab in Silver

Malefu Mphathane Awarded for:

Her excellent contribution to the education and upliftment of her community.

Profile of Malefu Mphathane

Malefu Mphathane, a former domestic worker and at present the principal of Meloding Secondary School in Virginia in the Free State, won the Lifetime Achievement Award for her 32 years of dedicated service to education.

Under her leadership at Meloding Secondary, she introduced extra classes for Grade 12 during weekends and holidays. She also solicited sponsorship from some non-governmental organisations to provide meals to the learners during these sessions. She set up a vegetable garden to provide jobs and food to unemployed parents as well as to help orphans and vulnerable children. Mphathane believes education is the lifeblood of any country.

She received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th Annual Teachers Awards ceremony that was held in Pretoria on 29 October 2009 and which was attended by President Jacob Zuma. At a time when education has become the primary focus of government in changing the lives of South Africans for the better, Malefu Mphathane is an outstanding example. The country will continue to rely on people like her.