Clan pats Dr Hlami Ngwenya on the back for national award

All pics by Harhi Khosa.

Dr Hlami Ngwenya is the Order of Baobab in bronze 2021 recipient. Phalaborwa based leader of the greater Ngwenya clan covering Mpumalanga and Limpopo Marx Ngwenya has hailed Dr Hlamalani’s achievements after she became the Order of Baobab in bronze recipient and says she was not doing it for herself but for the clan as a whole.

Representing the entire clan at the event in Giyani on Saturday, Ngwenya hailed Dr Ngwenya for her achievement.

“When we saw you on national television being presented with the award by president Cyril Ramaphosa, we felt big and you have put us on the map,” he said.
The woman who is a chief director in the Western Cape could not take all the accolades as emotions got the better of her and she shed tears.

In awarding her, the president said she was being recognised for her commitment to sustainable agriculture as she uplifts rural communities.

Journalist Benson Ntlemo who was a guest speaker told the people that she was a deserving recipient as she has travelled to more than 50 countries facilitating workshops and seminars.
“She is a diligent woman and there are countries in the world which she has visited more than 10 times in her pursuit to improve the lives of people through sustainable agriculture,” he said adding that he even understood her emotions.

“American civil rightist Jesse Jackson says there are two different types of tears,” said Ntlemo and added, “ He says there are tears of fears, and other type of tears, the tears of joy. Those are tears of power, character & of integrity. Those are the tears that make the flowers of justice and mercy grow,” said Ntlemo quoting the revered leader who is reputed to be the last man to see the late Dr Martin Luther King junior alive.

Dr Hlami appreciated her family and said as a baobab herself her family are the roots.
She jokingly said she drank lot of water that is the reason she sheds tears.
It was a function to remember with members of the clan dancing until the wee hours of the morning celebrating the achievement of one of their own.