PRISA honours Desmond Tutu

This PRISA Gold Medal awarded is awarded for outstanding public relations and communication service to South Africa. In the past 50 years PRISA has awarded only eight. Previous recipients include Dr Chris Barnard (1968), Gary Player (1973), Dr Nico Diederichs (1975), Dr J G Loubser (1978), Louis Rive (1981), President F W de Klerk (1991), President Nelson Mandela (1996) and Mark Shuttleworth (2002). Desmond Tutu will be the ninth person to join this honourary group.

The Institute's board has recognised Tutu as a worthy recipient for his contribution. He has raised the profile, image and reputation of South Africa as a country able to transform, develop and progress, despite the challenges it faced. He was the most influential person in the peace and reconciliation process and facilitated this heartrending activity with dignity and compassion.

The name Desmond Tutu resonates richly with people all across the world. While his vigorous anti-apartheid activism in his native South Africa first propelled him into the glare of international news media, today he is revered as a “moral voice” and someone who speaks with gravitas on a range of issues. While he is an Anglican Archbishop emeritus and thus unflinching in his religious beliefs, Tutu also places great value on religious inclusiveness and interfaith dialogue (www.tutu.org/main.htm).

His career includes numerous awards and recognitions, including:

• The Nobel Peace Prize award for his untiring effort in calling for the end to minority rule in South Africa, the unbanning of liberation organisations and the release of political prisoners (1995)
  
• Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995)
  
• Recipient of the Order for Meritorious Service Award (Gold) presented by President Nelson Mandela – 1996