“I feel very much humbled,” Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Kaizer Motaung reacted after being handed over the Siyabakhumbula Award in the ‘Living Legends’ category.

Siyabakhumbula means We Remember Them. The award was initiated by the well-known poet and musician Mzwakhe Mbuli. It essentially honours ‘dearly departed’ prominent South Africans whose contribution positively touched many lives.

However, at the request of the City of Johannesburg, which hands out the awards, the ‘Living Legends’ category was added to give South Africans the opportunity to honour their unsung heroes and heroines while they are still alive.

This year the five honourees were legendary theologian Father Alan Michael Lapsley, veteran actor Washington Sixolo, Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, acclaimed author and former principal of Soweto Pace Commercial College Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali and Kaizer Motaung.

Because the Amakhosi Chairman was unable to attend the awards evening, a trophy and an artist impression of Kaizer Motaung, were handed over at Chiefs Village in Naturena today.

Motaung was honoured for turning a personal talent into a viable business that his Club, Kaizer Chiefs, has become.

“This is the fifth year that we are handing out the awards,” comments Chris Vondo, a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Sports, Recreation, Arts, Culture, Heritage, the Johannesburg Zoo and Theatres. “We honour Kaizer Motaung for his involvement in the struggle and for the way he built Kaizer Chiefs. It’s a reflection for the journey the Amakhosi have travelled that this award was given to him in the year that we celebrate 20 years of democracy. Kaizer Motaung is a true inspiration for all of us. Moreover, we continue to be inspired by his life and his achievements.”

After Vondo handed over the award, it was time for Motaung to react. As usual, the Amakhosi Chairman was modest in his remarks: “It’s nice to be rewarded for the little things we have contributed in life. However, I would like to dedicate this award to all the people that have worked with me over all those years. I am standing on their shoulders. I couldn’t have achieved this without them.”