He received the award at the recent South African Men of the Year Awards ceremony, which was conducted at the Mosaiek Theatre in Johannesburg.
The awards are an initiative of the Department of Social Development in partnership with various stakeholders in the private sector, non-profit and non-state organisations.
They are aimed at acknowledging honourable men who help preserve human dignity and alleviate poverty and are advocates of positive transformation in their domain.
These awards further encourage communities to identify role models who have produced tangible developments and projects in their communities.
In the Gauteng province, Ekurhuleni stood out when Tsakane Bishop Sipho Mkwawane of uMndeni Fellowship Christian Centre received his award.
Bishop Mkhawane is described as humble and an uncompromising preacher of the Gospel, passionate about empowering the community and engaging in various community development works in and outside Tsakane and Ekurhuleni.
He says: “I am humbled to receive such recognition as this is God’s elevation and all the glory goes to Him.
“This has made me young again and has given me strength and more energy to do more for my community.
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“It is humbling to note that people observe the work we do because giving is the highest level of living.”
Bongani Ngomane, chief director of Social Development and chairman of the South African Men of the Year Awards, visited the church to celebrate with the man of God and his congregation on Sunday. He says he is very pleased about Mkhawane’s achievement.
“I am very proud of Tsakane and to be a resident of the area.
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“Tsakane has been in the past less recognised and considered as one of the poorest communities, but now those days are gone, through the hardworking men such as Bishop Mkhawane who always strive to bring about change in society,” he says.
He adds that the awards are helping transform men, helping to restore dignity, the role and pride of men in the society and it is pleasing to see men like Bishop Mkhawane doing it.
