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Durban: The Foundation for Human Rights today, 23 January 2004, will honour the national Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar, for his human rights activities and lifetime contribution to South Africa's democracy.

The honour is in recognition of the work of the Minister as a human rights lawyer including defending political prisoners and banned political parties.

Speaking of the award, the Minister said one of the greatest achievements has been the setting up of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He said with no model to learn from, he led a team that worked around the clock to develop a system that has become a model of reconciliation and unity across the world.

"It was a wonderful experience, when one look back and see how South Africans of all colours are working together to build a non-racial and united South Africa, we are happy that the foundation has been laid for a better South Africa," he said.

Minister Omar added that the award is recognition of work done by ordinary people across the country in fighting for justice and basic human rights. "This award belongs to the people of South Africa of all colours who worked hard over years to build a non-racial and united South Africa," he said.

The award is part of the Foundation for Human Rights conference to celebrate a decade of democracy. The conference started on 22 January 2004. Among the issues to be discussed at the conference is the review of ten years of democracy, a look at the judicial system, from freedom to democracy and women rights in the past decade of democracy.

The Minister was admitted as an attorney in 1960, and later admitted as an advocate of the Supreme Court in 1982. During practice both as an attorney and an advocate, he served deprived communities, involving civil and criminal defence work and handling housing, pass laws, labour and work related cases. He was also the defence lawyer for numerous prisoners serving sentences at Robben Island and elsewhere, and legal representative to a number of trade unions as well as civic and religious organisations.

The Minister was the defence lawyer for many political trials involving members of banned organisations such as the African National Congress, Pan Africanist Congress and BCM charged with resistance activities against the apartheid regime.

Minister Omar would be discharged from hospital this afternoon.

Enquiries: Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 908 0054

Issued by: Ministry of Transport

23 January 2004