Sweet rose named after champion Thuli Madonsela
Roses are red, violets are blue – and you would have to be super awesome to have a rose named after you.
And awesome she is; Professor Thuli Madonsela yesterday had a rose named after her at Ludwig’s Rose Farm, north of Pretoria, in recognition of her work as a champion for social justice.
The event, held at the barn, was exquisite in the rosy decor and a delicious spread of food. With the theme The Language of Colour, those who attended had donned their splendid attire.
But it was “the woman of the moment” who stole the spotlight with a white and pink number.
Upon accepting her honour, Madonsela likened the rose to a woman. “It’s very misleading, this rose. It looks fragile and vulnerable, but it’s very strong at the end of the day. That is women for you; misleading in a sense that they look fragile, but they are very strong, especially together,” she said.
She explained that a flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms. “And that’s what people should do. Help each other to blossom without thinking that their shine will go dim,” she said.
According to Anja Taschner, of Ludwig’s Roses, the public had been asking them to name a rose after Madonsela for some years, but they held back while she was still in public office.
Read the full story on: IOL.