Local community members were honoured for their contribution to sport, education, arts and culture, community socio-economic upliftment and the promotion of the Hindu religion at the annual Ammen Awards hosted by the Shri Mariammen Temple Society in Mt Edgecombe.
The awards ceremony takes place on Good Friday to pay tribute to individuals or organisations that have been involved in extraordinary work for the upliftment of the community.
This year marked the silver jubilee celebration.
Seelan Achary, chairperson of the Shri Mariammen Temple, said the recipients were awarded for the awesome work that they do.
"Society cannot function if individuals and groups do not put their shoulders to the wheel and make sure that we build South Africa into a non-racial, non-sexist, united and prosperous country.
"All of you from the promotion of religion, languages through arts and culture, the media, community social upliftment and all the other awards that we have if you do not do the work that you do, we wouldn't be a stable society," said Achary.
Recipient in sport was Ibrahim Sharif, who founded Team Siata, an academy with the aim of providing opportunities for diverse, young aspiring riders who feel they have the potential, the talent, and deserve to be supported to fulfill their passion for cycling.
Sharif said he would like to see a lot of young people participate in sport.
"Today we live with a lot of drug abuse and crime and so much money going into rehabilitation centres. Team Siata was formed in 2019 with the aim and objective of not just cycling, but also with a focus on entrepreneurship, education and empowerment. Today we have taken underprivileged youngsters and through our structures we raise funds for them.
"Everybody thinks cycling is an expensive sport, it is; but that is why Siata is here to appeal to sponsors to contribute so that we can uplift communities," said Sharif.
He said it was the first time a local rider of colour, Daniyal Matthews, from Team Siata won the elite men’s title at the South African Road Championships.
"It was the first time that the championship title came back to South Africa. This is the biggest title in South African cycling history. It is a time to celebrate and Daniyal is also an excellent student academically. He has combined sport and education.
"You must be disciplined and committed to cycling. I encourage all parents to allow their children to take up the sport of cycling, it's a lifestyle and gives a lot of benefits. What we are doing is not just uplifting but changing the narrative of South Africa and in sport," said Sharif.
On receiving his excellence in sport award, Matthews said the championship was a special moment for him and his team.
"It is also special to every young rider and aspiring rider who wants to take up sport, any sport even if it's cycling and take it to the highest level," said Matthews.
Phoenix Pioneer School was acknowledged in the excellence in education category for leading the reading development programme.
Verushka Pather, a renowned multi-talented Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, was honoured for her dedication to preserving and promoting this ancient Indian classical art in South Africa and beyond.
Also recognised was Yovani Naidoo, a young multi-talented, multi-linguistic, global singer and musician, as well as Vernon Govender, a skilled harmonium player and musician with extraordinary dedication to the promotion and preservation of music and Amith Arjoon, owner of Nagara Touch, a band he founded 28 years ago.
Parusha Naidoo, an accomplished and internationally renowned musician and teacher, affectionately known as Tabla G, was honoured for promoting arts and culture.
In the category of community social economic upliftment, the recipients included Gopaul Paul Naidoo, Dewdutt Butchoo Folly and Kutlwano Christian-Tripp Moloi.Special recognition awards were given to Devan Govender, Deepak Rampaul, Omesh Balraj, Deepak Maharaj and Premilla Bhoosan.
Guru Mahesan Rasiah was recognised for his promotion of the Hindu religion and Pravindra Adari for promoting the Telugu language.
Excellence in media was awarded to Tansen Nepaul and Romeo Chonco.