The Order of Good Hope

Jürgen Schrempp was amazed by the award presented by his friend Nelson Mandela.

Lindiwe Ambuza was the South African Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from 1995 to 1999.

From left: Karlheinz Kögel, Gerhard Schröder, Nelson Mandela and Jürgen Schrempp.

The South African singers filled the air with rhythm.

Nelson Mandela and Jürgen Schrempp have known each other and gotten along well for years.

President of South Africa Nelson Mandela

The highest civilian accolade a foreign citizen can receive in South Africa.

Former Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schröder was also in attendance.

Schrempp receiving the Order of Good Hope presented by Nelson Mandela 1998.

Get together following the ceremony: Jürgen Schrempp decorated with the Order of Good Hope.

Impressive performance by South African chorus at the end of the award ceremony.

The laudation was held by former South African Ambassador Dr. Lindiwe Mabuza.

The Republic of South Africa’s highest civil award for foreign citizens, the Order of Good Hope, honors people who stand up for the welfare of the people of South Africa and who have earned the respect and the recognition of the country of South Africa.

This special honor was bestowed on Jürgen Schrempp in 1998. The President of South Africa at the time, Nelson Mandela, presented him with this medal with the green and yellow band in Baden-Baden. With this award, the Nobel Peace Prize winner honored Schrempp’s sustained commitment to South Africa. The Order of Good Hope has been awarded since 1973. Award-winners also include Queen Elizabeth II of England and Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of England.

Schrempp, who was appointed to the management of Mercedes-Benz of South Africa in 1974, was an early advocate of easing difficult conditions within the company that had been brought about by apartheid.

Schrempp has also been committed to the battle against the relentless epidemic AIDS/HIV for decades – especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. And as Chairman of SAFRI, the Southern Africa Initiative of German Business founded in 1996, he is convinced that a commitment to this region of the future will pay off – from a political, economic and a human point of view. “For it is important to become active in southern Africa, or its problems will come to us.”

The 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa had a particularly positive effect, which could be seen by the whole world. There was around-the-clock media coverage and many visitors took their own personal impressions home with them. The entire African continent benefited. This sporting event provided South Africa the unique opportunity to show all skeptics the high standard of living that has already been achieved and the great people that live there.

South African Government:
Let’s grow South Africa together.

“YOU HAVE TO RID YOURSELF OF HATE TO TRULY BE FREE!”

Nelson Mandela

The southernmost country of the African continent, South Africa is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Eswatini.

The Order of Good Hope

“I paint whatever triggers my imagination.”

Pieter van der Westhuizen was one of the most popular artists in South Africa. He died at age 77 in 2008.