UITENHAGE-BASED motor manufacturer Volkswagen South Africa became the first and only company in the province to be honoured at the Eastern Cape Awards in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, November 13. The Metropolitan Eastern Cape Awards honoured 22 high achieving role models born in the province - plus Volkswagen South Africa which has just celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first VW product in this country. Volkswagen South Africa was honoured with the Business Award which was presented to Managing Director Hans-Christian Maergner Former President Nelson Mandela was honoured with the Icon of the Century Award while the province’s first premier, Raymond Mhlaba , and the late Govan Mbeki, were honoured with Lifetime Awards. SACOB's CEO Kevin Wakeford was honoured with a statuette for entrepreneurship while President Thabo Mbeki’s economic advisor Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu received the award for finance. Industrial Development Corporation chief Khaya Ngqula received the award for corporate achievement while Director General of the South African Department of Communications, Andile Ngcaba received the Technology award. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of the University of the Witwatersrand Professor Loyiso Nongxa received the education award. Others honoured were theatre legends Winston Ntshona and John Kani, musician and composer Sizwe Zako, Community leader Dan Qeqe, former leader of the Eastern Cape Council of Churches Rev D Soga, former ANC Youth League President Lulu Johnson and former Secretary for Education in the Ciskei, Obrey Bomela. Receiving posthumous awards on behalf of their family were Samora Biko on behalf of his activist father Steve, Dr Gavin Blackburn on behalf of his activist wife Molly, Mrs Mangcu for her artist father George Pemba, a Kulati family member for the award for student leader Sheya Kulati and Mrs Joyce Mtimkhulu on behalf of Siphiwo Mtimkhulu. The awards are aimed at showing youth role models they can follow to achieve success and to make the rest of South Africa aware of the Eastern Cape’s best exports.