AREA is very proud of board member Maurizio Mariano, who was awarded the Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Third Class, Commander) on Friday 1 June at the Italian consulate in Johannesburg. Maurizio is the first non-resident Italian to be honoured with this Order of Knighthood in South Africa.

In addition to this honour, Maurizio was recognised in Rome in May 2018 by South African Ambassador to Italy Prof Shirish Soni and Team South Africa in Italy “in recognition of [his] sacrifice and continued dedication and contribution to building a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa”.

Main image: AREA board member Maurizio Mariano together with Gugu Motlanthe, former president Kgalema Motlanthe and anti-apartheid activist Sophia Williams-de Bruyn, celebrating Maurizio’s Italian Order of Knighthood on 1 June 2018 at the Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg.

Maurizio (in black in the centre) being celebrated for his outstanding achievement by AREA board members (from left) Thandi Chaane, Tessa Browne, Bev Evangelides, Sifiso Thobakale, Des Hugo and Peter Lee.