Thuli Madonsela at the launch of the Thuli Madonsela rose on 6 October 2019. Photograph captured by Julian van Jaarsveld, at Ludwig Roses Pretoria East.
Money raised from the Thuli Madonsela roses will go to the THUMA foundation, said advocate Thuli Madonsela, former public protector and currently chair in Social Justice in the Law Faculty of Stellenbosch University (SU). She was talking at the inaugural annual social justice lecture at the SU on 20 February.
Thuli Madonsela roses are grown on Ludwig’s Roses Winelands, in Stellenbosch. The floribunda roses were named after Madonsela last year. She is also the founder of the NGO, THUMA.
“We awarded her with this rose symbolising compassion, truth and feminine strength because I see what she does, not only for the country, but for womankind,” said Anja Taschner, co-owner of Ludwig’s Roses Winelands. “She stands up in the most feminine way, still voicing her opinion and [getting] the job done,” Taschner added.
Co-owner of Ludwig Roses, Anja Taschner, standing next to a Thuli Madonsela rose bush at Ludwig’s Roses Winelands. PHOTO: Danny-B Smith.
The THUMA foundation receives R10 for every rose plant bought at Ludwig’s Roses, said Taschner. Ludwig’s Roses sells the rose plants at R160 each.
“It really is a special rose in [the sense] that it flowers maniacally with a classic and feminine shape. Yet it’s still rooted in the earth, as is Thuli; very much rooted in the African earth,” Taschner said.
The NGO’s aim is to develop ethical leadership in the context of democracy, with justice and sustainable development being the cornerstones of the THUMA foundation, said Lwazi Mahlangu, the acting managing director of the foundation.
“THUMA is a foundation dealing largely with democracy for all,” Mahlangu said. “We do access to justice and advocacy work,” said Mahlangu.
The foundation encourages self-identification of community issues, according to Mahlangu. Thereafter, the foundation assists in providing solutions for such issues.
A Thuli Madonsela rose at Ludwig’s Roses Winelands. PHOTO: Danny-B Smith.
Other South Africans who have also been honoured with a rose being named after them include Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ryk Neethling, Nomzamo Mbatha and Bruce Fordyce.