Pretoria - The Freedom Park Trust has honoured 24 struggle heroes from across the world whose names will be included in the Gallery of Leaders at the Freedom Park.
The Gallery of Leaders is an indoor space that has been reserved to pay tribute to the achievements and represent the leadership qualities of those who brought about qualitative leaps in the struggle for humanity and freedom nationally, continentally and internationally.
Some of the leaders chosen from South Africa included Steve Biko, Dr Yusuf Mohammad Dadoo, King Shaka and Oliver Reginald Tambo.
Continental leaders included Am¡lcar Lopes Cabral, Samora Moises Machel and Dr John Garang de Mabior.
International leaders that made the list were William Edward Burghardt du Bois, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara de la Serno and Fran±oise Domingue Toussaint Louverture.
Announcing the names of the leaders on Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom Park Trust Dr Wally Serote said the nation had been consulted to identify outstanding leaders, who had created conditions for a better quality of life.
He said the process of validating leaders for selection took about seven years to complete.
"The leaders who are deemed exemplary role models in terms of the criteria have been researched, verified and selected for inclusion," Mr Serote said.
The national leaders were chosen for their struggle against repression, exploitation and racism.
International and continental leaders were considered for their contribution to the liberation of South Africa.
Mr Serote said the names will be accompanied by their portraits and a description of what they did.
Other leaders identified from South Africa were King Cetshwayo, Abram Louis Fischer, Helen Beatrice May Joseph, Moses Maune Kotane, Chief Albert John Luthuli, Regent Queen Manthantisi, J.B. Marks, King Moshoeshoe, Lilian Masediba Ngoyi and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.
Other continental leaders that were chosen were Ant¢nio Agostinho Neto, Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Thomas Sankara.
Mr Serote said the exhibitions in the Gallery of Leaders will be an ongoing process where more leaders would be added.
"We are tabling the names for further discussions and call the public to forward their suggestions in this process," Mr Serote said.
