Pretoria - Minister in the Presidency for National Planning Trevor Manuel is among the prominent figures who will receive honorary degrees at Canada-based McMaster University's spring convocation.
The University said Manuel will receive an honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws at the Faculty of Social Sciences convocation on June 14.
Born in 1956 during the height of South African apartheid, Manuel was labeled "coloured" or "mixed race" under the country's racial classification system. He spent much of his adolescence in and out of prison before making a transition to federal politics in the late 1980s.
He served as Finance Minister between 1996 and 2009, and worked alongside former President Nelson Mandela and his successor Thabo Mbeki for several years. He currently chairs the National Planning Commission of South Africa.
Honorary degree recipients are recognised for their lifelong contributions in public service, education and scholarship, creative and performing arts and efforts within the McMaster community.
