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Mandela awarded for his contribution to workers' struggle

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December 3, 2000 

JOHANNESBURG--(AP) - The list of awards former President Nelson Mandela has received became even longer Saturday, when South Africa's largest trade federation honored him with a lifetime achievement award.

The 1.8-million Congress of South African Trade Unions gave Mandela the award for his contribution to the struggle of workers. During Mandela's presidency, the government introduced legislation requiring workplace safety, minimum wages and overtime pay.

During a downtown Johannesburg award ceremony that doubled as a campaign rally for the ruling African National Congress party ahead of Tuesday's municipal election, Mandela said he was honored by the award. COSATU and the ANC worked hand-in-hand to battle apartheid.

Mandela, a Nobel peace laureate, received a plaque, a sculpture, a baseball cap and a blanket with the COSATU logo as part of the award.

He told the crowd of about 1,000 that though the ANC may have made mistakes, it was the only party that could deliver services.

"The ANC is the organization of the future," he said. "Nobody can deny the ANC that role."