Mooiplaas hero wins 2025 Inaugural Men of Influence AwarMooiplaas hero wins 2025 Inaugural Men of Influence Award
Mlungisi Maseko (43) from Mooiplaas near Badplaas and local village hero, has won the recognition award at the 2025 Inaugural Men of Influence Awards, held at the State Theatre in Tshwane on 22 March 22.
The award was given to Maseko, who used his entire pay-out from the Road Accident Fund of R1.3 m to provide water to more than 100 families from his area after being without it for 15 years. Despite his own injuries he suffered during an accident, he opted to rather aid his community than keeping the money for himself.
Maseko bought water tanks, pipes and other equipment and also hired workers to channel stream water to 100 homes at the bottom of the mountain. He donated the entire amount towards the project as the municipality always said it did not have the money to provide the villagers with running water. Maseko’s extraordinary act in 2024 saw him become not only a local hero, but being honoured by the National Arts and Culture Department with an award recognising outstanding men who make significant contributions.
Founder of the awards, Larry Matlala, said Maseko’s story touched many people. He was quoted in The Sowetan “Maseko’s story touched many hearts as it told a story of a selfless man from a tiny village who placed the needs of the community before his own. His pay-out didn’t change his heart and made him selfish. We want to celebrate such men in our country. We know there are many men doing amazing things and Maseko cannot be left out of the celebration dedicated to such men.”
Maseko was collected in style from his village and taken to Gauteng for the award celebrations. “He received a new suit for the awards. He was picked up from his home and driven to his hotel where he had a new hair cut by professional barbers who are some of our sponsors. We celebrated him to make him see that what he has done is amazing,” Matlala added.
Maseko told Chief Albert Luthuli News that he was excited to have been honoured although when he donated the money he was not doing it for fame but simply to assist the community to access struggling water, a basic need, which they have not had for almost two decades. “I am very grateful to have received VIP treatment and met with big shot people across the country as it will put my village on the map. The award belongs to the people of Mooiplaas because without them am nothing. As for the organisers, thank you for everything, for once I was treated like a king and met people I thought in will never meet in my life. I will continue to support my village in any way I can,” he said.
