President Cyril Ramaphosa will bestow National Orders on South Africans and foreign nationals recognised for contributions to democracy, science, sport, arts, and nation-building on Tuesday.
Image: GCIS
President Cyril Ramaphosa will bestow National Orders on leading South Africans and foreign nationals in recognition of their contributions to democracy, science, arts, sport and nation-building at an investiture ceremony on Tuesday.
The National Orders ceremony will take place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria, where Ramaphosa will bestow the Orders of Ikhamanga, Baobab, Mapungubwe, and the Companions of OR Tambo on deserving recipients.
Announcing the recipients, Chancellor of the National Orders, Phindile Baleni, said the honours remain the country's highest awards and recognise individuals whose work has significantly impacted South Africa and its people.
National orders ceremony .
Image: GCIS
“National Orders are the highest awards that our country, through the President, bestows on our citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and who have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans,” she said.
Baleni added that the awards also recognise those who contributed to “the building of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in our Constitution”.
National orders ceremony.
Image: GCIS
Among the recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold is Rassie Erasmus, who is being recognised for his role in leading South African rugby to repeated success on the international stage.
Baleni said Erasmus was being honoured “for his inspirational leadership in national and international rugby that has propelled the Springboks to repeated Rugby World Cup Championships”, adding that victories on the field had advanced social cohesion and raised the country’s standing internationally.
Also receiving the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold is Wouter Kellerman for his contribution to music and youth development through artistic expression.
Several posthumous recipients were also recognised, including Todd Matshikiza, Khabajane Vivian Mngoma, Jeremiah Kippie Moeketsi, Queeneth Maria Ndaba, and Molefe Pheto for their contributions to journalism, music, arts, and cultural development.
National orders ceremony underway in Pretoria.
Image: GCIS
Recipients, including Jonathan Butler and Oscar “Oskido” Mdlongwa, will receive silver honours for their contributions to music and the arts.
Baleni said Andiswa Precious Gebashe will be recognised “for her contribution to the often-marginalised Deaf community” through efforts to make national events and public spaces more accessible.
In the field of science and medicine, the Order of Mapungubwe in Gold will be bestowed on Tulio de Oliveira and Salim Abdool Karim.
Baleni said De Oliveira was being honoured “for his contribution in the field of scientific research with a groundbreaking discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19”. At the same time, Karim was recognised for his contribution to public health and medical science, particularly in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis research.
National orders ceremony.
Image: GCIS
Other recipients in science and technology include Vukosi Marivate, recognised for contributions to artificial intelligence and natural language processing, and Karen Sliwa-Hahnle for her work in cardiovascular research.
The Order of the Baobab in Gold will be awarded posthumously to Chabani Noel Manganyi for his contribution as “a thought leader and intellectual activist in terms of Black Consciousness and Black identity”.
Meanwhile, recipients of the Order of Luthuli include anti-apartheid activists Jack Simons and Ray Alexander Simons, who will receive the honour posthumously.
Foreign nationals receiving the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo include Teresa Hillary Clarke, Pierre Magnee, and Cherif Keita for contributions supporting South Africa and the liberation movement.
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