Staff Reporter
President Cyril Ramaphosa will confer National Orders on rugby coach Rassie Erasmus, musician Oskido, scientist Tulio de Oliveira, public health expert Salim Abdool Karim and several other South Africans and foreign nationals at an investiture ceremony on Tuesday.
National Orders are South Africa’s highest honours, bestowed by the President on citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed to democracy, nation-building, public service, the arts, science, medicine, sport, international solidarity and other fields.
Erasmus, who coached the Springboks to Rugby World Cup success and later served in a senior rugby leadership role, will receive the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold.
The Presidency said he 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 victory on the field “has advanced social cohesion among South Africans and raised the nation’s esteem in the international community”.
The Order of Ikhamanga recognises South Africans who have excelled in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
Other recipients include Grammy-winning flautist Wouter Kellerman, jazz and gospel artist Jonathan Butler, kwaito pioneer Oscar “Oskido” Mdlongwa, and several posthumous honourees, including Todd Matshikiza, Kippie Moeketsi, Molefe Pheto, Dalene Matthee and Jonny Dyani.
In the sciences, De Oliveira and Abdool Karim will receive the Order of Mapungubwe in Gold, which recognises South Africans who have achieved excellence and exceptional achievement to the benefit of South Africa and beyond.
The Presidency cited De Oliveira’s role in the discovery of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and Abdool Karim’s work in HIV/Aids, tuberculosis research, health policy, and the Covid-19 response.
The Order of Mapungubwe in Silver will be awarded to Professors Keertan Dheda and Vukosi Marivate, while Professors Priscilla Baker and Karen Sliwa-Hahnle will receive the order in Bronze.
Dheda was recognised for research in pulmonology and tuberculosis, Marivate for work in data science, artificial intelligence and natural language processing, Baker for scientific research in electro-analytical chemistry, and Sliwa-Hahnle for cardiovascular research, including cardiac disease in pregnancy.
The Order of the Baobab, awarded for community service, business and the economy, science, medicine and technological innovation, will be bestowed in Gold on the late Professor Chabani Noel Manganyi, in Silver on Professor Kubedi Patrick Mokhobo, and in Bronze on Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela.
The Order of Luthuli, which recognises contributions to democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, peace and conflict resolution, will be awarded in Gold to Jack Simons and Ray Alexander Simons, both posthumously. Mmagauta Molefe and the late Caiphus Nyoka will receive the order in Silver, while Adele Kirsten will receive it in Bronze for her contribution to peace and community safety.
Five foreign nationals will receive the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in Silver, an honour reserved for eminent foreign nationals who have shown friendship, solidarity and support to South Africa. They are Teresa Hillary Clarke of the United States, Pierre Magnee and Naomi Kleinfeld of the Netherlands, the late Antonio Da Silva Gomes Cordeiro of Mozambique, and Professor Cherif Keita of Mali.
The Presidency said National Orders recognise those who have helped build “a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in our Constitution.”
“We congratulate the recipients and call on all South Africans to join us in celebrating these outstanding South Africans and distinguished friends of South Africa.”
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