24 April 2013
President Jacob Zuma will confer National Orders, the country’s highest civilian honours, on 33 South Africans and five foreign nationals for bravery, for outstanding achievement, and for contributing to the advancement of democracy, on Freedom Day on Saturday.
“This is the 19th Investiture ceremony since the inception of the National Orders contributing towards unity, reconciliation and building the nation,” Chancellor of the National Orders Cassius Lubisi told journalists in Pretoria on Monday.
Alfred Duma, Riot Makhomanisi Mkhwanazi and Cletus Mzimela will receive the Order of Mendi for bravery.
Chad Le Clos, who beat Michael Phelps in the American’s favourite event, the 200m butterfly, to win Olympic gold in London in 2013, will be among the recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga, which recognises excellence in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
Other recipients will be Paralympic athlete Ilse Hayes, singer-songwriter Vusi Mahlasela, traditional oral poet and musician Zolani Mkva, soccer legend Kaizer Motaung and opera singer Pretty Yende.
Nontsikelelo Qelane, South Africa’s oldest known teacher at the age of 92, and Yusuf Abramjee, who heads up Crime Line and is one of the founders of active citizenship inititiative LeadSA, will among the recipients of the order of the Baobab, which recognises contributions to community service, business and economy, science, medicine and technological innovation.
Other recipients will be Suraya “Bibi” Khan, David Bosch (posthumous), Colin Eglin, Herbert William Garnet De La Hunt, and Sayed Mohamed Ridwan Mia.
Late anti-apartheid activists Amina Desai and Neville Alexander will be among the recipients of the Order of Luthuli, which recognises contribution to the struggle for democracy, nation building, human rights, justice and peace.
Other recipients will be Nomazizi Mtsotshisa (posthumous), Michael Harmel (posthumous), Essop Jassat, Arthur Letele (posthumous), Mosibudi Mangena, Moosa Mooila, Richard Mothupi, David Mncube, Elias Moretsele (posthumous) and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
World-renowned HIV researcher Glenda Gray and Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project director Bernie Fanaroff will be among the recipients of the Order of Mapungubwe, which recognizes excellence and exceptional achievement to the benefit of South Africa and beyond.
Other recipients will be Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Professor George Ekama, and Professor Malegapuru William Makgopa.
Five foreign nationals – Dina Forti, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Enuga Screenivasulu Reddy, Giuseppe Soncini (posthumous) and Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (posthumous) – will receive the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo for friendship shown to South Africa.
SAinfo reporter
