honours

"We acknowledge your dedication and selfless service to the betterment of our country," Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the National Teaching Awards on Saturday, an event celebrating excellence in South African public education.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour, the world's largest timed cycling event, was cut to 47km because of fires along its traditional route. But that did not stop tens of thousands of people riding in and supporting the Show You Care Solidarity Ride.

Dr Buyisiwe Sondezi is a rare breed. The University of Johannesburg student overcame early stumbling blocks as a young learner to become the first woman in Africa to be awarded a doctoral degree in experimental physics of highly correlated matter.

Nolan Hoffman claimed his first win in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour and Cherise Stander her third victory in the women's race in Cape Town on Sunday. The Cycle Tour, which takes place around the picturesque Cape Peninsula, is the largest individually timed cycle race in the world.

The South African Mint Company has launched a limited edition coin set, the first in a series of coins dubbed "Life of a Legend" that will be issued over the next 12 years in honour of the life and work of Nelson Mandela.

South Africa's Fort Hare University has honoured Nelson Mandela and seven other leading lights of SA's liberation struggle - all alumni of the university - with specially handcrafted gold rings.