President Jacob Zuma, as part of this year's Freedom Day celebrations, will bestow national orders, the country's highest civilian honour, on 28 South Africans and three foreigners for outstanding achievements and contributions to the country's freedom and development.
Included in the awards are posthumous honours for Albert Luthuli and Oliver Tambo, whose family names have been institutionalised in South Africa's national orders because of the unique contributions they made during the country's struggle for liberation.
Addressing the media at in Pretoria on Monday, Chancellor of the National Orders Cassius Lubisi said this year's recipients were all "men and women who have attuned their skills and knowledge so as to ameliorate human suffering and benefit humankind, often at the expense of deserved emoluments for their efforts.
"We are eternally grateful for their lives and sacrifices they made to ensure that the people of South Africa are free."
The recipients for the Mendi Decoration for Bravery will be:
- Neil Johnson Sharrocks, for putting his life at risk to rescue 44 children when the bus they were travelling fell into a river
- Michael Janse van Rensburg for putting his life in danger in order to save a person from drowning (posthumously)
The recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga for excellence in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport will be:
- Gladys Faith Agulhas
- Jonathan Johnny Clegg
- Muthal Naidoo
- Joseph Nong "Joe" Thloloe
- Daniel "Cheeky" Watson
- Julian Sebothane Bahula
The recipients of the Order of Mapungubwe for excellence and exceptional achievement will be:
- Dr Patience Mthunzi
- Professor Barry David Schoub
- Albert Mvumbi Luthuli (posthumous)
- Oliver Reginald "OR" Tambo (posthumous)
The recipients of the Order of Companions of OR Tambo for eminent foreign persons for friendship to South Africa will be:
- Professor Apollon B Davidson
- Randall Robinson
- Edward M Kennedy (posthumous)
The recipients of the Order of Baobab for distinguished service beyond the call of duty will be:
- Selwyn "Scully" Levin
- Gladys Ramahuta
- Zane Maureen Wilson
- Professor Daniel Gerhardus Krige
- Reverend Fenner Christian Kadalie (posthumous)
- Professor Christopher John Robert Dugard
- Frank Kennan Dutton
- Lwandle Wilson Magadla (posthumous)
- John Stephen Gomas (posthumous)
- Elizabeth Sophia Honman (Bettie du Toit) (posthumous)
- Peter Ramoshoane Mokaba (posthumous)
- Josiah Tshangana Gumede (posthumous)
- Zaccheus Richard Mahabane (posthumous)
- Sefako Mapogo Makgatho (posthumous)
- James Sebebubijwasekgogobontharile Moroka (posthumous)
- Alfred Bitini Xuma (posthumous).
SA - the Good News via BuaNews
