National Orders: Heroes and heroines receive SA’s highest honour

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday bestowed National Orders to 32 recipients during a ceremony held at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane.

The awards are the highest honour that can be given in South Africa.

In the National Orders Book for 2024, Director-General in the Presidency Phindile Baleni – who is Chancellor of National Orders – heaped praise on the recipients.

“These men and women have given concrete meaning to the eternal values of selflessness, love for freedom, racial harmony, equality and self-application, so as to reach seemingly impossible heights of achievement that we proudly acknowledge today, and from which our nation benefits,” Baleni said.

The recipients are as follows:

The Order of Mendi for Bravery in Silver:

• Ms MaWilliams Kekana
• Mr Ignatius ‘Iggy’ Mthebule (Posthumous)
• Mr Makhwezi McDonald Mtulu (Posthumous)
• Mr Robert Anthony Basil Waterwitch (Posthumous)
• Ms Coline Denise Williams (Posthumous)

The Order of Ikhamanga in Gold:

• Ms Nontando ‘Noni’ Helen Jabavu (Posthumous)
• Dr Aggrey Klaaste (Posthumous)
• Dr Muziwakhe ‘Madala’ Kunene

The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver:

• Mr Angus Gibson
• Mr Emile Lester Jansen
• Ms Saray N’kusi Khumalo
• Ms Sophie Msoziswa Mahlangu
• Dr Latozi ‘Madosini’ Mpahleni (Posthumous)
• Mr Trevor Dundas Mweli Skota (Posthumous)

The Order of the Baobab in Gold:

• Ms Blanche Valeria La Guma (Posthumous)
• Ms Zukiswa Patricia Matolengwe

The Order of Luthuli in Gold:

• Mr Mxolisi ‘Dicky’ Jacobs (Posthumous)
• Mr Peter Cyril Jones (Posthumous)
• Mr Benjamin Langa (Posthumous)
• Mr Thobekile ‘Topsy’ Madaka (Posthumous)
• Mr Siphiwo Mtimkhulu (Posthumous)
• Prof Harry Ranwedzi Nengwekhulu
• Mr Kenneth Hlako Rachidi (Posthumous)
• Ms Annie Silinga (Posthumous)
• Ms Nokuthula Simelane (Posthumous)

The Order of Mapungubwe in Silver:

• Prof Mulalo Doyoyo (Posthumous)

The Order of The Companions Of Or Tambo In Silver:

• Mr Huub Bammens – The Netherlands
• Ms Donna Katzin – United States of America
• Mr Ken Luckhardt – Canada
• Sir Nicholas Stadlen (Posthumous) –United Kingdom
• Mr Fulco Van Aurich – The Netherlands
• Ms Brenda Wall – Canada

“They have, without exception, proffered worthy contributions to the development of our society so that we may not only aspire to, but actually become who we want to become. Indeed, they have contributed to our state of liberty.

“We commend to you these noble men and women of our country, our continent and our common world, as recipients of the prestigious National Orders. We salute them, one and all,” Baleni said. – SAnews.gov.za