Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma will bestow National Orders on South Africans and foreigners who have contributed to democracy and made a positive impact on the lives of South Africans.
The orders will be awarded on Freedom Day, April 27.
The Presidency announced on Friday the names of the recipients of the highest awards given to those in recognition of their efforts to uphold the constitution.
Chancellor of the National Orders, Dr Cassius Lubisi, said the president would bestow to “deserving recipients” bronze, silver and gold for the Order of Mendi for Bravery, the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.
Lubisi congratulated all recipients and called on all South Africans to join in celebrating the recipients.
Recipients of the Order of Mendi for Bravery are:
Gold
Mpumelelo Washington Bongco (posthumous) – for his sacrifice in seeing South Africa become a democratic nation.
Silver
Joe Morolong (posthumous) – for his role in fighting to liberate the country.
Caleb Motshabi (posthumous) – for having facilitated safe passage for many youngsters who went into exile during apartheid.
Eric Mtshali – for his contribution in the fight for the country’s freedom and social justice.
Bronze
Jetro Ndlovu – for his contribution to the fight for freedom, equality and democracy in South Africa.
The recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga recognises those who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport:
Silver
Darius Mfana Dhlomo – for his contribution to various professional sporting codes, including soccer and boxing.
Winnie Mahlangu – for her work in the field of broadcasting and both informing and entertaining listeners of the country’s largest radio station, Durban’s Ukhozi FM.
Ramakgobotla John Mekoa – for his role in the development of jazz in South Africa, and for having established a jazz music centre.
Mbulelo Vizikhungo Mzamane (posthumous) – for having contributed to the development of African literature and the global upliftment of African languages.
Bronze
Themba Patrick Magaisa – for his contribution to the development of indigenous literature in the country and his literary work’s enrichment of primary and secondary school curricula.
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (posthumous) – for his achievements as a track athlete and contribution to the advancements of South Africa’s athletics.
The Order of the Baobab
is awarded to those who have contributed to community service, business, the economy, science, medicine and technological innovation.
Gold
James David Lewis-Williams – for his contribution to the field of archaeology, particularly his research into the rock art of South Africa’s ancestors.
Silver
John Douglas Anderson – for his work with children and people with disabilities.
Mary Makobatjatji Malahlela (posthumous) – for her contribution, as one of the first African women to have qualified as a medical doctor, to the provision of medical services to the oppressed under apartheid.
Andrew Ross – for having trained young rural medics, and his work in the advancement of rural hospitals.
Otto Stehlik – for his contribution to the country’s economy and social development, namely the hospitality industry.
Bronze
Yvonne Mokgoro – for her contribution to the field of law.
Recipients of the Order of Luthuli are recognised for their contribution to the struggle:
Silver
William Frankel – for his role in fundraising, for those who had been detained by apartheid security forces and those charged under apartheid legislation.
Johnson Malcomess Mgabela (posthumous) – for his contribution in the fight against apartheid.
Petros Nyawose (posthumous) – for his involvement in the liberation movement.
Jabulile Nyawose (posthumous) – for her contribution in the fight against apartheid.
Mohammed Tikly – for having groomed many young freedom fighters while he was director of the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College.
Bronze
Kay Moonsamy – for his contribution as a trade unionist during apartheid.
The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo gives recognition to foreign nationals who have acted as allies to South Africa in the fight against apartheid:
Gold
General Hashim Mbita from Tanzania – for his support of African liberation movements.
Brian Mulroney from Canada – for his support for the release of former president Nelson Mandela when he was jailed on Robben Island, and having sanctions imposed during apartheid.
Silver
Gareth Evans from Australia – for his support of the anti-apartheid movement and influencing the Australian public to provide scholarships to underprivileged South African students at home, and who were in exile.
Peter Hain from the UK – for his support of the South African liberation movement.
Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov from Russia – for having contributed to the recording of the plight of South Africans and those from other southern African countries.
Gay McDougall from the US – for having mobilised policymakers in the US in support of the struggle for freedom in South Africa during apartheid.
Lars Nordbo from Denmark – for his architectural skills that saw him build dormitory blocks in Mazimbu and Tanzania which housed South African freedom fighters in exile.
Ambassador Andrey Urnov from Russia – for his contribution to the fight against apartheid.
Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Paduka Dr Lim Kok Wing from Malaysia – for his contribution to education internationally, with a special focus on southern Africa.
The Sunday Independent