All systems go for the National Orders ceremony

All the necessary preparations are in place for the National Orders ceremony scheduled to take place on Thursday.

The ceremony will take place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria. The National Orders honour South Africans and foreign nationals who have made and are making a meaningful contribution to the development of South Africa.

“The National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa bestows, through the President of the Republic, upon citizens and members of the international community who have contributed meaningfully towards making the country a free democratic and successful nation, united in its diversity,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko.

At the ceremony the orders of Ikhamanga, the Baobab, Luthuli, and Companions of OR Tambo will be conferred to deserving recipients.

Among those who will be receiving the orders is Madagascar’s former Head of State Admiral Didier Ignace Ratsiraka, Klaas de Jonge from the Netherland as well as the late Lucia Raadschelders from the same country.

The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo will also be conferred on South African born United Kingdom citizen and priest Archbishop Khotso Makhulu, Belgium’s Professor Paulette Pierson-Mathy, Italy’s Professor Riccardo Sarra and Ugandan born Professor Amii Omara-Otunnu who currently resided in the United States of America.

Some of the more recognisable South Africans expected to attend the ceremony include former Proteas All-rounder Jacques Kallis, musician Yvonne “Chaka-Chaka” Mhinga and actress Mary Twala-Mhlongo among others.

Meanwhile ordinary South Africans such as Sarah Tambani, the mother of Thapelo Tambani who died while rescuing a friend from a construction site excavation hole, the family of former Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa and Andrew Trew who is a former head of Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

Tshwane motorists are however advised to expect possible high traffic volumes in the area where the awarding ceremony will be held.