The Presidency invites South Africans to nominate – for the honour of National Orders - people from their communities and sectors who have recorded exceptional achievements or made outstanding contributions to communities or the nation at large.

National Orders are the highest awards that our country bestows, through the President, on citizens and eminent foreign nationals.

Nominations for National Orders close on Wednesday, 30 September, 2026.

The President, as the custodian of honour in the country, bestows these Orders and Decorations and is assisted by the Director-General in The Presidency, who is the Chancellor of National Orders and the Advisory Council on National Orders.

The Chancellor of National Orders, Ms Phindile Baleni, calls on citizens to make nominations for National Orders as part of sustaining the integrity, inclusiveness and diversity of this institution of recognition of outstanding personal endeavour, social cohesion, nation-building.

Ms Baleni said: “The National Orders are a platform for the recognition of fellow South Africans and persons globally who, in exceptional ways, have historically made or are currently making important or interesting contributions to all aspects of our national life.

“From politics to popular culture, as well as the recognition of bravery and honouring the nation’s esteemed scientists and innovators, the National Orders give us an opportunity annually to be inspired by and grateful to people who have done outstanding things to shape our past and our future.

“We therefore remind people from all walks of life and backgrounds – including the youth of our country - to identify from their communities and sectors persons who, on the basis of exceptional achievements or contributions, deserve the honour of a National Order.”

The National Orders are:

- The Order of Mapungubwe, awarded to South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement.

- The Order of the Baobab, awarded to South African citizens for distinguished service. The service awarded is well above and beyond the ordinary call of duty. It is an award for exceptional and distinguished contributions in the following categories: business and the economy: science, medicine and technological innovation, and community service.

- The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo, awarded to eminent foreign nationals. It is awarded for friendship shown to South Africa. It is therefore an order of peace, co-operation and active expression of solidarity and support. The Order constitutes an essential pillar of international and multilateral relations.

- The Order of Luthuli, awarded to South Africans who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice and peace, and conflict resolution.

- The Order of Ikhamanga, awarded to South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.

- The Order of Mendi for Bravery, awarded to South African citizens who have performed extraordinary acts of bravery that placed their lives in great danger, or who lost their own lives while performing those acts, including in trying to save the life of another person, or by saving property, in or outside the Republic of South Africa.

Nomination forms that outline simple guidelines to nominators can be downloaded at https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/download/file/fid/2785.

Each filled nomination form must be accompanied by a motivations which should include:

- an introductory paragraph with a summary of the nominee’s achievements
- a list of exceptional milestones reached by the nominee in his/her career and/or international arena, and
- a description of the exceptional, outstanding, dedicated service or act of bravery rendered by the nominee.

The closing date for nominations: 30 September 2026.

Details of the annual National Orders Ceremony will be provided at a later date.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

In his capacity as Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), President Cyril Ramaphosa, extends his deep condolences to Her Excellency, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the Republic of Tanzania, on the passing of her husband, Mr Hafidh Ameir Hassan.

Mr Hassan, 80, passed away on Monday, 7 September 2026, while receiving treatment for a cardiac condition. He had a distinguished career as an agricultural academic and agriculturalist.

President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with President Hassan and her children, and the extended family and friends.

President Ramaphosa also offers his sympathies to the government and people of the Republic of Tanzania, which is a founding member of SADC.

President Ramaphosa said: “As the people of our region, we reach out in our hearts and prayers to President Hassan and the nation of Tanzania in this difficult moment.

“We offer you our heartfelt condolences and wish you strength and comfort as you mourn the loss of an outstanding citizen and partner.”

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Director,
Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police,
Members of Parliament,
Acting National Commissioner of Police, Lt General Puleng Dimpane,
Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya,
Deputy National Commissioners,
Representatives from Organised Labour,
Chairperson of the SAPSET Board and the Board of Trustees,
Chairperson of the National CPF Board and Provincial CPF Chairpersons,
Members of the South African Police Service,
Most importantly, the families and loved ones of our fallen police officers,

Good morning,

A nation reveals its character not only in how it remembers those who serve it, but in what it does to protect those who serve.

Today, South Africa stands before its Roll of Honour with grief and resolve. Today, we remember 12 police officers who gave their lives in service of our people.

National Commemoration Day is a national covenant of remembrance, accountability and renewal.

It is a commitment to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice, to stand with the families they left behind and to build a safer Republic.

Police safety is a responsibility that falls to all of us.

This year, we remember 12 members who lost their lives in the line of duty during the last financial year.

Nine of these members were from Gauteng, with one each from North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. 
Among them is the only woman on this year’s Roll of Honour. She was a mother of three from Temba Police Station. 

We remember seven devoted husbands and fathers of young children.

Among the families gathered here today is a wife who was pregnant when her husband was killed, and another whose father and husband left behind seven-month-old twins. 

Behind every police killing is a family story that has been permanently rewritten.

The circumstances of these deaths should concern us deeply. 

Several members were killed while crewing the same shift, responding to business robbery complaints or transporting awaiting-trial prisoners. 

Others died on routine crime prevention and patrol duties in their own precincts.

The youngest was only 25 years old.

Today we remember them not as statistics, but as sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, colleagues and friends, who went to work to protect their fellow South Africans and never returned home.

We must confront a difficult question: what kind of society kills those entrusted to protect it? And what must we do to change it?

When criminals target a police officer, they are attacking the integrity of the State, the rule of law and the constitutional order.

They are not just attacking an individual. They are attacking the people of South Africa.

Our response must extend beyond enforcement.

The fight against crime must become a project of responsible citizenship: respecting the law, rejecting corruption, reporting criminality and teaching our children that respect for human life is the foundation of a stable democracy.

We must invest in families, schools, early childhood development, youth programmes and sport. We must build resilience before young people become vulnerable to criminal networks.

There has been a significant decline over the last few years in the number of police members being killed in the line of duty. This reflects the progress of operational interventions, police safety initiatives, community partnerships and cooperation across government and with the private sector.

But even one life lost is one too many.

The SAPS has therefore implemented a Police Safety Action Plan called ‘Think First – Act Safe: Every Call, Every Time’.

This plan is structured around governance, proactive and reactive interventions, the safety of police stations and infrastructure, redress and support. It includes monitoring and evaluation, with provincial plans aligned to the national framework.

But policing alone cannot solve this challenge. Communities must become part of the protective architecture around our police. They must report threats, protect information and reject criminality.

We need a stronger partnership with the private sector, which has a critical role in securing the future of the children left behind by fallen officers.

Since its establishment in 2010, the South African Police Service Education Trust – known as SAPSET – has supported 2,215 children of fallen police officers, with more than R25 million raised through sponsorships. 

This investment changes lives. Children who once faced uncertainty have graduated. Some have obtained Master’s and PhD degrees.

I appeal directly to corporate South Africa: support SAPSET through sustainable donations and scholarship programmes.

Give these children the foundation to transform the experience of loss into opportunity.

To the families of our fallen officers: the Republic remembers your loved ones. 

No ceremony can replace a husband or wife. No pension can compensate for the loss of a father or mother. And no tribute can return a parent to their children. 

But we can ensure that their service is never forgotten and that their families remain part of the national family.

To the children of our fallen members: your parents left you more than memories. They left you a legacy of courage, duty and service.

Carry their names with pride and build lives worthy of their sacrifice.

To the men and women of the SAPS: the nation sees your courage and recognises the demands of your profession.

But that courage must be supported by proper systems, intelligence, equipment, training and leadership.

Serve with authority, but also with humility.
Serve with courage, but also with discipline.
Serve with professionalism, integrity and respect for the Constitution.
And protect one another.

At this moment, the SAPS is operating under unprecedented public scrutiny. The revelations emerging from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry have raised legitimate questions about policing, leadership, accountability and institutional integrity. This must not result in paralysis. Instead, it must be a catalyst for renewal. 

The SAPS must remain focused on its core mandate: prevent crime, combat criminality, protect communities and keep South Africans safe.

The SAPS must continue to deliver. The best response to scrutiny is not defensiveness. It is performance.

The best response to criticism is not denialism. It is professional conduct, measurable results and safer communities.

We need to once again earn people’s trust, station by station, community by community.

Let us use this moment to strengthen the institution, restore public confidence and reaffirm the social contract between the police and the people. 

Let us build a police service that is trusted because it is competent, respected because it is disciplined and credible because it is ethical.

Today, we remember 12 fallen officers, but our responsibility is greater than remembrance. We must act.

We owe the fallen a safer country.
We owe their families sustained support and opportunity.
We owe our police officers the systems, leadership, protection and resources necessary to keep them safe.

We owe future generations a country worth inheriting.
May we honour our fallen heroes not only by remembering how they died, but by changing how we live.
May we honour their courage with courage of our own.
May we honour their service by serving this country better.

And may we build a South Africa in which those who protect our people are themselves protected — by Government and by the communities they serve.

May God bless South Africa and protect her people.

I thank you.

Programme Director;
Leadership of EAM Global;
Bishops, Apostles, Pastors and Ministers of the Gospel;
Representatives of various faith-based organisations;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good morning.

It is a great honour to join you today at this Church Leaders Gathering in Unity (CLGU), convened by EAM Global to create a platform where pastors and church leaders can come together across denominational and organisational lines in the spirit of fellowship, collaboration and shared purpose.

When the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Paul Mashatile, requested that I represent him at this important gathering, I was both humbled and delighted by the opportunity. At the same time, I was reminded of the words of Psalm 133:1, which declares, “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.”

It is in this same spirit of unity that the Deputy President had wished to be with you today, gathered in one accord as leaders of faith to connect, pray and engage on the vital importance of unity within the Body of Christ and within our broader society.
Unfortunately, following the advice and instructions of his medical team, he was unable to attend this gathering in person.

Nevertheless, he has entrusted me with a message that I am honoured to convey to you as you gather under the theme:
“Unity, Prayer, Relationship and Kingdom Collaboration.”

This theme could not be more relevant to the challenges and opportunities of our time. It reminds us that no institution, community or nation can succeed in isolation. Lasting progress is built on partnerships, mutual respect, collective action and a shared commitment to the greater good.

The call for unity and collaborative action is not a new one in South Africa. Our democratic journey bears testimony to what can be achieved when faith leaders, communities and Government work together in pursuit of a common purpose.

One of the most powerful instances is the role that church leaders played in South Africa’s transition to democracy. At a critical moment in our history, churches and faith-based organisations came together with community structures and political leaders to promote reconciliation, peacebuilding and nation-building. Their work facilitated conversation, healing and social cohesion at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history.

Despite the ongoing challenges, we have also observed successful collaboration in addressing the HIV and AIDS pandemic. We have also witnessed successful collaboration in responding to the HIV and AIDS pandemic. 

Across our provinces, churches, faith-based organisations, healthcare workers and government departments joined hands to provide care, counselling, awareness programmes and support services to affected individuals and families.

The faith communities should continue to be our partners in reaching vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, reducing stigma and strengthening prevention and treatment efforts in our communities.

Another example can be found in the ongoing work of churches and faith-based organisations in combating poverty and supporting vulnerable households.

Through partnerships with the Department of Social Development and other government institutions, many churches have operated feeding schemes, community outreach programmes, shelters, substance-abuse interventions and support services for children, older individuals and people living with disabilities. These collaborative efforts have strengthened the social safety net and brought hope to communities facing hardship.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Regardless of the past successful collaboration, much still needs to be done to improve the living condition of our people. South Africa continues to navigate a complex social and economic landscape. Many of our people continue to face difficulties that test the very fabric of our society.
Poverty, unemployment, inequality, gender-based violence, substance abuse, crime and the erosion of moral values remain pressing concerns in many communities.

These challenges require more than Government intervention alone. They require a united society, anchored in compassion, ethical leadership and active citizenship. They require all sectors of society to work together to build resilient communities and restore hope where despair has taken root.

With the same love that the Lord has instructed us to show by loving our neighbours as ourselves, we must put that love into practice when we see young people struggling with alcohol and drug abuse.

We must take a stand against those who perpetrate these harmful activities in our communities, even when they occupy the holy pulpit, and ensure that they are held accountable for their actions.

We also need to work together to create opportunities, support skills development, encourage entrepreneurship and join hands to build stronger and more prosperous communities for all as we face the high levels of unemployment that we see in our country.

The Church, together with all sectors of society, has a responsibility to teach about the consequences of violence and the importance of respecting one another. The recent Spring Day incident, which tragically resulted in the death of a young man during a dispute that escalated into violence, serves as a painful reminder of this responsibility.

I must state this clearly: No one deserves to die at the hands of another person, regardless of the circumstances. Equally, no one should take the law into their own hands.

The Church must continue to proclaim that violence is never an acceptable response to conflict and that every person is created with inherent dignity and deserves to be treated with respect. At the same time, families, schools, community organisations, and Government institutions must work together to promote values of tolerance, self-control, and peaceful conflict resolution. It is commendable that many church leaders like yourself continues to be a source of hope, healing and moral guidance. 

As I have said, throughout our country, churches feed the hungry, care for vulnerable children, support families in crisis, mentor young people and provide comfort to those facing adversity. Faith communities are often present and steadfast where institutions may have trouble going.

Government deeply appreciates these contributions. The partnerships we have forged with churches and faith communities demonstrate what can be achieved when we work together in service to our people.

Programme Director,

Reverting to the theme before us, I have noted that it begins with unity.

Unity does not mean uniformity. I know that when I mention uniformity, I am speaking to the converted, because the Bible reminds us that we are many members of one body. Though we may differ in our gifts, backgrounds, and perspectives, we are called to stand together in faith and in service to others.

This simply means that unity does not require us to abandon our unique traditions, theological perspectives or organisational identities. Instead, it calls us to recognise our shared humanity and common purpose.

In a world that is becoming more divided, polarised and conflict-ridden, unity is a spiritual imperative and a practical necessity.

As church leaders you have the opportunity to be models of unity and reconciliation crossing divides of race, culture, language and socio-economic status. When pastors and church leaders speak with one voice on issues that affect society the impact is multiplied and the witness is strengthened.

The second pillar of today's theme is prayer.
Prayer remains one of the most powerful tools available to believers. Through prayer, communities find strength during seasons of uncertainty. Through prayer, leaders remain grounded in humility and purpose.

Our nation continues to need the prayers of its faith leaders. We need prayers for peace in our communities, for ethical leadership, for economic growth, for social cohesion and for the wellbeing of our families.

We need to pray for peaceful, free, and safe local government elections. We must ask God to guide our nation, protect voters, candidates, and election officials, and ensure that the democratic process is conducted with integrity and respect.

We should also pray against the rise in political killings and violence associated with the election period.

We also need prayers that inspire action.

The third pillar is relationship.

Strong relationships form the foundation of effective leadership and sustainable collaboration. Trust is built through genuine engagement, mutual respect and a willingness to listen to one another.

The gathering today provides an important opportunity to strengthen relationships among church leaders, across denominations and between faith-based organisations and other sectors of society.

As a government we want to build a relationship based on honesty, transparency and mutual respect. We thank partners who provide honest feedback, hold us accountable and take care of our failures in our duties. We do not see constructive criticism as adversarial, but as an important part of good governance. We treasure dissenting voices that make us do better, serve the public better and stay true to the basic tenets of justice, integrity and accountability.

Let me conclude by urging you once more as leaders in different dominions to continue collaborating with us and working with each other. Collaboration calls upon church leaders to move beyond individual interests and institutional boundaries to embrace a shared mission.

It prompts us to consider not what we can accomplish individually, but what we can achieve collectively. When churches collaborate, resources are used more effectively. Knowledge and experience are shared. Most importantly, communities are better served.

As Government we believe that faith-based organisations remain strategic partners in our efforts to build a caring, just and inclusive society.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As South Africans, we are heirs to a remarkable legacy of reconciliation and nation-building. Our Constitution envisions a society founded on human dignity, equality and freedom. These values resonate deeply with the principles promoted by faith communities across our nation.

The task before us is to ensure that these ideals find practical expression in the daily lives of our people.

This requires leaders who are committed to integrity, accountability and service. It requires citizens who are prepared to contribute positively to their communities. It requires institutions that place people at the centre of development.

As you deliberate during this gathering, I encourage you to reflect on how the principles of unity, prayer, relationship and Kingdom Collaboration can contribute to addressing the challenges facing our nation and continent.

May your discussions generate innovative ideas, strengthen partnerships and inspire renewed commitment to serving communities with excellence and compassion.

In closing, and on behalf of the Deputy President, His Excellency Mr Paul Mashatile, and the Government of the Republic of South Africa, I wish you a successful and productive gathering.

May God bless the Church, and may His hand be upon our wonderful land.

I thank you.