Cape Town to honour musical theatre legends with city’s highest award

Two titans of South African musical theatre will be awarded Cape Town’s most prestigious civic honour when David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen receive the Freedom of the City at a ceremony in January 2026.

The announcement by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis places the celebrated duo alongside history’s most revered figures, including former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as recipients of Cape Town’s highest accolade.

“Taliep and David take their place alongside titans of history,” said Hill-Lewis. “This legendary duo have not only entertained us over the generations, but have fundamentally shaped South African musical theatre and the rich cultural heritage of the Western Cape.”

A partnership that transformed theatre

The collaboration between composer Taliep Petersen and lyricist David Kramer began in 1986 and spanned two decades, producing six ground-breaking musicals that became cornerstones of South African cultural expression. Their partnership gave birth to some of the country’s most beloved theatrical works, including the internationally acclaimed District Six: The Musical and Kat and the Kings.

District Six: The Musical, which premiered at the Baxter Theatre in 1987, told the powerful story of the forced removals from Cape Town’s vibrant District Six during apartheid. The production ran for over 550 performances and toured internationally, bringing South African stories to global audiences for the first time.

Their masterpiece, Kat and the Kings, premiered in 1995 and transported audiences to 1950s Cape Town, celebrating the music and culture of District Six through the memories of vocal harmony groups like The Rockets. The musical achieved unprecedented international success, performing in London’s West End and on Broadway, where it won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 1999.

“The genius of these timeless productions is how Taliep and David blended entertainment with social commentary and activism, telling powerful stories of forced removals and community resilience,” Hill-Lewis noted.

Tragedy cut short a brilliant career

Petersen’s remarkable career was tragically cut short in December 2006, when he was murdered at his Cape Town home. Initially appearing to be a robbery gone wrong, investigations later revealed that his wife, Najwa Petersen, had orchestrated the killing. She was convicted alongside three accomplices and sentenced to 28 years in prison in February 2009.

The 56-year-old composer’s death sent shockwaves through South Africa’s artistic community, robbing the nation of one of its most gifted musical storytellers at the height of his creative powers.

A legacy that endures

Despite the tragic circumstances of Petersen’s death, the musical legacy he created with Kramer continues to resonate. Their works remain staples of South African theatre, regularly performed across the country and internationally, introducing new generations to the rich cultural heritage of the Western Cape.

“We are excited for Capetonians to join us at the ceremony early next year to celebrate these icons on the Grand Parade, an occasion that will bring to life the rich cultural flair of Cape Town that these artists are known for,” said Hill-Lewis.

Petersen’s family has agreed to accept the posthumous award on his behalf at the ceremony, which will take place on Cape Town’s historic Grand Parade – a fitting venue for honouring two men who spent their careers celebrating the city’s cultural identity.

For Kramer, now in his 70s, the honour represents recognition not just of individual achievement, but of a partnership that fundamentally changed how South African stories are told through music and theatre – a legacy that continues to inspire artists and audiences alike.

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Civic Honours Book

After Freedom of the City, the second-highest honour the City can confer is the Signing of the Civic Honours Book.

This honour recognises public service to Cape Town that is exceptionally meritorious or impactful, in any field of social, community or civic interest. These recipients have generally achieved extraordinary acclaim in their chosen field, have won international recognition for their contribution, or distinguished themselves with extraordinary community service.  The Civic Honours book is kept by the City for future generations to remember Cape Town’s greatest citizens.

The individuals to be recorded in the Civic Honours Book for 2025 are:

• One of cricket’s greatest all-rounders in history, Jacques Kallis.

• Internationally-acclaimed film-maker, Oliver Hermanus.

• South Africa and Langa’s world cup winning Test Cricket Captain, Temba Bavuma.

• Renowned parliamentarian, diplomat, author, and public intellectual, Tony Leon.

The Mayor’s Medal

This prestigious award acknowledges outstanding contributions by individuals or associations in a number of different fields, including:

• community service
• the arts; social services
• youth affairs
• recreation and sport
• conservation
• economic affairs
• animal welfare
• extraordinary bravery

In 2025, Mayor’s Medals will be bestowed on:

For community affairs

• Prof. Brian O’Connell (posthumously), former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape

• Wendy Ackerman, philanthropist and business leader

For social affairs and services

• The Haven Night Shelter, offering dignified shelter to help people off the streets

• The Service Dining Rooms, serving cooked meals to the homeless for over 90 years

• Victor Pick (posthumously), medical researcher who contributed to the world’s first successful heart transplant by Christiaan Barnard

For cultural affairs

• Basil Appollis, multi-award-winning actor, director, producer and writer

• Emo Adams, renowned singer, actor and producer

• Denise Newman, accomplished and versatile performing artist

• Louis Heyneman, for his advancement of music, arts journalism, and cultural development

• Sylvia Mdunyelwa (“Mama Kaap”, posthumously), Langa’s monumental figure in South African jazz

For recreation and sport

• Babalwa Latsha, Springbok Women’s team captain

• Bernard Hartze (posthumously), South African footballing legend

• Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club, South Africa’s oldest rugby club, founded in 1875

For conservation

• Friends of the Liesbeek, transforming Cape Town’s waterways for over three decades

• Dr. Joan Parker, the driving force behind the transformation of the Upper Liesbeek River Garden (ULRG)

• The Two Oceans Aquarium, beacon of marine conservation excellence in Cape Town

For economic affairs

• Prof. Brian Kantor, economist, educator, and public intellectual

For extraordinary bravery

• The Mountain Club of South Africa, serving Cape Town with a highly skilled volunteer Search and Rescue (S&R) team

For a list of past honours recipients, see here.