Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will be awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold on Tuesday for his inspirational leadership that propelled South Africa to repeated Rugby World Cup victories and advanced social cohesion across the nation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will bestow the country’s highest honour on Erasmus at an investiture ceremony on 19 May, recognising how victory on the field of play has raised the nation’s esteem in the international community.

The Chancellor of the National Orders, Phindile Baleni, announced today that Erasmus is among 40 South Africans and foreign nationals who will receive National Orders next week.

“National Orders are the highest awards that our country, through the President, bestows on our citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and who have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans,” Baleni said.

Erasmus joins flautist and composer Wouter Kellerman in receiving the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold. Kellerman is recognised for his outstanding achievements in music and his contribution to community development by using music to motivate young people to flourish through musical expression.

The Order of Ikhamanga, which recognises excellence in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport, will also be awarded posthumously to several cultural icons, including jazz composer Todd Matshikiza, music scholar Khabajane Vivian Mngoma and saxophonist Jeremiah Kippie Moeketsi.

Among those receiving the Order in silver is musician Jonathan Butler, who gained a national profile as a teen performer from Athlone, Cape Town, and developed a career as a respected studio artist and concert performer.

Sign language interpreter Andiswa Gebashe will receive the Order in silver for breaking barriers and ensuring the Deaf community is represented in arts, media and education.

The Order of Mapungubwe will be bestowed in gold on Professor Tulio de Oliveira for his groundbreaking discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and Professor Salim Abdool Karim for his contribution to HIV/Aids and tuberculosis research and his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Order of Luthuli, recognising dedication to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa, will be awarded in gold posthumously to Jack Simons and Ray Alexander Simons for their relentless fight for the liberation of all South Africans.

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Professor Chabani Noel Manganyi will posthumously receive the Order of the Baobab in gold for his contribution as a thought leader and intellectual activist in Black Consciousness and Black identity.

Five foreigners will receive the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo for friendship shown to South Africa, including Teresa Hillary Clarke from the United States, who founded the Student Sponsorship Programme of South Africa.

The National Orders recognise contributions made by individuals towards building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in the Constitution.

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