The period to submit nominations for civic honours is now open until Wednesday March 12, says the City.
Civic honours acknowledge individuals or organisations that have distinguished themselves through extraordinary acts of service, outstanding contributions to the wider city community, personal sacrifice and contributions to nation-building.
They may be conferred on a living person or in memory of a deceased person.
Civic honours were reinstated in 2023 to promote pride in Cape Town, said mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Awards are conferred in the following categories: Freedom of the City, Civic Honours Book, Mayor’s Medal, and Freedom of Entry into the City:
• Freedom of the City is the City’s highest and most prestigious award, bestowed only rarely, upon individuals, organisations or military units that have brought global acclaim to Cape Town and distinguished themselves exceptionally. Freedom of the City is very rarely awarded, and past recipients include the late President Nelson Mandela and the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
• The second-highest honour the City can confer is the Signing of the Civic Honours Book. This is where either a living person or their next of kin, in the case of a posthumous award, signs their name in the Civic Honours Book next to a citation of their achievements. Recipients also receive a scroll containing the same citation of achievements. 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 talent or contribution, or distinguished themselves with extraordinary community service.
This book is kept by the City for future generations to remember the honourees. In 2023, they included lawyer, activist and former Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs; playwright Athol Fugard; the South African test cricketer to have never played for South Africa, Basil D’Oliveira; singer Brenda Fassie; former South African soccer star and captain and current national team coach Desiree Ellis; Afrikaans poet, painter and former political prisoner Breyten Breytenbach; teenage interpreter and peace broker between the Khoi and the Dutch in the 17th century, Krotoa; and Archbishop of Cape Town, Dr Thabo Makgoba, among others.
• The Mayor’s Medal acknowledges outstanding contributions by individuals or associations in several fields, including community service; the arts; social services; youth affairs; recreation and sport; conservation; economic affairs; animal welfare and extraordinary bravery. In 2023, Mayor’s Medals were bestowed on The Friends of Mostert’s Mill; Founders of The Clothing Bank, Tracey Chambers and Tracey Gilmore; Ladles of Love’s Danny Diliberto; late actress Shaleen Surtie-Richards; Langa’s Busy Bees Rugby Club; and The Volunteer Wildfire Services.
• Freedom of Entry into the City is given to military units to recognise outstanding service given to their country and city. Military units that receive this honour may march through the streets of Cape Town during all ceremonial and other occasions with “swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying”.
How to nominate
All nominations must be presented in writing, motivating for the honour to be bestowed and include adequate motivation, and be submitted to www.capetown.gov.za/CivicHonours
