President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday bestow the 2021 National Orders Awards on distinguished citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans.
The ceremony will take place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.
The National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa bestows, through the President of the Republic.
They recognise the contributions made by individuals towards building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in the Constitution.
During the ceremony, President Ramaphosa will bestow the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo on deserving recipients.
Recipients of National Orders to be announced on Thursday:
Dr KPD Maphalla to receive Order of Ikhamanga
Dr Kgotso Maphalla, affectionately known as “KPD”, Maphalla will be bestowed the order of Ikhamanga posthumously by President Ramaphosa.
Maphalla is a multi-award-winning author who published more than 70 Sesotho literary works among others.
The prolific author Maphalla passed on in April this year at the age 66 after suffering a stroke.
His death has been described as a colossal loss in the literary fraternity:
