South Africa’s National Orders: A Complete Guide

What are South Africa’s National Orders?

South Africa’s National Orders are the highest awards bestowed by the country through the President on South African citizens and eminent foreign nationals. The President is the country’s fount of honour and is assisted in administering the system by the Director-General in The Presidency, who serves as Chancellor of National Orders, and by the Advisory Council on National Orders. ^[1]

The current National Orders are the Order of Mapungubwe, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Ikhamanga and the Order of Mendi for Bravery. Each Order recognises a different form of achievement, service, solidarity or courage. ^[1][2]

The Order of Mapungubwe

The Order of Mapungubwe is awarded to South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement. Its design draws on the Kingdom of Mapungubwe and archaeological objects associated with the site, including the gold rhinoceros and sceptres. It is the only one of the six current National Orders that includes a platinum class as well as gold, silver and bronze. ^[3][2]

The Presidency lists the post-nominal letters OMP for platinum, OMG for gold, OMS for silver and OMB for bronze. Nelson Mandela received the Order of Mapungubwe in Platinum in 2002 for his contribution to the liberation struggle, national reconciliation and nation-building. ^[3][10]

The Order of the Baobab

The Order of the Baobab recognises distinguished service by South African citizens in business and the economy, science, medicine and technological innovation, and community service. The baobab was chosen as its central symbol to represent endurance, wisdom, utility and sustained service. ^[4][2]

The Order is conferred in gold, silver and bronze. The Presidency describes gold as the Supreme Counsellor of the Baobab for exceptional service, silver as the Grand Counsellor for excellent service and bronze as the Counsellor for outstanding service. ^[4]

The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo

The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo is the National Order specifically intended for eminent foreign nationals. It recognises friendship towards South Africa, international solidarity, cooperation and support for the country and its aspirations. ^[5][2]

It is awarded in gold, silver and bronze as the Supreme Companion, Grand Companion and Companion of O.R. Tambo. The Order also includes a ceremonial staff in addition to the neck badge, miniature and lapel rosette. ^[5]

The Order of Luthuli

The Order of Luthuli is awarded to South Africans who have made meaningful contributions to democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, peace or the resolution of conflict. It is named for Chief Albert Luthuli, the former president of the African National Congress and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. ^[6][2]

The Order is conferred in gold for exceptional contribution, silver for excellent contribution and bronze for outstanding contribution. Its post-nominal letters are OLG, OLS and OLB respectively. ^[6]

The Order of Ikhamanga

The Order of Ikhamanga recognises South African citizens who have excelled in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism or sport. Its central motif is the indigenous ikhamanga flower, also known as the strelitzia or bird-of-paradise flower. ^[7][2]

Gold is awarded for exceptional achievement, silver for excellent achievement and bronze for outstanding achievement. Wayde van Niekerk received the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold in 2017 after winning the Olympic 400 metres in a world-record 43.03 seconds. Siya Kolisi was listed among the 2023 recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold for his rugby leadership and contribution. ^[7][11][12]

The Order of Mendi for Bravery

The Order of Mendi for Bravery recognises acts of bravery by South Africans, whether those acts occur inside or outside the country. It takes its name from the SS Mendi, which sank in the English Channel on 21 February 1917 while carrying more than 600 Black South African volunteer soldiers during the First World War. ^[8][2]

The Order is awarded in gold for exceptional acts of bravery involving great danger or loss of life while saving lives or property, in silver for extraordinary acts of bravery involving great danger, and in bronze for outstanding acts of bravery involving danger while attempting a rescue or protecting property. ^[8]

How National Orders are awarded

The President bestows the National Orders. The administrative structure described by The Presidency places the Director-General in The Presidency in the role of Chancellor of National Orders, supported by the Advisory Council on National Orders. ^[1][2]

Members of the public may nominate candidates. For the 2026 nomination cycle, The Presidency asked for a motivation summarising the nominee’s achievements, listing exceptional milestones and describing the exceptional service, achievement or act of bravery for which the person was being nominated. ^[2]

The 2026 nomination cycle

The Presidency opened the 2026 call for nominations in September 2026 and set 30 September 2026 as the closing date. The notice invited nominations from communities and sectors across the country and specifically encouraged South Africans to identify people whose achievements or contributions merited national recognition. ^[2]

A separate Presidency announcement dated 14 May 2026 named recipients for an investiture held on 19 May. That announcement included awards in the Orders of Ikhamanga, the Baobab, Mapungubwe and the Companions of O.R. Tambo, illustrating that not every one of the six Orders is necessarily represented in every investiture. ^[9]

National Orders and the South African Index

Several people already documented by South African Index are National Order recipients. Nelson Mandela received the Order of Mapungubwe in Platinum in 2002; Wayde van Niekerk received the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold in 2017; and Siya Kolisi appears among the 2023 recipients of the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold. These award records provide one official source for documenting specific achievements within their wider biographies. ^[10][11][12]