President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has taken the unprecedented step of withdrawing National Order awards from several top producers in the country, following allegations of state capture. State capture refers to the illicit influence exerted by private individuals or entities over government officials, leading to corruption and abuse of power. The move comes as Ramaphosa continues his efforts to tackle corruption and restore accountability in South Africa’s government and public institutions.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the withdrawal of three National Order award nominees — Duma Ndlovu, Freek Robinson and Mike Horn — after objections to their nominations.
Ndlovu, a poet, filmmaker and producer, was accused of playing a part in state capture before the commission chaired by chief justice Raymond Zondo. The ANC Veterans League earlier called on Ramaphosa to reconsider giving him an award, at least until his name has been cleared.
The National Orders are the highest honors that can be bestowed by the South African government, recognizing outstanding achievements and contributions to the country. They are awarded annually on Freedom Day, which is celebrated on April 27th to commemorate the end of apartheid and the birth of democracy in South Africa. The awards are intended to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the well-being of the country and its people, and who embody the values of democracy, human rights, and social justice.
However, in recent years, there have been increasing concerns about corruption and state capture in South Africa, with allegations of private individuals or entities using their influence to gain unfair advantages and manipulate government policies and decisions. These allegations have led to widespread public outcry and calls for action to hold those responsible accountable.
Veteran broadcaster Robinson was due to receive an award for his contribution to journalism while Horn is a South African-born explorer. The presidency said there had been some objections to their nominations without expanding.
“The National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa, through the president, bestows on citizens and eminent foreign nationals,” the presidency said in a statement on Sunday.
“Following objections from various sectors of society and on the recommendation of the National Orders Advisory Council (NOAC), President Ramaphosa has accepted the withdrawal of three nominees who were nominated to receive respective orders in a ceremony scheduled to take place on Friday, April 28 in Pretoria. The three are Mr Duma Ndlovu, Mr Freek Robinson and Mr Mike Horn from the list of 35 chosen recipients to be conferred.
“To uphold the integrity of National Orders, the NOAC will further adopt measures to strengthen the selection process. These measures include a workshop which will be undertaken by council members at the end of April. Timelines of the selection process will also be reviewed.”
Check out who else is nominated here
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