The Order of Mapungubwe is a South African civilian honour awarded by the President of South Africa. It recognises South African citizens whose achievements have international impact and serve the interests of South Africa. It is South Africa's highest honour.
The order is named after the ancient civilisation of Mapungubwe, which was located in modern-day South Africa. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and its first recipient (in the highest class) was former president Nelson Mandela.
Classes The order originally had three classes, and was enlarged to four in 2004: Platinum (OMP), for exceptional and unique achievements; Gold (OMG), for exceptional achievements; Silver (OMS), for excellent achievements; and Bronze (OMB), for outstanding achievements.
Design The badge is a horizontal oval above an inverted trapezium. Inside the oval frame is depicted a golden rhinoceros with the sun rising above Mapungubwe Hill in the background. The convex upper edge of the trapezium is decorated with a beadwork pattern and the sides are edged with sceptres. In the centre is an ornate crucible from which molten gold flows down to a red furnace. The South African coat of arms is displayed on the reverse.
The ribbon is gold, edged with a line of cream-coloured bead-like dots along each edge, and recurring cream-coloured rhinoceros silhouettes down the centre. All four classes are worn around the neck.
Recipients RecipientClassYearField of achievementRef.Nelson MandelaPlatinum2002Liberation struggle, national reconciliation and nation-building, and global peace and justiceF. W. de Klerk Gold2002Peace, national reconciliation and nation-buildingAllan McLeod Cormack Gold2002Science and CT scanningBasil Schonland Gold2002Physics and foundation of the Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchPeter Beighton Bronze2002Science and research into inherited skeleton disordersHamilton Naki Bronze2002Medical scienceSydney Brenner Gold2004Medicine, especially research in geneticsTshilidzi Marwala Bronze2004Engineering scienceDaya ReddyBronze2004Mathematics and scienceJ. M. CoetzeeGold2005LiteratureAaron Klug Gold2005MedicineFrank Nabarro Gold2005ScienceTebello Nyokong Bronze2005ScienceHimladevi Soodyall Bronze2005ScienceSelig Percy Amoils Silver2006OphthalmologyGeorge Ellis Silver2006ScienceLionel Opie Silver2006CardiologyPatricia BerjakSilver2006Seed scienceClaire Penn Silver2007Speech and language pathology, especially research into sign language, child language, aphasia and head injuriesSibusiso Sibisi Silver2007Information technology, research and development and business technologyValerie Mizrahi Silver2007Biochemistry and molecular biology, including tuberculosis drug validationDoris Lessing Gold2008Literature and the elimination of colonialism and apartheidWieland GeversSilver2008Higher education and medicinePhuti NgoepeSilver2008Natural sciences and computer modelling researchTim Noakes Silver2008Sport and the science of physical exercisePragasen PillaySilver2008Energy conservationMangena Maake Mokone Gold2009African Ethiopian Movement Hendrik J. KoornhofSilver2009Biomedical scienceBongani MayosiSilver2009Medical scienceJohann LutjeharmsSilver2009/10Oceanographic scienceDouglas ButterworthSilver2010Betterment of the environment and sustainability of fisheriesMonique Zaahl Bronze2010Genetics and research into iron overload disordersPieter Steyn Silver2011Chemistry and biosynthesis of mycotoxinsOliver Tambo Platinum2012Exceptional leadership during the anti-apartheid struggleAlbert Luthuli Platinum2012Exceptional leadership during the anti-apartheid struggleBarry SchoubSilver2012VirologyPatience Mthunzi-KufaBronze2012Biophotonics Bernie Fanaroff Silver2013Astronomy and the Square Kilometre ArrayGeorge Ekama Silver2013Research into wastewater treatment Glenda Gray Silver2013Research into mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDSMalegapuru William Makgoba Silver2013Transformation of higher educationQuarraisha Abdool Karim Bronze2013Research into HIV/AIDS and tuberculosisIsmail Mohamed Silver2014Mathematics and political liberationHendrik Simon SchaafSilver2014Medical scienceWilliam Soga Silver2014Medicine and anthropologyNamrita LallBronze2014Medical scienceZwelakhe Sisulu Gold2016JournalismFulufhelo Nelwamondo Silver2017Science, especially electrical engineeringSiyabulela Xuza Silver2017Scientific innovationEdna Molewa Gold2019Environmental justiceMalik Maaza Silver2019Nano-scienceAri Sitas Silver2019Social scienceThokozani Majozi Bronze2019Science, especially a novel mathematical technique for near-zero-effluent batch chemical facilities which enables the reuse of wastewaterAboubaker Ebrahim Dangor Silver2023PhysicsVhahangwele Masindi Silver2023Environmental sciences and waterMulalo DoyoyoSilver2024applied mechanics, ultralight materials, green building, renewable energy, and other fields of engineeringSalim Abdool KarimGold2026 Medical research – tuberculosis and HIV/AIDSTulio de OliveiraGold2026Medical research – Omicron variant of COVID-19Keertan DhedaSilver2026 Medical research – Tuberculosis and other respiratory diseasesVukosi MarivateSilver2026 Computer science
See also South African civil honours Golden Rhinoceros of Mapungubwe
References
Other sources
External links South African government website South African medals website South African History Online