The City of Cape Town invites residents to nominate individuals, organisations or military units for Civic Honours.

Civic Honours, which date back 50 years, are annual awards that the City confers to acknowledge individuals, organisations and military units that have distinguished themselves through extraordinary acts of service, or outstanding contributions to their community and Cape Town.

They were discontinued in 2000, after the amalgamation of Cape Town’s seven smaller municipalities into a single ‘unicity’, and revived six years later to recognise Capetonians who excel in discharging the responsibilities inherent in being a South African citizen. Such people perform outstandingly in upholding the rights of others, serving others above themselves or contributing to nation building through outstanding service and achievements.

The awards are conferred in term of the City’s Civic Honours Policy, which was adopted by Council on 3 December 2008. The policy identifies the following main categories for awards:

Freedom of the City

This award is bestowed on individuals, military units or organisations that have distinguished themselves by their heroic service. There are three living Freemen of the City: State President and Nobel Laureate, Nelson Mandela, Nobel Laureate, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, and former UWC Chancellor Dr Richard Van Der Ross.

Signing of the Civic Honours Book

The signing of the Civic Honours Book is an invitation to sign or inscribe one’s name against a citation of his/her achievement in the “Civic Honours Book”. This book is kept by the City for future generations to remember Cape Town’s great citizens.

Freedom of Entry into the City

The 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 on all ceremonial and other occasions “with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying”.

The Mayor’s Medal

This prestigious award acknowledges outstanding contributions that are voluntarily made by individuals or associations in a number of different fields: community affairs, social affairs and services, cultural affairs, youth affairs, recreation and sport, conservation, economic affairs and extraordinary bravery.

A Civic Honour may be conferred on a living person or in memory of a deceased person. All nominations must be in writing, must indicate the honour to be bestowed and include adequate motivation.

Please submit your nomination to the Office of the Executive Mayor, Private Bag X9181, Cape Town, 8000 or e-mail Levona.Africa@capetown.gov.za on or before Friday 19 February 2010. A copy of the policy may be obtained here, or by dialling 021 400 5841.