​​​​​​​The freedom of the city is conferred on a person of distinction or on someone who has rendered outstanding service to the city and its people. Such a person is then called an honorary Freeman of the City.
 
To commemorate the anniversary, the City, in cooperation with the Cape Medical Museum, held a  lunchtime event at the Cape Town Civic Centre to honour one of the world’s most celebrated surgeons. The programme featured a talk by Professor Peter Zilla, head of the Christiaan Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital. The Acting Mayor, Alderman Ian Neilson, officiated at the event.
 

A person who has received the Freedom of the City also receives an illuminated address suitably inscribed. The Office of the Mayor keeps a register of the names, designations and signatures of such persons in a book known as the Book of Honorary Freedom of the City of Cape Town. Previous Freemen of the City include the late former President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and former United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama, among others.

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As part of the commemoration, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa as well as the Organ Donor Foundation offered health risk assessments and gave people the opportunity to register as organ donors throughout the day.
 
An  exhibition by the Cape Medical Museum opened last week on the Concourse Level of the Podium Block, Cape Town Civic Centre which will remain open until 16 May 2018. Residents are encouraged to visit the display.

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