President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the withdrawal of three names from a list of people earmarked to be honoured with national orders.
The withdrawal follows objections from various sectors of society including the ANC veterans, as well as a recommendation by the National Orders Advisory Council.
On Sunday, the Presidency issued a statement confirming the withdrawal of three nominees.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magweya said Duma Ndlovu, Freek Robinson and Mike Horne have been removed from a list of 35 recipients to be conferred with the awards.
“President Ramaphosa has accepted the withdrawal of three nominees who were nominated to receive respective orders in a ceremony scheduled to take place in Pretoria on Friday,” said Magwenya.
“To uphold the integrity of national orders, the advisory committee 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 2023.”
The national orders awards are the highest accolades that South Africa, through the president, bestows on citizens and eminent foreign nationals.
The ANC veterans said Ndlovu, founder of Word of Mouth Pictures and TV producer, cannot be bestowed with the Order of Ikhamanga until his name is cleared of allegations of corruption levelled against him.
Ndlovu’s name previously came up during State Capture Commission hearings chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. He is said to have played a part in state capture.
Word of Mouth Pictures’ spokesperson Thanduxolo Jindela, who told Sunday World last week that Ndlovu felt honoured by the nomination, could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
