City of Cape Town has begin with their Civic Honour 2025 and with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis they are inviting the residents to nominate individuals or organisations to be recognised. The nominations are now open for two months starting from Jan 13, 2025 to Mar 12, 2025 and will also conduct a ceremony later this year.
Reportedly, the City of Cape Town confers civic honours to acknowledge individuals or organisations that have distinguished themselves through extraordinary acts of service and outstanding contributions to the wider city community with personal sacrifice and contributions to nation building. A Civic Honour may be conferred or given on a living person or in memory of a deceased person.
Considering this, the Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stated that the Civic Honours are about recognising the contributions of remarkable people who have delivered exceptional public service, in any field of social, community or civic interest.
Lewis said that they have revived the tradition of Civic Honours in 2023 after a hiatus of 12 years to promote pride in the city and now they have made these awards a regular fixture very two years.
He highlighted that the recipients of the honours have generally achieved extraordinary acclaim in their chosen field and have won international recognition for their talent or contribution and distinguishing themselves with extraordinary community service.
“We encourage Capetonians to get involved by submitting a nomination on or before March 12 and we look forward to celebrate a new group of amazing honourees at the ceremony later this year,” concluded Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Notably, the awards are conferred in several categories i.e. Freedom of the City, Civic Honours Book, Mayor’s Medal and Freedom of Entry into the City.
Freedom of the City
It is the highest and the most prestigious award, bestowed rarely upon individuals, organisations or military units that have brought global acclaim to Cape Town and distinguished themselves exceptionally.
Freedom of the city is awarded very rarely and the past recipients also include the late President Nelson Mandela and the late Archbishop Emeritus – Desmond Tutu.
Civic Honours Book
It is the second highest honour that the city can confer is the Signing of the Civic Honours Book. This is where a living person or their next of kin in the case of a posthumous award, signs their name in the Civic Honours Book, next to citation of their achievements. Recipients have also received a beautiful scroll containing the same citation of achievements.
The honour recognises public service to Cape Town city. It is exceptionally a meritorious or impactful, in any field of social and community or civic interest. These recipients have generally achieved extraordinary acclaim in their chosen field and have won international recognition for their talent or contribution by distinguishing themselves with extraordinary community service. The book is kept by the City for future generations, to remember it as the greatest citizens of Cape Town.
The Mayor Medal
This is a prestigious award that acknowledges outstanding contributions by the individuals or associations in a number of different fields such as community service, the arts or social services, youth affairs, recreation and sport, conservation, economic affairs, animal welfare and for extraordinary bravery.
Freedom of Entry into the City
The award is given to military units to recognise outstanding service that is given to their country and city. Military units who receive this honour may march through the streets of Cape Town. They march during all ceremonial and other occasions with ‘swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying’.
How to nominate
All nominations must be categorised in writing or motivation, for the honour to be bestowed and include adequate motivation.