President Jacob Zuma will on Friday, 27 April 2012, join in the national celebrations of Freedom Day and later bestow National Orders to outstanding South African citizens and foreign nationals in Pretoria.
Freedom Day is a national event celebrated annually to commemorate South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections that took place on 27 April in 1994 and ushered the country into freedom and democracy.
National Orders are now also conferred yearly on this day.
National Orders are the highest awards that a country bestows, through the President of the Republic of South Africa, upon citizens and members of the international community who have contributed meaningfully towards making the country a free, democratic and successful nation, united in its diversity.
On the day, the following National Orders will be bestowed: the Order of Mendi for Bravery, Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.
Details of the events are as follows:
Freedom Day
Date: 27 April 2012
Time: 10h00 (Media arrives at 09:30am)
Venue: Union Buildings Lawns, Pretoria
Media wishing to attend Freedom Day celebrations are requested to RSVP to Tsakane Khambane on 082 084 5566 or tsakane@po.gov.za preferably before 12h00 on 26 April.
National Orders
Time: 18h00 (Media arrives at 17h00)
Venue: Presidential Guest House, Pretoria
Media wishing to attend this event should RSVP to Nomfundo Mcetywa on 072 588 4548 or nomfundo@po.gov.za preferably before 12h00 on 26 April.
Enquiries:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148 or
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
