Cape Town will celebrate an extraordinary line-up of individuals and organisations at its 2025 Civic Honours and Mayor’s Medals Ceremony, to be held on 14 November at the City Council Chambers. The highlight will be the conferral of the Freedom of the City — Cape Town’s highest civic honour — on David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen, two of the city’s most influential cultural ambassadors.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said, “We look forward to awarding the Freedom of Cape Town to two very special individuals who have fundamentally shaped South African musical theatre. Their collaborations such as District Six: The Musical and Kat and the Kings combined entertainment with powerful social commentary and activism, telling timeless stories of forced removals and resilience.” Petersen’s family will accept the award on his behalf.
The Civic Honours Book, the City’s second-highest distinction, will this year record the names of:
- Jacques Kallis, one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders
- Oliver Hermanus, internationally acclaimed filmmaker
- Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s and Langa’s Test cricket captain and World Cup winner
- Tony Leon, renowned parliamentarian, diplomat, author, and public intellectual
The Mayor’s Medal recognises exceptional contributions across a range of fields:
Community Affairs
- Prof. Brian O’Connell (posthumously), former Vice-Chancellor, University of the Western Cape
- Wendy Ackerman, philanthropist and business leader
Social Affairs and Services
- The Haven Night Shelter, providing dignified shelter to help people off the streets
- The Service Dining Rooms, serving meals to the homeless for over 90 years
- Victor Pick (posthumously), medical researcher who contributed to the first successful heart transplant
Cultural Affairs
- Basil Appollis, multi-award-winning actor, director, producer, and writer
- Emo Adams, renowned singer, actor, and producer
- Denise Newman, accomplished and versatile performing artist
- Louis Heyneman, for advancing music, arts journalism, and cultural development
- Sylvia Mdunyelwa (“Mama Kaap”, posthumously), Langa’s monumental jazz figure
Recreation and Sport
- Babalwa Latsha, Springbok Women’s rugby captain
- Bernard Hartze (posthumously), South African football legend
- Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club, South Africa’s oldest rugby club, founded in 1875
Conservation
- Friends of the Liesbeek, for transforming Cape Town’s waterways over three decades
- Dr. Joan Parker, driving force behind the Upper Liesbeek River Garden
- Two Oceans Aquarium, a beacon of marine conservation excellence
Economic Affairs
- Prof. Brian Kantor, economist, educator, and public intellectual
Extraordinary Bravery
- The Mountain Club of South Africa, for their skilled volunteer Search and Rescue service
Mayor Hill-Lewis noted that the Civic Honours tradition, revived in 2023 after a 12-year hiatus, now takes place every two years to celebrate “remarkable people who have delivered exceptional public service and inspired pride in our city.”
Cape Town’s 2025 Honours recipients truly reflect the city’s heart — creative, compassionate, courageous, and committed to building a better community for all.
