11TH PRESTIGOUS AWARDS FOR CULTURAL AND HERITAGE ENTHUSIASTS HOSTED

The 11th annual Golden Shield Heritage Awards hosted in collaboration with the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town during Heritage month saw a total of 14 Heritage and Cultural enthusiasts honoured as a token of appreciation to uphold and preserve our country’s rich and diverse heritage.

The prestigious awards were graced by the National Heritage Council board members; Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape government – Mr Ricardo MacKenzie; Members of Parliament, Representatives from the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and Arts; Provincial Heritage sites representatives, Traditional leadership from both Limpopo and Khoi San communities, South Africa’s renowned celebrity chef, Siba Mntongana etc.

“Marlene Le Roux CEO of the Artscape Theatre acknowledged the presence of the Lifetime Achievement award recipient , Ouma Katrina Esau and MEC MacKenzi. “It is very important to our country that we must promote, preserve and protect our heritage.  Had it not been the brainchild of the NHC – the Golden Shield Heritage Awards, we would not have been able to say thank you! And please continue to do the great work you of safeguarding our heritage,” said Le Roux.

The submitted nominations were adjudicated by an independent panel from the Department of Military Veterans, Department of Forestry, Fisheries & Environment and SANParks.

The 14 shortlisted nominees that attended the awards included the winners and runner-ups in the various categories for this year’s awards including the three recipients of the special awards for the Ubuntu Honour and Lifetime Achievement award.

“These are the people we want to celebrate whilst they can still smell their flowers.  They’re our living human treasures and communities who have done exceptional work of safeguarding and promoting our heritage for future generations,” said Dr Thabo Manetsi, CEO of the NHC.

Representatives from the Seychelles National Institute for Cultural and the Arts graced the awards ceremony due to an agreement with the NHC to exchange best practices and joint activities in the field of heritage conservation, preservation and restoration. In attendance, it was the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Cecille Kalebi, Executive Director, Ms. Benjamin Rose, Director of International Cooperation, Ms. Sophia Rosalie and the Director of Business Development and Cultural Tourism.

Ms Cecile Kalebi Executive Director at the Seychelles National Institute for Cultural and the Arts said that the 11th edition of the GOSHA stands as a beacon recognising the tireless efforts of heritage activists and practitioners in her message support.

She further added that the institute honoured the invitation to observe the Golden Shield Heritage Awards ceremony as it is in the process of planning to host the Seychelles inaugural heritage awards and hope to emulate the high standards of these awards.

“As we reflect in the 30 years of democracy, we need to take stock of the good work that has been done by people who have rolled up their sleeves to safeguard it, transmit it sustainably from one generation to another as they do it organically without being forced to do it” said Dr Manetsi.

Honourable Ricardo Mackenzie  said “as we celebrate our heritage we should not exclude the opinion that – we actually live heritage! there is so much of it living in our community. But we are not documenting it enough!

MacKenzie said cultural heritage is one of his priorities in the Western Cape province within his department to provide experience to every guest with sourvenirs from the province.

The following are the awardees for the Golden Shield Heritage Awards in the following categories:

The finalists in the various public categories will receive R30,000 as winners and R10 000 each for the runners up in addition to trophies, certificates and hospitality:

  1. National Living Treasure:
    1. Winner – Ms Mushaisano Rebecca Matibe
    2. Runner-up -Mr Maluta Solvin Matsheka
  2. Young Heritage Activist:
    1. Winner – Miss Mandy Makoti
    2. Runner-up -Miss Portia Ncwane
  3. Voice Of Heritage:
    1. Winner – Ms Nomawele Njongo
    2. Runner-up – Ms Zinziswa Soga
  4. Corporate Heritage:
    1. Winner – Firstrand Foundation
  5. Liberation Heritage Steward:
    1. Winner – Dr Lebogang Lance Nawa
    2. Runner-up – Dr Khulu Zephania Mbatha
  6. Heritage Education:
    1. Winner – Mr Thapelo Kgakatsi
    2. Runner-up – Ms Paramount Chef Tania Kleinans
  7. Heritage Social Media Influencer
    1. Winner – Miss Dyondzo Chauke
  8. Heritage Journalism
    1. Winner – Miss Selomina Siphesethu Phekelela
    2. Runner-up – Mr Saziso Dlamini

The honorary recipients who were starlights of the ceremony are recipients of the Ubuntu Honour and the Lifetime Achievement Award who were honured respectively:

  1. Ubuntu Honours
    1. Ibrahim Rhoda
    2. Janette Deacon
  2. Lifetime Achievement Award
    1. Her Excellency ǂXuu Katrina Esau

The 12th Golden Shield Heritage Awards will be hosted for the third time in Cape Town next year and hope to exit the Western cape province with an even higher number of nominations from all the nine provinces.

Be on the lookout for the 2025 call for nominations in July 2025 and visit www.nhc..org.za/golden-shield-heritage-awards