Springbok coach and national hero Rassie Erasmus is set to be honoured with the Order of Ikhamanga next week.
The storied coach will receive the nation’s highest honour for his role in the Springboks’ recent Rugby World Cup successes and his contribution to national unity in the country.
South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, will officially bestow the award on Erasmus during an investiture ceremony on Tuesday, 19 May.
The country’s Chancellor of the National Orders, Phindile Baleni, who is also the South African Presidency’s director general, made the announcement on Thursday.
Baleni revealed that the Springboks head coach will be among 40 South Africans and foreign nationals who will receive National Orders next week.
“National Orders are the highest awards that our country, through the President, bestows on our citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and who have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans,” said Baleni.
The Order of Ikhamanga is awarded to South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
“His [Erasmus] inspirational leadership in national and international rugby has propelled the Springboks to repeated Rugby World Cup Championships,” added Baleni.
“Victory on the field of play has advanced social cohesion among South Africans and raised the nation’s esteem in the international community.”
National Orders recognise the contributions made by individuals towards building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in the country’s Constitution.
In 2023, Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi was also awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga in the build-up to that year’s Rugby World Cup in France which the Boks won after beating arch-rivals the All Blacks in the final.
The Order of Ikhamanga is Erasmus‘ latest award after he guided South Africa to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023 in Japan and France, respectively.
In 2024, his achievements with the South African national team was also recognised when he was awarded an honorary doctorate from North-West University in Potchefstroom.
