Cape Town to honour cultural icons David Kramer and Taliep Petersen with Freedom of the City
Taliep Petersen
Image: File
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced that the City will bestow its highest Civic Honour – the Freedom of the City – on two of its cultural icons, David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen, at a forthcoming ceremony in January 2026.
The City will also award Civic Honours and Mayor’s Medals to a range of luminaries at a Council ceremony in November.
‘We look forward to awarding the Freedom of Cape Town to two very special individuals who count among our city’s most-loved, most famous, and influential cultural ambassadors: David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen, who tragically left us in 2006, and whose family has agreed to accept the award," said the Mayor.
‘Taliep and David take their place alongside titans of history like President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who are among only a handful of individuals to be awarded the freedom of Cape Town.
‘This legendary duo have not only entertained us over the generations, but have fundamentally shaped South African musical theatre and the rich cultural heritage of the Western Cape. Aside from their countless individual creative achievements, who can forget their masterpiece theatrical collaborations for "District Six: The Musical" and "Kat and the Kings"?
He added that Cape Town residents would be able to join the ceremony which will be held at the Grand Parade next year.
"The genius of these timeless productions, is how Taliep and David blended entertainment with social commentary and activism, telling powerful stories of forced removals and community resilience. said Hill-Lewis.
David Kramer.
Image: file
In November, the City will further confer Civic Honours and Mayor’s Medals on a range of individuals or organisations who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary acts of service, outstanding contributions to the wider city community, personal sacrifice and contributions to nation building.
‘To promote pride in our city, we revived the tradition of Civic Honours in 2023 after a hiatus of 12 years, and we have now made these awards a regular fixture every two years. 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," he detailed.
‘Honours recipients have generally achieved extraordinary acclaim in their chosen field, have won international recognition for their talent or contribution, or distinguished themselves with extraordinary community service. We look forward to honouring our 2025 recipients at a ceremony this November."
The awarding of honours follows a public nominations process held earlier in 2025, followed by Council approval of nominations, confirmation of acceptance by nominees, and finally the awards ceremony, to be held in City Council Chambers on November 14.
Awards are conferred in several categories, including Freedom of the City, Civic Honours Book, and the Mayor’s Medal.
After Freedom of the City, the second-highest honour the City can confer is the Signing of the Civic Honours Book.
This honour recognises public service to Cape Town that is exceptionally meritorious or impactful, in any field of social, community or civic interest. These recipients have generally achieved extraordinary acclaim in their chosen field, have won international recognition for their contribution, or distinguished themselves with extraordinary community service. The Civic Honours book is kept by the City for future generations to remember Cape Town’s greatest citizens.
The individuals to be recorded in the Civic Honours Book for 2025 are: One of cricket’s greatest all-rounders in history, Jacques Kallis, internationally-acclaimed film-maker, Oliver Hermanus, South Africa and Langa’s world cup winning Test Cricket Captain, Temba Bavuma, renowned parliamentarian, diplomat, author, and public intellectual, Tony Leon.
The Mayor’s Medal, which looks at community service to animal welfare, conservation and extraordinary bravery:
For Community Affairs: Professor Brian O’Connell (posthumously), former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape, Wendy Ackerman, philanthropist and business leader, for Social Affairs and Services, The Haven Night Shelter, offering dignified shelter to help people off the streets, The Service Dining Rooms, serving cooked meals to the homeless for over 90 years and Victor Pick (posthumously), medical researcher who contributed to the world’s first successful heart transplant by Christiaan Barnard
For 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 his advancement of music, arts journalism, and cultural development and Sylvia Mdunyelwa (“Mama Kaap”, posthumously), Langa’s monumental figure in South African jazz.
For Recreation and Sport: Babalwa Latsha, Springbok Women’s team captain, Bernard Hartze (posthumously), South African footballing legend and Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club, South Africa’s oldest rugby club, founded in 1875
For Conservation: Friends of the Liesbeek, transforming Cape Town’s waterways for over three decades, Dr. Joan Parker, the driving force behind the transformation of the Upper Liesbeek River Garden (ULRG), The Two Oceans Aquarium, beacon of marine conservation excellence in Cape Town
For Economic Affairs: Professor Brian Kantor, economist, educator, and public intellectual
For Extraordinary Bravery: The Mountain Club of South Africa, serving Cape Town with a highly skilled volunteer Search and Rescue (S&R) team