The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is excited by honour of the Order of Mendi Award in Silver Posthumously bestowed to its late official Mr. Kgomotso Thomas for Bravery.

His Excellency Honourable President Cyril Ramaphosa decided to honour the late Thomas (ph) with the Order of Mendi for Bravery in Silver for his heroic rescue of two Sol Plaatje University Students from drowning. The two students were part of the university's book club which was taking part on the National Library's Funda Mzansi Championships that were held in George in the Western Cape and in the process, Thomas paid the ultimate price. The university's book club was since named Kgomotso Thomas Book Club. The Department had also resolved to include his family in all activities of the Funda Mzansi Championships.

Thomas family will receive his award during a Ceremony that is due to be held at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House on Friday, 28 April 2023. The Department will like to take this opportunity to thank the Honourable President for the Award which will go a long way in honouring Thomas' memory.

Awards of the Order of Mendi Decoration for Bravery are made to South Africans who have performed acts of bravery.

The act of bravery may have occurred anywhere in the world.

This order is awarded in gold for exceptional acts of bravery in which awardees would have placed their lives in great danger or may have lost their lives in their efforts to save lives or property, in silver, for extraordinary acts of bravery through which recipients’ lives were placed in great danger while saving or trying to rescue persons or property, and in bronze for outstanding acts of bravery through which their lives were endangered while saving or trying to rescue persons or property.