Associates honoured with SA’s highest national awards
NITheCS proudly congratulates two of its Associates, Prof Tulio de Oliveira and Prof Vukosi Marivate, who were among the 38 recipients of South Africa’s National Orders awarded at an investiture ceremony held at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on 19 May 2026.
Presented by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the National Orders are South Africa’s highest honours, recognising citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have made exceptional contributions to the country and the world through excellence, innovation and service.
Prof Tulio de Oliveira receives the Order of Mapungubwe
Prof Tulio de Oliveira (Stellenbosch University) was awarded the Order of Mapungubwe in Gold for his contribution to scientific research through the groundbreaking discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
His team's rapid identification and characterisation of the variant placed South Africa at the forefront of global scientific research and public health response. The discovery enabled governments, researchers and healthcare systems around the world to respond swiftly, helping to mitigate infections and save lives both nationally and internationally.
The Order of Mapungubwe is awarded to South Africans who have achieved excellence and exceptional accomplishment that benefits South Africa and extends beyond its borders. Prof de Oliveira's work exemplifies the power of scientific collaboration and innovation in addressing global challenges.
Prof Vukosi Marivate honoured for excellence in AI and Data Science
Prof Vukosi Marivate (University of Pretoria) received the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver for his outstanding contributions to data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and natural language processing (NLP).
His pioneering work has played a significant role in advancing technological capabilities in South Africa and across the African continent. Through research, innovation and capacity development, Prof Marivate has helped strengthen Africa's position in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and machine learning while championing the development of technologies that are relevant to local languages and contexts.
His recognition highlights the growing importance of data-driven research and AI in addressing societal challenges and driving economic development.
Celebrating excellence
These prestigious honours reflect the exceptional calibre of researchers within the NITheCS community and underscore the vital role that science, technology and innovation play in advancing society.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof de Oliveira and Prof Marivate on this remarkable achievement. Their contributions continue to inspire researchers across South Africa and demonstrate the global impact of cutting-edge scientific and technological research.
NITheCS is proud to count both scientists among its Associates and celebrates their well-deserved recognition.
