A programme built around ordinary help
SA Hero Awards exists for the people who keep a street, ward, school or clinic moving when nobody is looking. The programme recognises volunteers, carers, teachers, first responders and neighbours who step in when there is pressure on families or a community needs practical help. Our work starts with a nomination, then moves through eligibility checks, story writing, evidence review and a judging process that looks for real contribution rather than polished wording.
We are based in Braamfontein, Johannesburg and nominations are open to the public across South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha and Polokwane. The team handles nominations from Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga. Each area brings different needs, but the nomination rules stay consistent so people know what is expected.
How a strong nomination reads
A useful nomination is clear, specific and grounded in what the person has actually done. It should name the nominee, explain the community they help, and describe the actions that made a difference. A short note about one act of service is better than a long claim that cannot be checked. If there are letters, photographs, local records or witness details, those help too, but the story should still make sense on its own.
When people write the nomination, we look for plain detail rather than grand language. Tell us what happened, who benefited and what changed after the help was given. If the nominee has worked quietly for years, say so, but include examples. If the contribution came during a school term, a clinic shift, a neighbourhood clean-up or a sudden emergency, that context matters.
- State the nominee’s full name and area.
- Describe the help they gave in plain terms.
- Include dates, places or events where you can.
- Add supporting evidence if it is safe to share.
- Keep the account honest and specific.
Consent is part of the nomination
We treat nominee consent as a basic part of the process. If someone is being put forward for recognition, they should know they are being nominated and understand how their information may be used. Some nominations involve public praise, while others involve sensitive family or community details. That is why our process includes a clear consent step before anything moves further.
If the nominee cannot give consent directly, the nomination should explain the situation clearly and include only what is appropriate to share. We do not need gossip, private disputes or extra detail that does not help the review. The point is to respect the person being nominated while still giving the judging process enough information to work with. Lerato Michelle Maseko handles privacy and consent matters with the rest of the team, so the nomination stays aligned with the rules from the start.
Privacy stays close to the process
Some nominations involve children, care work, health matters or neighbourhood issues that should not be spread around. In those cases, privacy matters as much as the story itself. We limit access to sensitive information, and we only keep what is needed for review and administration. Public recognition does not mean every detail should be public.
Our approach is practical. If a nomination includes medical information, family circumstances or safety concerns, we review whether that detail is needed at all. If not, it stays out. If yes, it is handled with restraint. This matters in communities where people know each other, because a good nomination can still protect dignity. The programme is public, but it is not careless with personal information.
- Share only the information needed for review.
- Keep sensitive family or health details limited.
- Do not include material that could place someone at risk.
- Use the contact form if you need help with privacy wording.
What the judging process looks for
The judging process is designed to look at contribution, consistency and community value. We do not treat every nomination as the same kind of story, because helping a school in one suburb may look different from supporting elderly neighbours in another town. The review process checks whether the nomination is credible, whether the nominee was actually involved, and whether the impact is explained in a way that can be understood.
Pieter Jacobus van Wyk coordinates the judging process, while the rest of the team keeps the flow orderly. Ayesha Fatima Khan leads nominations, and Kagiso Daniel Molefe helps keep the programme moving across the different areas. The aim is not fancy language. It is a fair look at what was done, who benefited and whether the nomination gives enough detail to stand up to review.
- Check whether the nominee’s role is clearly described.
- Look for a real link between action and impact.
- Consider whether the evidence supports the story.
- Review consistency, not just the wording.
Braamfontein office, national reach
Our base in Braamfontein keeps the programme close to the centre of Johannesburg, but our work reaches far beyond the city. Public nominations come in from across South Africa, and the team handles them through area-based branches for Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, the Free State, North West and Mpumalanga. That structure helps us keep records organised without making the process feel distant.
Thandeka Nomvula Mokoena leads the programme as Managing Director, and the team works around the practical side of nomination administration rather than ceremony. We handle eligibility checks, public questions, updates to nominations, useful evidence, sensitive information and after-submission admin with the same careful tone. People often want a place where the rules are plain, the paperwork is readable and the nominee is treated with respect. That is the work we keep in view.
What the programme stands for in plain terms
SA Hero Awards values service that is real, local and often unnoticed. A person who checks on elderly neighbours, steps into a classroom gap, helps at a clinic, leads a clean-up or assists in an emergency can shape a community in ways that never make noise. We keep the programme focused on that kind of contribution.
The values are simple to state, but they matter in the detail of the process: fairness, privacy, dignity, clear evidence and respect for the nominee. We avoid inflated language because the work does not need it. A solid nomination, a careful review and a respectful outcome are enough. If you need to ask about the nomination process, our contact form is the route to use.