Start with the person, then the story
A strong nomination begins with a clear picture of the person being recognised and the difference they make in daily life. Use plain details, not slogans. Tell us who they help, what they do, where it happens and why the effort matters to neighbours, learners, patients, families or a local team.
Good nominations do not need polished writing. A steady account of the facts usually carries more weight than a long list of praise. If the person has stepped in during illness, given time to a school, helped at a clinic, supported an emergency, or organised community care, set that out in normal words.
What to include when you nominate
The form works best when the key facts are easy to follow. Keep names, places and dates accurate where you can. If you are unsure about a detail, say so rather than guessing. That helps the review stay fair and keeps the record clean.
- The nominee’s full name and the area where they live or work
- A short account of the help they give and who benefits
- Examples that show the impact of their actions
- Supporting notes, photos or documents where they are relevant
- Your own contact details, so the nomination can be traced if needed
Evidence should support the story, not crowd it. A letter, message, notice, photograph or press note can all help when it clearly links to the nominee’s work. If the evidence includes other people, keep privacy in mind and only share what is necessary.
Consent matters before the form goes in
Where possible, the nominee should know they are being put forward. Consent helps avoid awkward surprises and protects their privacy. It also means the person understands that their details may be reviewed as part of the process.
If the nomination is about sensitive work, such as care, health support or community safety, be careful with names and identifying detail. Only include what is needed to explain the contribution. Our privacy and consent checks look at whether the submission respects the nominee and the people around them.
- Confirm the nominee is willing to be considered
- Avoid sharing private medical or family information unless it is necessary
- Do not upload material that exposes children or vulnerable people without a clear reason
- Keep contact details limited to what the process needs
How the review is handled in plain terms
Each nomination is checked for basic completeness before it moves into review. The programme looks for a clear connection between the person nominated and the community help described. It also checks that the submission fits the nomination rules and does not rely on hearsay alone.
Judging is based on the strength of the story, the relevance of the evidence and the impact described. Fairness matters more than noise. A nomination from a small street, a rural village or a busy city area can carry the same weight if the facts are strong and the contribution is real.
- Does the nomination describe real community benefit?
- Are the details specific enough to review properly?
- Is the evidence linked to the person being nominated?
- Has consent been handled with care?
- Does the submission respect privacy and dignity?
Updating a nomination after you submit
If you notice an error after sending the form, or you need to add useful detail, use our contact form through the page on the site. Keep the update focused and state clearly what has changed. That might be a corrected name, a better supporting note, or a missing detail about the nominee’s community role.
Do not send long rewrites unless the submission truly needs it. A clean correction is easier to review than a fresh story pasted over the old one. If the update affects consent or privacy, mention that plainly so the record can be adjusted with care.
Where public questions fit into the process
Some people want to know whether a nominee can be put forward from another province, whether a family member may nominate, or whether a community group may submit on behalf of others. Those are normal questions, and they sit comfortably beside the main nomination process.
Public questions are best kept short and specific. If the issue is about eligibility, consent, evidence or privacy, say which part of the process you need help with. The same approach also works well for Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Polokwane and other places across South Africa.
A careful nomination is easier to review
When the story is honest, the consent is clear and the evidence supports the claim, the review can focus on the contribution itself. That is what matters most in this programme, because the point is to recognise people who quietly hold their communities together.
Nomination work does not need grand language. It needs accuracy, respect and enough detail for the judging process to understand what the person has done and who has benefited from it.