Who can be nominated, and who may put a name forward
Anyone can submit a nomination through our contact form if they know a person who has made a real difference in daily community life. That can include volunteers, carers, teachers, neighbours, youth mentors, clinic workers, first responders, or anyone who steps in when help is needed.
Nominations are open across South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha and Polokwane. The person you nominate should be an individual, not a group, and the story should describe their own actions rather than a general team effort.
- Use the nominee’s full name, where known.
- Tell us where the person lives or works.
- Explain the kind of support they give.
- Include your contact details in case the nomination needs clarification.
What makes a stronger nomination on paper
A good nomination is specific. It should explain what the person actually did, who it helped, and why it mattered in the community. Short notes can work, but a fuller story helps the judging process understand the nominee’s role.
We look for practical detail rather than big claims. A note about a teacher who kept pupils steady through a difficult term, or a neighbour who organises food parcels in a block of flats, gives more value than a few broad lines.
- Describe one clear example of service.
- Say how often the person helps.
- Note the town, suburb, ward or school if relevant.
- Attach useful evidence where you have it.
Evidence that helps without making the form crowded
Evidence is there to support the story, not to bury it. Photos, letters, statements from community members, or short records of the work can help confirm what the nomination says. Keep it relevant and easy to understand.
Do not send long files that repeat the same point in different ways. A clear photo with a brief caption can be better than a large bundle of papers that nobody can read properly. If the person has worked in sensitive settings, keep children’s names, patient details and private addresses out of the submission.
- Photo evidence should be clear and properly labelled.
- Written support can come from people who know the nominee.
- Remove private details that are not needed.
- Send only what supports the nomination story.
Consent, privacy and sensitive information
Nominee consent matters. If you are sharing a person’s story, make sure they know they are being nominated and understand that their details may be reviewed as part of the process. Where the nominee cannot consent directly, explain the situation clearly and keep the submission respectful.
We keep sensitive information limited to what is needed for review. That means no unnecessary ID numbers, private medical detail, or home addresses unless they are truly relevant to the nomination. Our privacy and consent process is there to protect people who give their time and care to others.
- Get permission before sharing someone’s personal story.
- Do not include private details without a clear reason.
- Use the nominee’s preferred name where appropriate.
- Ask before sending photos that include other people.
What happens after you send the nomination
Once a nomination is submitted, it moves into review for eligibility and completeness. If something important is missing, the team may need clarification before the nomination can be properly considered. That is why accurate contact details matter.
The judging process looks at community impact, consistency, the strength of the supporting story and whether the nomination fits the programme’s purpose. The review is not about flashy language, it is about real service that can be explained clearly. If you later notice a mistake, updating a nomination is possible, provided the new detail is relevant and does not change the story into something different.
Public questions can also be sent through our contact form if you need help understanding a form field or a privacy point.
Local nomination areas and common support questions
Our nominations programme is handled from Braamfontein, Johannesburg, with coverage for Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Free State, North West and Mpumalanga nominations. The area name helps us keep records tidy and route each submission to the right review stream.
People often ask whether a nominee must live in the same province as the person submitting the form. No, the nomination can come from anywhere in South Africa. What matters is that the story is credible, specific and tied to a real act of service.
- Use the correct province when that field is asked for.
- Check spellings of names and places before submitting.
- Keep the story focused on one person’s contribution.
- Use our contact form if the nomination needs a correction or update.
