Order of Good Hope

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Order of Good Hope
Orde van de Goede Hoop Zuid Afrika.jpg
Badge of the Order of Good Hope
Awarded by  South Africa
Type Order
Motto "SPES BONA"
Awarded for Foreigners for promoting international relations and the interests of South Africa. During 1980-88 it was also awarded to South African citizens.
Status Dormant
Grades (w/ post-nominals) Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Member (88-02)
Former grades Grand Collar (73-88)
Established 1973. Discontinued in 2002 as replaced by the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo
First induction 1973
Last induction 2000
Ord.GoodHope-ribbon.gif
Ribbon bar of the order

The Order of Good Hope or Order of the Cape of Good Hope has been a knighthood order of the Republic of South Africa.

History

The Order of Good Hope was founded in 1973 by the republican government of South Africa to grant those who have distinguished themselves in the promotion of the international relationships and to have sensibilized the general interest towards South Africa and was abolished in 2002.

President Nelson Mandela had announced his intention to reform the Order. The new South African government saw the Order as a relic of apartheid, above all because of the insignia considered too European (the rays, the colours, the anchor and the Latin motto of the Order.[citation needed] Also the insignia was costing the government around 11,000 Rand per initiate.[citation needed] In its place was created the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo.

Classes

Awarded to foreign citizens (and, from 1980 to 1988, to South Africans too), for promoting international relations with the increasingly isolated apartheid state. The order was originally divided into five classes:[1]

  • Grand Collar – for heads of state only.
  • Grand Cross – for heads of government, ministers of state, judges, presidents of legislatures, secretaries of state, ambassadors, commanders-in-chief, and others.
  • Grand Officer – for legislators, envoys, senior military officers, and others.
  • Commander – for chargés d'affaires, consuls-general, colonels, and others.
  • Officer – for consuls, lower-ranking military officers, and others.

The order was reorganised in 1988:

  • Grand Cross – for excellent meritorious service (heads of state and, in special cases, heads of government).
  • Grand Officer – for outstanding meritorious service (heads of government, ministers of state, judges, presidents of legislatures, secretaries of state, ambassadors, commanders-in-chief, and others).
  • Commander – for exceptionally meritorious service (legislators, envoys, senior military officers, and others).
  • Officer – for meritorious service (chargés d'affaires, consuls-general, colonels, and others).
  • Member – for exceptional service (consuls, lower-ranking military officers, and others).

Notable recipients of the Grand-Cross (non-exhaustive list)

Sources

References