Presidential Award for City Health Director

He is the first municipal health director to be recognised by the President with the Order of the Baobab.

National Orders are the highest awards which a country bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals. Since 2002, South Africa has introduced four Orders, namely Mapungubwe, Companions of Oliver Tambo, Luthuli and Baobab.

The Order of the Baobab is awarded to citizens in recognition of their distinguished service in the fields of business, economy, science, medicine, technological innovation and community service.

In bestowing the Order on Dr Toms, the President recognised his outstanding contribution to the struggle against apartheid and sexual discrimination. In 1980 he started the Empilisweni SACLA clinic in Crossroads as the only health service for the Crossroads community. During the eighties he was one of the active figures in the UDF and the End Conscription Campaign. He was jailed for nine months for refusing to do a military service camp in 1988.

Dr Toms is an advocate for gay and lesbian rights, and the need to protect citizens from being discriminated on the grounds of sexual orientation, which is now entrenched in the country's Constitution.

"The City of Cape Town is proud that Dr Toms is to be the first City Health Director to receive such a great honour," says Mr Achmat Ebrahim, Acting City Manager.

"With Dr Toms at the helm of Health Services, the City of Cape Town is leading the way in the battle against HIV/Aids and TB. He led the way in the roll-out of anti-retroviral drugs in the City as well as establishing the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) programme in the workplace," he says.

Dr Toms was one of eight to receive the Order of the Baobab. The other recipients include President Mbeki's mother, Prof Barney Pityana of Unisa and Mrs Sheena Duncan.

"It is so nice to be recognised in this way. I believe I am the first City Health Director to receive such a great honour. I did what I did because I believed it was the right thing to do. I am humbled by this experience," says Dr Toms.

The name of the Order was inspired from what is seen to be the oldest life form in Africa, the Baobab tree. Its endemic distribution and peculiar appearance has made it an icon of the African landscape. When viewed from a distance its sparse branches and leaves give it the appearance of being rooted in the air, hence also called in folklore the upside down tree.

A total of 26 individuals were recognised at the ceremony.

Issued by:
Jan Kruger
Media Liaison Officer - City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 1292
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Email: media@capetown.gov.za
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media Queries:
Ivan Toms
Tel: 021 400 2100