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Olympic swimming champion Chad le Clos, football legend Kaizer Motaung and Lead SA activist Yusuf Abramjee are to be awarded national orders.
United States civil rights activist Jesse Jackson is also on the list of activists, politicians, musicians, and scientists who will be honoured at the weekend.
Chancellor of the National Orders, Cassius Lubisi, announced the full list at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday.
President Jacob Zuma will confer the awards at the annual Freedom Day ceremony on Saturday.