Two academics from the University of Pretoria (UP) were honoured for their outstanding contributions to science, technology and the arts.

South Africa recently celebrated some of its most influential thinkers, artists and innovators following the release of the 2026 National Orders list by the Presidency.

Professor Vukosi Marivate from the university’s Computer Science Department received the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver for his work in artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science. This honour, among South Africa’s highest honours, is awarded to citizens who have achieved excellence in science, medicine, technology and innovation.

Performance artist and Drama Department lecturer Gavin Krastin was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze for his contribution to the arts. This honour recognises exceptional achievements in the arts, culture, literature, journalism, music and sport.

The two academics, working in vastly different fields, were recognised for helping shape conversations around technology, creativity, identity and social progress in South Africa and beyond.

Speaking during the official ceremony, President Cyril Ramaphosa praised recipients for their role in advancing democracy, culture, knowledge and social development.

“We honour men and women who have lifted to the sky our greatest aspiration: to build a democratic South Africa founded on equality, justice and dignity for all,” Ramaphosa said.

For Marivate, one of Africa’s leading voices in AI, the recognition was both emotional and humbling.

“It has been slowly sinking in, and to be completely honest, I have battled with feeling worthy of our nation’s highest recognition for scientific excellence,” he said.

Rather than viewing the award as a personal achievement, Marivate described it as the result of years of collaboration between researchers, students and communities working to build African-centred innovation.

“When I look at this milestone, I don’t see an individual achievement. I see a mirror reflecting a vast, beautiful village of researchers, students and community-builders who chose to build a shared vision with me,” he said.

Marivate has become internationally recognised for advancing African language technologies and promoting more inclusive AI systems. His work has also contributed to broader debates around digital sovereignty, ethical AI and Africa’s role in shaping future technologies.

According to Marivate, a major turning point in his career came when researchers realised how absent African languages and perspectives were within global technological systems.

“Seeing the rapid rise of movements like Masakhane and the Deep Learning Indaba proved that building localised AI tools was not just a niche academic exercise, but a societal necessity,” he explained.

He believes Africa must play an active role in shaping the future of technology rather than simply consuming innovations developed elsewhere.

“For too long, the narrative has safely tucked Africa away in the future tense,” Marivate said.

“AI in Africa should not be something that just happens to us from the outside. It must empower our youth, protect our digital sovereignty and solve local socioeconomic challenges using our own data.”

He added that institutions such as UP’s Data Science for Social Impact Lab and the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) have helped create opportunities for young African researchers to turn innovative ideas into meaningful impact.

“I want younger scientists to know that our languages, our data and our perspectives are inherently valuable and belong at the cutting edge of global science,” he said.

While Marivate’s work focuses on ensuring African voices shape the digital future, Krastin’s work challenges audiences to rethink identity, belonging and society through experimental live performance art.

Krastin described receiving the Order of Ikhamanga as ‘profoundly humbling’.

“Much of my work has existed within spaces that are experimental, marginal and often difficult to sustain, so to have live art, performance and curation recognised in this way by the Presidency feels incredibly meaningful,” he said.

He said the honour also belongs to the many collaborators, students, technicians and fellow artists who have contributed to his work over the years.

“It also reaffirmed for me that artistic practice can contribute meaningfully to cultural, intellectual and political conversations in society,” Krastin added.

As a lecturer in UP’s Drama Department, Krastin said teaching has become deeply connected to his own creative growth.

“There is a constant creative feedback loop between lecturer and student where one is continually exposed to new ideas and perspectives,” he explained.

“Teaching keeps me intellectually alert, creatively energised and connected to emerging generations of artists who are reshaping the future of performance in South Africa.”

His work in interdisciplinary performance spaces has consistently pushed boundaries and challenged traditional ideas around theatre and live art.

Krastin believes the arts remain critical in a society still grappling with inequality, historical trauma and questions around identity and belonging.

“I think performance should not only entertain but also provoke thought, create dialogue and open imaginative possibilities for alternative futures,” he said.

“The arts help us rehearse new ways of being together as a society.”

The university said the honours awarded to Marivate and Krastin reflect a broader vision of South Africa’s future – one shaped not only by technological innovation and scientific advancement – but also by creativity, imagination and critical thought.

It added that the recognition reinforces UP’s growing role as a hub for both cutting-edge research and cultural innovation, while positioning its academics among the leading voices shaping conversations around technology, identity and social impact across Africa.

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