The Order of the Baobab in Silver

Mr Nkosinathi Freddy Ndlovu Awarded for:

His excellent contribution to the fight for the recognition of the rights of people with disabilities. His courageous work continues to shine the light on the plight of the most vulnerable in society.

Profile of Mr Nkosinathi Freddy Ndlovu

Mr Nkosinathi Freddy Ndlovu is a Mpumalanga-based disability rights activist, who is fighting for change for the future generations in Mpumalanga and South Africa as a whole. He has displayed an ironclad resolve to advance the rights of children, youth and people with disabilities in South Africa. He has received numerous accolades for his excellent achievements for the upliftment of the poor, people with disabilities and youth.

He serves in various local and international organisations. He served as board member of the International Deaf Youth Camp 5th World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) General Assembly that was hosted in South Africa in 2011 at the Durban International Convention Centre. The WFD Youth Section aims to give an opportunity directly to deaf youth to meet on an international level, share ideas, experiences and to grow as individuals, as well as leaders, to strive in making this world a better place for everyone.

Ndlovu is also former Secretary-General (SG) of the Southern African Development Community Africa Deaf Sports Confederation representing the sports body in Africa between 2012 and 2013. He is also SG of the Southern Africa Deaf Youth Federation based in Johannesburg. In 2009, he was elected the National Deputy Chairperson of Deaf Youth South Africa in Durban, representing Mpumalanga, under the Deaf Federation of South Africa.

He was appointed as the first Deaf Youth Ambassador of Parliament in Cape Town from 2009 to 2014. He represented youth with disabilities and has served in the Education Commission. In 2013, he founded the South African Deaf Youth Development Project and served as its national president.

The organisation has partnerships with the Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State and Gauteng provincial governments, as well as the national Department of Social Development. Ndlovu is also the National Deputy Chairperson of the Project 365 National Movement for Change to Stop Gender-Based Violence in South Africa.