Prof Tulio de Oliveira to be honoured with National Order for groundbreaking virus discovery
Virus hunter Prof Tulio de Oliveira will receive the Order of Mapungubwe at the National Orders ceremony for his groundbreaking COVID-19 discoveries.
South Africa’s leading “virus hunter”, Prof Tulio de Oliveira, is set to receive one of the country’s highest honours; the Order of Mapungubwe (Gold), from President Cyril Ramaphosa at a National Orders ceremony on Tuesday, 19 May 2026.
The award recognises his extraordinary contribution to science, particularly his role in identifying major COVID-19 variants that changed the global pandemic response.
This is one of those rare moments where lab work gets a standing ovation from an entire nation.
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What is a National Order?
National Orders are the highest honours awarded by the President of South Africa. They recognise individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the country and the world.
These awards celebrate people who have helped build a democratic, non-racial, and prosperous South Africa, while making a meaningful global impact.
At this year’s ceremony, several prestigious honours will be awarded, including:
- Order of Ikhamanga
- Order of the Baobab
- Order of Mapungubwe
- Order of the Companions of OR Tambo
Each one recognises excellence across science, arts, public service, and global leadership.
Why is Prof Tulio being honoured?
Prof Tulio de Oliveira will receive the Order of Mapungubwe (Gold), which is awarded for exceptional achievement with global impact.
His recognition is largely driven by his world-changing work during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he led teams that identified:
- The Beta variant (late 2020)
- The Omicron variant, which reshaped global COVID-19 response strategies
These discoveries placed South Africa at the centre of global scientific response, not just as observers, but as leaders.
Prof Tulio de Oliviera joins East Coast Breakfast
Darren, Sky & Carmen congratulated Prof Tulio de Oliviera on this incredible achievemtn and he opened up on what an honour this nomination is.
Prof Tulio explains the open nomination and selection process and says the symbolic medal (South Africa’s highest honour, first awarded to Nelson Mandela) means a lot after 30 years working on outbreaks like HIV/AIDS, TB and emerging epidemics, often under dangerous, high-pressure conditions.
He stressed that early identification of pathogens and developing therapies, vaccines and diagnostics save lives. He briefly notes concern about a new Ebola Bundibugyo strain but credits Ugandan teams’ strong control efforts, and he highlighted UKZN colleagues for their day-and-night work.
Listen to the full conversation here:
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The Order of Mapungubwe is not just a medal; it’s recognition of global impact.
Prof Tulio’s work proves that:
- Early detection saves lives
- African science leads global breakthroughs
- Local research can shape worldwide health decisions
His discoveries didn’t just make headlines, they helped governments, scientists, and health systems respond in real time during one of the biggest health crises in modern history.
South Africa’s leading scientist Prof Tulio de Oliveira will receive the Order of Mapungubwe (Gold) at the National Orders ceremony for his groundbreaking discovery of COVID-19 variants
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