THE symbol of the student uprising in Soweto on June 16 1976, Tsietsi Mashinini, will be honoured with the Order of Luthuli at the presidential guest house in Pretoria tomorrow.

President Jacob Zuma will bestow the honour posthumously on Mashinini for his bravery and leadership during the Soweto student uprising.

Mashinini and his comrades inspired the fight against apartheid when they led students against the Bantu system of education in which black children were forced to accept Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools.

He fled the country into exile and died in Guinea Conakry in 1990.

Zuma will also honour Harriet Bolton for dedicating her adult life to the struggle for liberation and campaigning for workers' rights.

Zuma will bestow the Order of Ikhamanga on Thokozani Mandlenkosi Ernest Nene (posthumously) for his outstanding contribution to enriching the isiZulu language and culture, and his revolutionary invention of a new lexicon in isiZulu.

Other recipients of Ikhamanga are Sam Nzima, a photographer who captured the moment after Hector Pieterson was shot by police during the June 16 1976 uprising.

Marathon runner Josiah Thugwane will also be honoured for his outstanding performance during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and his contribution to athletics.

Prolific writer Doc Bikitsha will receive the honour (posthumously) for his excellent contribution to the profession of journalism and literature, and for being an important social commentator.

Leader of the Stimela band, Ray "Chikapa" Phiri, will be honoured for his contribution to music and the struggle against apartheid.

Another singer, Busi Mhlongo (posthumously), will also be acknowledged for her contribution to music.

Soccer administrators Molefi Oliphant, Danny Jordaan and Irvin Khoza will have the honour bestowed on them for their notable contribution to the successful hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and development of football in South Africa.