The DBE’s Director for International Relations and Multilateral Affairs (IR&MA), Ms Hleki Mabunda, has been honoured with the Order of Academic Palms (Ordre des Palmes académiques), a knighthood in recognition of over two decades of her career devoted to public governance, rural development, gender equity, education, and international cooperation.
The Order of Academic Palms is one of the oldest civil orders of the French Republic, established to honour eminent figures in education, research, culture, and public service. The Palmes académiques is not only for French citizens, but it also recognises those who, beyond their own borders, through knowledge and cooperation, have shared a commitment to education, embodying service, equity, partnership, friendship, and a deep belief in the transformative power of education.
Mr Jean Spiri, Head of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of France in South Africa, conferred the award on behalf of the Ambassador of France, His Excellency, David Martinon, at the French Residence in Pretoria. “In the name of the French Minister of Education, we are proud to award you the insignia of Chevalier dans I’Ordre des Palmes académiques. For more than two decades, you have devoted your career to education, public governance, rural development, gender equity, and international cooperation. Your journey began in academia and community development, working on water and sanitation training and research at the University of Limpopo. From the start, your work was rooted in a strong conviction that development must improve the lives of others, especially those in rural and underserved communities. This commitment continued throughout your career in the public service. As Director for International Relations and Multilateral Affairs, you have shaped and strengthened South Africa’s International Cooperation portfolio in Basic Education into what it is today”.
In her early years in public service, Ms Mabunda served in the Presidency, contributing to the advancement of government policy in the social sector as well as in gender and development. It was also during this time that she was responsible for coordinating the Presidential Working Group on Women and the Presidential Working Group on Religious Leaders, providing support to these sub-sectors to promote their active participation in public governance.
She later joined the DBE and played a leading role in promoting gender equity in the education sector, through policy development, national capacity-building initiatives, and programs addressing learner pregnancy, sexual harassment, and violence, as well as promoting the empowerment of boys and girls in education. As current Director for International Relations and Multilateral Affairs at the DBE, she leads bilateral and multilateral cooperation in basic education and coordinates engagement with international partners and diplomatic missions worldwide. Recently, she was at the helm of South Africa’s successful delivery of the 2025 G20 Education Working Group, on behalf of the Department of Basic Education.
In her response, Ms Mabunda said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Order of Academic Palms in recognition of over two decades of my career devoted to public governance, rural development, gender equity, education, and international cooperation. I am grateful to my remarkable IR&MA team at the DBE, the great leaders I have had the privilege to serve, and all like-minded associates from different governments across the world, multinationals, and international organisations with whom I have had the opportunity to work. I extend a special thank you to the Ambassador of France to South Africa, His Excellency David Martinon; Mr Jean Spiri, who conferred the award on behalf of the Ambassador; and Ms Marie-Laure Allain, who has worked diligently with us to strengthen cooperation between South Africa and France in the field of Basic Education”.