Status: South Africa and the Sovereign Order of Malta do not presently have diplomatic relations. The connections documented here are religious, humanitarian and historical.
Members from and in South Africa
All members listed here belong to the Third Class of the Order. They are presented in order of rank:
Wilfrid Fox Cardinal Napier O.F.M.
Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion
Invested in Mandeni on 14 April 2014.
Maria Theresia Rehder
Dame of Honour and Devotion
Member of the German Association; invested in Germany on 9 June 1994. She is Director of Charity Work of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard.
Bishop Xolelo Thaddeus Kumalo
Conventual Chaplain ad honorem
Invested in Mandeni on 14 April 2014.
Father Gérard T. Lagleder O.S.B.
Conventual Chaplain ad honorem
Member of the German Association; invested as a Magistral Chaplain in Regensburg on 24 October 1994 and promoted to Conventual Chaplain ad honorem in Mandeni on 16 October 2005.
Clare Ann Kalkwarf (deceased)
Dame of Magistral Grace
The first South African invested as a member of the Order: invested as a Donat of Devotion on 9 July 2000 and promoted to Dame of Magistral Grace on 15 December 2002.
Dr Paul Zakhele Titus Thabethe
Knight of Magistral Grace
Invested as a Donat of Devotion on 14 April 2014 and promoted on 29 October 2017.
Nokuthula Marigold Thabethe
Dame of Magistral Grace
Invested as a Donat of Devotion on 14 April 2014 and promoted on 29 October 2017.
Yvonne Joye Renaud (deceased)
Dame of Magistral Grace
Invested as a Donat of Devotion by the Prince and Grand Master, Frà Matthew Festing, at a hospital in Ballito on 13 April 2014; promoted on 29 October 2017.
Dr Sikhumbuzo Khayelihle Nzimande
Knight of Magistral Grace
Invested as a Donat of Devotion on 14 April 2014 and promoted on 29 October 2017.
Dr Douglas Patrick Ross
Knight of Magistral Grace
Member of the German Association; invested in Mandeni on 6 September 2026.
Members and friends in the diplomatic community
The Brotherhood's work also brought members and friends of the Order serving in South Africa's diplomatic community to Mandeni.
Dr Antonio Rapisardi
Knight of Magistral Grace · Italian diplomat in Cape Town
Rapisardi served at the Italian Consulate in Cape Town and was a frequent visitor and supporter of the Brotherhood. BBG records document him in South Africa from at least September 2017 to December 2019. He attended the Brotherhood's 25th anniversary and the investiture in Mandeni on 28–29 October 2017.
The surviving records do not establish the exact beginning or end of his South African posting. Photograph: Mandeni investiture, 29 October 2017; identification confirmed by the newsletter caption.
Marina von Samson-Himmelstjerna
Member of the Order of Malta · Pretoria
Marina lived in South Africa while her husband, Jesko von Samson-Himmelstjerna, served as a German diplomat in Pretoria. BBG records place the family in Pretoria from at least May 2019 to July 2025. On 2 January 2024, she visited Blessed Gérard's Care Centre in Mandeni with her family and later described the visit as the highlight of their holiday journey.
The documented period is based on BBG contact records and correspondence; it may not cover the complete diplomatic posting. No photograph has been published here because the reviewed material did not contain one that could be identified with certainty.
Investitures and promotions
The principal investitures and promotions of members connected with South Africa, in chronological order:
Father Gérard invested as Magistral Chaplain
Father Gérard T. Lagleder O.S.B. was invested as a Magistral Chaplain of the Order.
On 13 April, the Prince and Grand Master, Frà Matthew Festing, invested Yvonne Renaud as a Donat of Devotion at her bedside in a Ballito hospital.
On 14 April in Mandeni, he invested Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier as Bailiff of Honour and Devotion, Bishop Xolelo Thaddeus Kumalo as Conventual Chaplain ad honorem, and Dr Paul Thabethe, Nokuthula Thabethe and Dr Khayelihle Nzimande as Donats of Devotion.
Dr Paul Thabethe and Dr Khayelihle Nzimande were promoted to Knights of Magistral Grace; Nokuthula Thabethe and Yvonne Renaud were promoted to Dames of Magistral Grace.
Dr Douglas Patrick Ross was invested as a Knight of Magistral Grace of the German Association.
During the same celebration, Dr Paul Thabethe received the Commander's Cross pro Merito Melitensi. Nokuthula Thabethe received her Cross with Crown at her home on 7 September.
VIP visits
Members of the Order's government and its Prelate have repeatedly travelled to Mandeni. The surviving newsletters and programmes document the following visits:
Opening of the Care Centre and presentation of the relic
The Grand Commander took part in the blessing and opening of Blessed Gérard's Care Centre. He brought the relic of Blessed Gérard donated by the Grand Magistry, placed it in its reliquary and handed it to Father Gérard. He also conferred distinctions granted by Grand Master Frà Andrew Bertie. Johannes Lagleder, Johann “Hans” Sporer, Albertine Sprenzinger-Sporer and Daniel E. Meehan were admitted as Honorary Dedicated Members of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard.
Presentation of the relic of Blessed Gérard.Frà Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein admits Johannes Lagleder as an Honorary Dedicated Member of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard.Members of the Order after the opening ceremony.
First South African admitted to the Order
The Grand Hospitaller came from Rome to invest Clare Ann Kalkwarf as a Donat of Devotion, formally inaugurated the Brotherhood's disaster-relief project and visited its work.
Clare Kalkwarf is promoted from Donat of Devotion to Dame of Magistral Grace.
Tenth anniversary of the Brotherhood
On his second documented visit, the Grand Commander joined the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Brotherhood. He officially opened the new building of Blessed Gérard's Children's Home and the extension of the Hospice and promoted Clare Kalkwarf from Donat of Devotion to Dame of Magistral Grace. Bishop Mansuet Biyase celebrated the solemn Mass and blessing.
Members of the Order during the celebration.Meeting guests during the community celebration.A presentation during the anniversary celebration.
Return to Mandeni with the Grand Master
During his second documented visit, the Grand Hospitaller joined the Holy Week celebrations, received the Brotherhood's twentieth-anniversary commemorative medal and assisted Grand Master Frà Matthew Festing at the investiture of six members on 14 April.
The Grand Master's visit
Grand Master Frà Matthew Festing spent Holy Week with the Brotherhood. On Palm Sunday he was received as an Honorary Dedicated Member; on 14 April he invested Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, Bishop Xolelo Thaddeus Kumalo and four other members of the Brotherhood into the Order.
The Grand Hospitaller came from Rome for the Brotherhood's twenty-fifth anniversary. On 24 October he was welcomed by Father Gérard and children of the Brotherhood; the following day he joined Father Gérard on a boat excursion. On 26 October he visited members of the local community with the Brotherhood. He later delivered the keynote address, and on 29 October presented the crosses of Magistral Grace to Dr Paul Thabethe, Nokuthula Thabethe, Yvonne Renaud and Dr Khayelihle Nzimande.
The Grand Hospitaller with Father Gérard, 24 October 2017.Welcomed by the children of the Brotherhood, 24 October 2017.With Father Gérard during a boat excursion, 25 October 2017.With Father Gérard, 26 October 2017.Visiting a member of the local community with the Brotherhood, 26 October 2017.An evening gathering during the visit, 26 October 2017.
Kindergarten, Indian Ocean, Hospice and Children's Home
The Grand Hospitaller visited the Brotherhood's Kindergarten, the Indian Ocean, Blessed Gérard's Hospice and the Children's Home.
Greeting children in the Kindergarten.With Father Gérard and the Kindergarten children.At the Kindergarten blackboard.Visiting the Kindergarten classroom.With children of the Kindergarten.Touring Blessed Gérard's Hospice.Greeting a patient in the Hospice.With a patient and Brotherhood staff in the Hospice.Inspecting the Hospice facilities.Meeting with staff at the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard Children's Home.With Father Gérard and a child in the Children's Home.With a child in the Children's Home.
The Grand Hospitaller delivers his anniversary address.
Twenty-fifth anniversary celebration
The Grand Hospitaller took part in the Brotherhood's twenty-fifth anniversary celebration, delivered the keynote address and joined the liturgical and ceremonial programme.
A cultural welcome during the anniversary celebration.During the anniversary gathering.Taking part in the liturgical celebration.A presentation during the anniversary programme.Members and guests assembled at the altar.With members of the Order during the ceremony.Speaking during the liturgical celebration.
Visit of the Prelate
The Prelate of the Order spent a week with the Brotherhood and its community in Mandeni. The January 2023 chronicle records the complete visit from 8 to 14 January.
Bishop Laffitte with Father Gérard, 8 January 2023.Visiting Cardinal Napier in Eshowe, 12 January 2023.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the Order of Malta
The President of the Republic of South Africa met Grand Master Fra' John Dunlap at the Magistral Palace. Their talks addressed humanitarian, health and social-care cooperation and recognised the work of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard in South Africa.
During the thirtieth-anniversary celebrations of the Care Centre and church, the Grand Hospitaller toured the Hospice, Children's Home and Kindergarten, visited informal settlements and volunteered in the Hospice and Children's Home. On 6 September he invested Dr Douglas Ross and presented Dr Paul Thabethe with the Commander's Cross pro Merito Melitensi.
Investiture, distinctions and anniversary celebration · 6 September 2026
The solemn celebration concluded with addresses and a festive reception.
Entering the church in procession.At the altar during the solemn celebration.In the robes of the Order of Malta.Dr Thabethe presents Dr Blotz with the membership medal of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard.Dr Blotz invests Dr Douglas Ross as a Knight of Magistral Grace.Dr Douglas Ross with Dr Blotz following his investiture as a Knight of Magistral Grace.Prayer during the celebration.Exchanging the sign of peace with Cardinal Napier.At the festive reception.An address during the reception.Dr Blotz presents Dr Thabethe with the Commander's Cross pro Merito Melitensi.Dr Blotz presents Dr Thabethe with the certificate accompanying the Commander's Cross pro Merito Melitensi.Dr Blotz with Cardinal Napier at the festive reception.Beside the anniversary cake.
The chronology is based on BBG newsletters, contemporary programmes, invitations and event records. It records visits presently documented in the reviewed archive; further visits can be added when additional evidence is identified.
Register of distinctions
The Order has honoured numerous South Africans and international supporters for exceptional service to the Brotherhood and its mission. The complete chronological register records distinctions from 1996 to 2026.
The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard was founded in Mandeni on 28 October 1992. It is a Catholic association and South African non-profit organisation and serves as the South African relief organisation of the Order of Malta. Its work includes health care, hospice and palliative care, care for children, early childhood development, educational support and emergency relief.
