Dr John Kani has taken to the award stage once again, this time for his environmental work, earning the WWF Living Planet Award.
South Africa (14 November 2025) – WWF South Africa, today, hosted stakeholders from around South Africa for its 57th Annual General Meeting and Living Planet Awards. As part of the day’s events, some awards were handed out, and one, Dr John Kani, was in the audience, present to accept the WWF Living Planet Award for an Individual.
Following on from being awarded an Order of the British Empire by His Majesty King Charles III, Dr Kani is now on home soil, being honoured for his environmental advocacy work right here in South Africa.
As one of the longest serving trustees with the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, serving for 32 years and retiring in 2022, Dr Kani has donated more than just his time to the cause, but his powerful voice too. While he has recieved standing ovations, praise and accolades for his work in theatre and some major Hollywood movies, this award from the WWF is the first time his environmental work is being honoured.
“I really do the work I do, because I truly believe what that work does for my people” – Dr John Kani
Alongside his service with the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, he generously contributed audio and visual material to several WWF campaigns. These include Earth Hour, a global movement that connects people with nature, a WWF “Nature Matters” campaign, as well as the narration for a documentary titled Wild Zambezi, spotlighting the environmental risks facing the Lower Zambezi River.
The Living Planet Award is awarded to both an organisation and an individual. The Overberg Renosterveld Trust (ORT) recieved the honour, joining Dr John Kani on the day. We will share a secondary article about ORT so stay tuned!
“Through the Living Planet Award, we recognise exceptional individuals and organisations in South Africa who make significant contributions to environmental conservation and inspire people to live in harmony with nature.
During Dr Kani’s decades of service, the WWF Nedbank Green Trust funded catalytic projects that have brought real change to the lives of South Africans and to the natural environment on which we all depend. With this award, we say ‘thank you, Tata John Kani, for your service’.” – WWF CEO Dr Morné du Plessis
The WWF Nedbank Green Trust began in 1990, working with a few companies to start the dialogue on sustainability and supporting the natural environment.
Related Stories
Goodbye Uncle Sidney: South Africa Mourns a Man We All Came to Love
South Africa, We Have SO Much Good News to Share With You!Over its 35 years of existence, the WWF Nedbank Green Trust has disbursed more than R300 million to some 200 community-based conservation projects.
This honour is one that Dr Kani is deeply proud of, and we are too!
by 
