Former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have accepted honourary membership of Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.

The academy, which is celebrating its centenary, said on Friday that De Klerk was given the honour for his courage in laying the foundation for a post-apartheid South Africa and Mandela for reconciling different population groups.

It lauded Tutu for encouraging forgiveness as chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

All three men are Nobel Peace laureates.

The academy said it would award centenary medals to 25 people who had broken new ground in their respective fields, including poet Adam Small, artist Marlene Dumas, songwriter and playwright David Kramer, and political analyst Frederik van Zyl Slabbert.

The awards will be presented in ceremony at the University of the Free State on 27 June.

Sapa

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