The South Africa Service Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in 1998. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service inside South Africa during the "struggle".South African Medals Website - Liberation armies (Accessed 30 April 2015)
MK and APLA Umkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in Zulu, was the para-military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), while the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) was the para-military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress. Both were established in 1961 to wage an armed "struggle" against the Nationalist government inside South Africa. On 27 April 1994, Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army were amalgamated with five statutory defence forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).TRC Final Report: Pan African CongressTRC Final Report, 6:5:5, as presented by the SABC and the South African History Archive (SAHA).Warrant of the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of the "UNITAS MEDAL-UNITAS-MEDALJE", Gazette no. 16087 dated 25 November 1994.
Institution The South Africa Service Medal was instituted by the President of South Africa in April 1998.
Award criteria The medal could be awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service inside South Africa during the "struggle".
Order of wear
The position of the South Africa Service Medal in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, Presidential Warrant by the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of Honours for Bravery in the South African National Defence Force, Gazette no. 25213 dated 25 July 2003.
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Official MK order of precedence: Preceded by the Operational Medal for Southern Africa. Succeeded by the Service Medal in Gold.
Azanian People's Liberation Army
Official APLA order of precedence: Preceded by the Operational Medal for Southern Africa. Succeeded by the Gold Service Medal.
South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003
Official SANDF order of precedence: Preceded by the Operational Medal for Southern Africa of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army. Succeeded by the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal of the United Kingdom. Official national order of precedence: Preceded by the Operational Medal for Southern Africa of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army. Succeeded by the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal of the United Kingdom.
South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003
Official SANDF order of precedence: Preceded by the Operational Medal for Southern Africa of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army. Succeeded by the Tshumelo Ikatelaho of the Republic of South Africa. Official national order of precedence: Preceded by the Operational Medal for Southern Africa of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army. Succeeded by the Tshumelo Ikatelaho of the Republic of South Africa.
Description Obverse The South Africa Service Medal is a medallion struck in nickel-silver, 38 millimetres in diameter with a raised rim, and depicts a crossed knobkierie and spear on an African shield above a map of South Africa.Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK)MK APLA South Africa Service Medal miniature medal MK South African Service Medal Set Full and Miniature
Reverse The reverse has a raised rim and displays the embellished pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.
Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 4 millimetres wide blue band, an 8 millimetres wide yellow band and a 1 millimetre wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 6 millimetres wide red band in the centre.
Discontinuation Conferment of the South Africa Service Medal was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.
References