Orders, decorations, and medals of South Africa


South African orders, decorations and medals are those military and civilian orders, decorations and medals issued by the Government of South Africa. The following is a list of these:

Union of South Africa

The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, as a self-governing Dominion in the British Empire. A medal was issued to commemorate the event.
As a Dominion, the Union came under the [British and Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth orders and decorations|British honours system], and South Africans featured in the semi-annual British honours lists. South Africans also received British civilian decorations for bravery. The nationalist government stopped the conferment of titles and orders in 1925, and discontinued nominations for bravery awards after the Union's independence was recognised in 1931. It established its own bravery awards a few years later.
The Union's civil honours thus consisted of:Decoration
When South Africa established its own independent honours system in 1952, the Queen's Medal for Bravery was transferred to it. The medal issued to mark Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 was also ranked as a South African award, because she was Queen of South Africa as well as of the United Kingdom and her other realms and territories.

Republic of South Africa

South Africa became a republic outside the Commonwealth on 31 May 1961.

1967–1986

During the 1960s and 1970s, the government developed a small range of civil honours to recognise bravery and meritorious service:Decorations and orders

1986–2002

The civil honours system was enlarged during the 1980s. In 1986, the five orders were collectively dubbed the "national orders", and a Chancery of Orders was established in the Office of the State President to administer them. These were retained after South Africa's return to the Commonwealth of Nations in 1994. The expanded honours system comprised:Decorations and orders

Union of South Africa King's/Queen's Medal for Bravery

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery was instituted in 1939 to award South African citizens for exceptional gallantry in saving life.
The decoration had two grades and had a blue ribbon with orange edges. The medal lapsed on 31 May 1961, when South Africa became a republic, albeit, outside the Commonwealth.

Woltemade Decoration for Bravery

The Woltemade Decoration for Bravery was a revived, republican version of the King's/Queen's Medal for Bravery. It was instituted in 1970 and was awarded until 1988, when it was replaced by the Woltemade Cross for Bravery.

Woltemade Cross for Bravery

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery was instituted in 1988, replacing the Woltemade Decoration, to award South African citizens for outstanding bravery in saving life. The cross had two grades and had a blue ribbon with orange edges. The Woltemade Cross was discontinued in 2002.

Current orders, decorations and medals

Military

Nkwe (Leopard) decorations for bravery

The three Nkwe Decorations for Bravery are awarded for bravery in military operations in place of the Honoris Crux Decorations in 2003.
The three Leopard Decorations are:Nkwe ya Gauta, for exceptional bravery during military operations.Nkwe ya Selefera, for conspicuous bravery during military operations.Nkwe ya Boronse, for bravery during military operations.

Protea Decoration for Merit

The three Protea Decorations for Merit are for leadership, meritorious conduct or devotion to duty in place of the previous Southern Cross Decoration, Southern Cross Medal and Military Merit Medal.
The three Protea Decorations are:iPhrothiya yeGolide, to officers for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty.iPhrothiya yeSiliva, to officers for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.iPhrothiya yeBhronzi, to all ranks of the SANDF who have distinguished themselves by performing services of the highest order.

Civilian

The "old" South African honours were retained for a few years after the Republic was reconstituted as a multi-racial democratic state in 1994. The sports awards were, however, replaced immediately. A new series of national orders was introduced in 2002, as part of the process of creating new national symbols. The current civil honours are:Sports awards

Order of the Baobab

The Order of the Baobab was instituted in 2002 to award South African citizens for services to democracy, human rights, arts and sciences and community service.
The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Order of Ikhamanga

The Order of Ikhamanga was instituted in 2003 to award South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Order of Luthuli

The Order of Luthuli was instituted in 2003 to award South African citizens who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, peace and conflict resolution.
The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Order of Mapungubwe

The Order of Mapungubwe was instituted in 2002 to award South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement. The order has four grades: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo

The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo was instituted in 2002 to award heads of state and senior diplomats of other countries for showing friendship towards South Africa.
The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Order of Mendi for Bravery

The Order of Mendi for Bravery is awarded to South African citizens who have performed an extraordinary act of bravery that placed their lives in great danger, or who lost their own lives, including in trying to save the life of another person, or by saving property, in or outside the Republic of South Africa.
The order has three grades : Gold, Silver and Bronze. The ribbon is gold coloured and has cream-coloured lion footprints upon it.

The Order of South Africa

The Order of South Africa is awarded to foreign heads of state. It has one grade. It was first awarded to Xi Jinping in 2023.