IPhrothiya yeSiliva
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iPhrothiya yeSiliva (Silver Protea) is a South African military decoration. It was instituted with effect from 27 April 2003, and may be awarded to members of the South African National Defence Force (or any other armed forces serving with the SANDF) for outstanding leadership, or outstanding meritorious service and particular devotion to duty. A bar may be awarded to a recipient who earns the decoration again. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters PS.
The decoration is a 6-pointed silver star, displaying a stylised protea flower on a blue hexagon. The reverse depicts the South African coat of arms. The protea, which is South Africa's national flower, has been used on military merit awards since World War II.
The ribbon is blue with a centre panel of white - black - gold - black - white stripes. If the decoration is earned during a military operation, an arm-of-service emblem will be worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, air force, navy, or military health service at the time of earning the award.
The PS forms part of a trio of military decorations for meritorious service, the others being iPhrothiya yeGolide (Golden Protea) and iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (Bronze Protea).
