| Southern Cross Decoration | |
|---|---|
Ribbon: 32mm, dark blue, with two white centre lines |
|
| Awarded by South African Defence Force | |
| Type | Decoration |
| Awarded for | Outstanding service of the highest order, and utmost devotion to duty |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Statistics | |
| First awarded | 1976 |
| Last awarded | 2003? |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Pro Virtute Decoration |
The Southern Cross Decoration was a South African military decoration. It was instituted on July 1, 1975, and was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force, for outstanding service of the highest order, and utmost devotion to duty. In practice, it was usually a requirement that the officer must already have been awarded the Southern Cross Medal. The SD was discontinued with effect from April 27, 2003.
The decoration is a gold double Maltese cross. The obverse is white, and In the centre is a dark blue roundel displaying the stars of the Southern Cross. The South African coat of arms appears on the reverse.
The ribbon is dark blue with two white lines down the centre.
The equivalent award for "other ranks" (enlisted men) was the Pro Merito Decoration. Both have been superseded by the iPhrothiya yeGolide decoration.