Decoration for Merit in Gold

Decoration for Merit in Gold
Awarded by the President
Country  South Africa
Type Military decoration for merit
Eligibility Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres
Awarded for Outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty
Campaign The Struggle
Status Discontinued in 2003
Post-nominals DMG
Statistics
Established 1996
MK 1996 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
MK precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
MK succession:
SANDF succession:

Ribbon bar

The Decoration for Merit in Gold, post-nominal letters DMG, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, who have distinguished themselves during The Struggle by outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty.[1]

Umkhonto we Sizwe

Umkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, Zulu for "Spear of the Nation", was the para-military wing of the African National Congress (ANC). It was established on 16 December 1961 to wage an armed struggle against the Nationalist government inside South Africa by means of sabotage, bombings and landmines.[1][2]

On 27 April 1994 Umkhonto we Sizwe was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The seven constituent military forces were:

Institution

The Fount of Honour for all South African military decorations and medals is the President of South Africa.[4]

Award criteria

The Decoration for Merit in Gold, post-nominal letters DMG, was instituted by the President in April 1996, for award to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe who have distinguished themselves during The Struggle by outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty.[5][1]

Order of precedence

The position of the Decoration for Merit in Gold in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged.[5][6]

Umkhonto we Sizwe

South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003

Description

Obverse

The Decoration for Merit in Gold is a silver-gilt double Maltese cross that fits in a circle 45 millimetres in diameter. The arms of the cross are in white enamel, with the Umkhonto we Sizwe emblem in a dark blue enameled roundel in the centre.[1][7]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue with a 12 millimetres wide yellow band in the centre.[1][7]

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Decoration for Merit in Gold was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 South African Medals Website - Military decorations and medals - Liberation armies and military veterans
  2. ↑ "Manifesto of Umkhonto we Sizwe". African National Congress. 16 December 1961. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
  5. ↑ 6.0 6.1 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.
  6. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK)