South African civil honours

An overview of South African civil orders, decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.

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 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 award a few years later.

The Union's civil honours thus consisted of:

* Decoration
** King's/Queen's Medal for Bravery (1939-61)

* Commemorative Medal
** Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal (1910)

* War service medal
** South African Medal for War Services (1945)

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 Her Majesty 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 and left the Commonwealth in 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
** Woltemade Decoration for Bravery (1970-88)
** Order of the Star of South Africa (Civilian Division) (SSA/SSAS) (1978-2002)
** Order of Good Hope (1973-2003)
** Decoration for Meritorious Service (DMS) (1970-86)
** Civil Defence Medal for Bravery (1976-??)
** Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service (1976-??)

* Sports awards
** State President's Sports Award (1967-94)
** South African Sports Merit Award (1971-94)

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
** Woltemade Cross for Bravery (WD/WDS) (1988-2002)
** Order of the Southern Cross (OSG/OSS) (1986-2002)
** Order of the Star of South Africa (Non-Military) (SSA/SSAS)(1978-2002)
** Order for Meritorious Service (OMSG/OMSS) (1986-2002)
** Order of Good Hope (1973-2003)
** Civil Protection Medal for Bravery (1976-??)
** President's Decoration for Distinguished Service (1987-??)
** Civil Protection Medal for Meritorious Service (1976-??)

* Sports awards
** State President's Sports Award (1967-94)
** South African Sports Merit Award (1971-94)

2002-

The "old South African" honours were retained for a few years after the Republic was reconstituted as a 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:

* National Orders
** Order of Mapungubwe (OMP/OMG/OMS/OMB) (2002- )
** Order of Mendi for Bravery (OMBG/OMBS/OMBB) (2003- )
** Order of the Baobab (SCOB/GCOB/COB) (2002- )
** Order of Luthuli (OLG/OLS/OLB) (2003- )
** Order of Ikhamanga (OIG/OIS/OIB) (2003- )
** Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (SCOT/GCOT/COT) (2003- )

* Sports awards
** Presidential Sports Award (1994- )

* Provincial Orders
** Western Cape Golden Cross
** Order of the Disa

References

Alexander, E. G. M., Barron G. K. B. and Bateman, A. J. (1986). "South African Orders, Decorations and Medals". Human and Rousseau.

Monick, S. (1990). "South African Civil Awards 1910-1990". South African National Museum of Military History.

ee also

* British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
* South African intelligence service decorations
* South African military decorations
* South African orders and decorations
* South African police decorations
* South African prisons decorations

External links

* [http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/orders/index.htm/ South African government website]
* [http://www.geocities.com/militaf/ South African Medals Website]