South African civil honours
Encyclopedia
An overview of South Africa
n civil orders, decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system
.
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:
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.
in 1961.
in 1994. The expanded honours system comprised:
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n civil orders, decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system
South African orders and decorations
An overview of the South African honours system.-1894-1952:The British honours system became applicable to South Africa as colonial rule was established in the region during the nineteenth century...
.
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, as a self-governing dominionDominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. 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 BraveryUnion of South Africa Queen's Medal for BraveryThe Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery was the highest South African civilian decoration, during the period that the country was a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth...
(1939-61)
- King's/Queen's Medal for Bravery
- Commemorative Medal
- Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal (1910)
- War service medal
- South African Medal for War ServicesSouth African Medal for War ServicesThe South African Medal for War Services was awarded for part-time voluntary service in support of the war effort between 6 September 1939 and 15 February 1946. -Institution:...
(1945)
- South African Medal for War Services
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
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
'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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and her other realms and territories.
Republic of South Africa
South Africa became a republic and left the CommonwealthCommonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
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 AfricaOrder of the Star of South AfricaThe Order of the Star of South Africa was a South African honour. It was instituted on 1 July 1975, and was granted by the state president of South Africa, for services connected with national defence and security. It replaced the Star of South Africa decoration, instituted in 1952. The order...
(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 NationsCommonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
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 AfricaOrder of the Star of South AfricaThe Order of the Star of South Africa was a South African honour. It was instituted on 1 July 1975, and was granted by the state president of South Africa, for services connected with national defence and security. It replaced the Star of South Africa decoration, instituted in 1952. The order...
(Non-Military) (SSA/SSAS)(1978-2002) - Order for Meritorious ServiceOrder for Meritorious ServiceThe Order for Meritorious Service was an award in South Africa which ran from 1986-2002 and was the country's highest honor. It was awarded to South Africans who have rendered exceptional public service. It was awarded to people by the order of the President...
(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 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:- National Orders
- Order of MapungubweOrder of MapungubweThe Order of Mapungubwe is South Africa's highest honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa, for achievements in the international area which have served South Africa's interests...
(OMP/OMG/OMS/OMB) (2002- ) - Order of Mendi for BraveryOrder of Mendi for BraveryThe Order of Mendi for Bravery is a South African honour, instituted on 30 November 2003. It was originally called the "Mendi Decoration for Bravery", and was renamed as an order on 22 October 2004....
(OMBG/OMBS/OMBB) (2003- ) - Order of the BaobabOrder of the BaobabThe Order of the Baobab is a South African honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa for service to South Africa in the following fields: business and the economy, science, medicine and technological innovation, and community service...
(SCOB/GCOB/COB) (2002- ) - Order of LuthuliOrder of LuthuliThe Order of Luthuli is a South African honour. It was instituted on 30 November 2003, and is granted by the president of South Africa, for contributions to South Africa in the following fields: the struggle for democracy, building democracy and human rights, nation-building, justice and...
(OLG/OLS/OLB) (2003- ) - Order of IkhamangaOrder of IkhamangaThe Order of Ikhamanga is a South African honour. It was instituted on 30 November 2003 and is granted by the President of South Africa for achievements in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, and sports...
(OIG/OIS/OIB) (2003- ) - Order of the Companions of O. R. TamboOrder of the Companions of O. R. TamboThe Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo is a South African honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa, to foreign citizens who have promoted South African interests and aspirations through co-operation. solidarity, and support...
(SCOT/GCOT/COT) (2003- )
- Order of Mapungubwe
- Sports awards
- Presidential Sports Award (1994- )
- Provincial Orders
- Western Cape Golden Cross
- Order of the Disa
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- South African intelligence service decorationsSouth African intelligence service decorationsAn overview of South African intelligence service decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.-National Intelligence Service:...
- South African military decorationsSouth African military decorationsAn overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.-1894–1913:The colonial military forces received British military decorations in wartime. From 1894, the colonial governments awarded medals for distinguished conduct and for long...
- South African orders and decorationsSouth African orders and decorationsAn overview of the South African honours system.-1894-1952:The British honours system became applicable to South Africa as colonial rule was established in the region during the nineteenth century...
- South African police decorationsSouth African police decorationsAn overview of South African police decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.-South African Police:The South African Police was established in 1913 as a national police force...
- South African prisons decorationsSouth African prisons decorationsAn overview of South African prisons service decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.-1922-1968:The Prisons Department was established in 1911. It was a civil service department, with uniformed warders...