Nkwe Medal
| Nkwe Medal | |
|---|---|
| File:Nkwe Medal.jpg | |
| Type | Military campaign medal |
| Country | .svg){kind=small} Bophuthatswana |
| Eligibility | All ranks |
| Status | Discontinued in 1994 |
| Established | 1990 |
| File:Ribbon BDF Nkwe Medal.jpg Ribbon bar | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Ciskei Defence Medal [1] |
| Next (lower) | General Service Medal [1] |
The Nkwe Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1990, for award to all ranks for operational service.[2][3]
The Bophuthatswana Defence Force
The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) was established upon that country's independence on 6 December 1977. It was organised into six military regions and the ground forces included two infantry battalions. The Bophuthatswana Air Wing was renamed to the Bophuthatswana Air Force (BAF) in late 1987, by which time it had twelve aircraft on strength. Initial training was provided by the South African Defence Force.[4][5]
The Fount of Honour for all Bophuthatswana's military decorations and medals was the State President of Bophuthatswana.[3][6]
The Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Bophuthatswana Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The seven constituent military forces were:
- The South African Defence Force (SADF).
- The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) of the Republic of Transkei.
- The Bophuthatswana Defence Force.
- The Venda Defence Force (VDF) of the Republic of Venda.
- The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) of the Republic of Ciskei.
- Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
- The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).[7]
Award criteria
The Nkwe Medal (Leopard Medal) was instituted by the State President in 1990 for award to all ranks for operational service.[1][2]
Order of precedence
Since the Nkwe Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces that came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date.[1][8]
- Bophuthatswana Defence Force until 26 April 1994
- Official BDF order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Marumo Medal, Class II.
- Succeeded by the General Service Medal.[1]
- Bophuthatswana official national order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Bophuthatswana Police Medal for Combating Terrorism.
- Succeeded by the General Service Medal.[1]
- South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994
- Official SANDF order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Ciskei Defence Medal.
- Succeeded by the General Service Medal.[1]
- Official national order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Ciskei Defence Medal.
- Succeeded by the General Service Medal.[1]
The position of the Nkwe Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003.[1]
Description
- Obverse
The Nkwe Medal is an octagonal medal struck in nickel-silver, to fit inside a circle 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, depicting a prowling leopard.[2][9]
- Reverse
The reverse has the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
- Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide with a 4 millimetres wide red band, a 2 millimetres wide white band and a 4 millimetres wide red band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 12 millimetres wide dark yellow band in the centre.[2][9]
Discontinuation
Conferment of the Nkwe Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
- ^ a b c d South African Medals Website - TBVC States Defence Forces - Bophuthatswana Defence Force
- ^ a b Republic of Bophuthatswana Constitution Act, 1977
- ^ South Africa Homeland Militaries, May 1996
- ^ Peled, Alon (1998), A Question of Loyalty: Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States, Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 50f, ISBN 0-8014-3239-1
- ^ South African Medals Website - Legal aspects : Fount of Honour
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
- ^ a b Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF)