Orders, decorations, and medals of South Africa

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–??)

Order for Meritorious Service

• Sports awards
  • State President's Sports Award (1967–94)
  • South African Sports Merit Award (1971–94)

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)

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery was instituted in 1939 to award South African citizens for exceptional gallantry in saving life.

The decoration had two grades (Gold and Silver) and had a blue ribbon with orange edges. The medal lapsed on 31 May 1961, when South Africa became a republic, albeit, outside the Commonwealth.

The Woltemade Decoration for Bravery was a revived, republican version of the King's/Queen's Medal for Bravery. It was instituted in 1970 and was awarded until 1988, when it was replaced by the Woltemade Cross for Bravery.

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery (post-nominal letters: WD) was instituted in 1988, replacing the Woltemade Decoration, to award South African citizens for outstanding bravery in saving life. The cross had two grades (Gold and Silver) and had a blue ribbon with orange edges. The Woltemade Cross was discontinued in 2002.

The three Nkwe (Leopard) Decorations for Bravery are awarded for bravery in military operations in place of the Honoris Crux Decorations in 2003.

The three Leopard Decorations are:

• Nkwe ya Gauta (Golden Leopard) (post-nominal: NG), for exceptional bravery during military operations.
• Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard) (post-nominal: NS), for conspicuous bravery during military operations.
• Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard) (post-nominal: NB), for bravery during military operations.

The three Protea Decorations for Merit are for leadership, meritorious conduct or devotion to duty in place of the previous Southern Cross Decoration, Southern Cross Medal and Military Merit Medal.

The three Protea Decorations are:

• iPhrothiya yeGolide (post-nominal: PG), to officers for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty.
• iPhrothiya yeSiliva (post-nominal: PS), to officers for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.
• iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (post-nominal: PB), to all ranks of the SANDF who have distinguished themselves by performing services of the highest order.

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:

• Sports awards
  • Presidential Sports Award (1994– )
• Provincial orders
  • Western Cape Golden Cross
  • Order of the Disa

The Order of the Baobab (SCOB/GCOB/COB) was instituted in 2002 to award South African citizens for services to democracy, human rights, arts and sciences and community service.

The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Order of Ikhamanga (OIG/OIS/OIB) was instituted in 2003 to award South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.

The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Order of Luthuli was instituted in 2003 to award South African citizens who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, peace and conflict resolution.

The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Order of Mapungubwe (OMP/OMG/OMS/OMB) was instituted in 2002 to award South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement. The order has four grades: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (SCOT/GCOT/COT) was instituted in 2002 to award heads of state and senior diplomats of other countries for showing friendship towards South Africa.

The order has three grades: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The Order of Mendi for Bravery (OMBG/OMBS/OMBB) (originally the Mendi Decoration for Bravery) is awarded to South African citizens who have performed an extraordinary act of bravery that placed their lives in great danger, or who lost their own lives, including in trying to save the life of another person, or by saving property, in or outside the Republic of South Africa.

The order has three grades (post-nominal letters in brackets): Gold (OMBG), Silver (OMBS) and Bronze (OMBB). The ribbon is gold coloured and has cream-coloured lion footprints upon it.