Star for Bravery in Silver

The Star for Bravery in Silver, post-nominal letters SBS, 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 had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of bravery.[1][2]

Star for Bravery in Silver
TypeMilitary decoration for bravery
Awarded forBravery
Country  South Africa
Presented bythe President
EligibilityUmkhonto we Sizwe cadres
Post-nominalsSBS
Campaign(s)The "struggle"
StatusDiscontinued in 2003
Established1996
Ribbon bar
MK 1996 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
MK precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
MK succession:
SANDF succession:

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. On 27 April 1994, Umkhonto we Sizwe was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[1][3][4]

Institution

The Star for Bravery in Silver, post-nominal letters SBS, was instituted by the President of South Africa in April 1996. It is the middle award of a set of three decorations for bravery, along with the Star for Bravery in Gold and the Conspicuous Leadership Star.[1][2][5]

Umkhonto we Sizwe's military decorations and medals were modeled on those of the South African Defence Force and these three decorations are the approximate equivalents of, respectively, the Honoris Crux Gold, the Honoris Crux (1975) and the Pro Virtute Decoration.[5]

Award criteria

The decoration could be awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of bravery.[1][5]

Order of wear
Main article: South African military decorations order of wear § Order of wear

The position of the Star for Bravery in Silver in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.[5][6]

Umkhonto we Sizwe

South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003

South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003

  • Official SANDF order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Bravery Star in Silver (BSS) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
    • Succeeded by the Nkwe ya Selefera (NS) of the Republic of South Africa.[5]
  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Bravery Star in Silver (BSS) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
    • Succeeded by the Nkwe ya Selefera (NS) of the Republic of South Africa.[5]

Description
Obverse

The Star for Bravery in Silver is a five-pointed star, struck in silver to fit inside a circle with a diameter of 38 millimetres, displaying a silver lion on a ruby red enameled centre roundel.[1][7]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and red, with two 6 millimetres wide gold bands in the centre, spaced 4 millimetres apart.[1][7]

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Star for Bravery in Silver was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.[6]

References
  1. South African Medal Website - Liberation armies (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  2. South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  3. "Manifesto of Umkhonto we Sizwe". African National Congress. 16 December 1961. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  4. 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.
  5. Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
  6. 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.
  7. Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK)
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