Independence Medal (Ciskei)

The Independence Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1981, for award to all serving members of the Ciskei Defence Force on 4 December 1981 to commemorate the independence of Ciskei.

The Ciskei Defence Force
The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) was established upon that country's independence on 4 December 1981. With a population of only one million, the Ciskei Defence Force consisted of about 1,000 members. It was initially organized into two infantry battalions with one armoured personnel carrier and an air wing with five light aircraft and four helicopters.

The Fount of Honour for all Ciskei's military decorations and medals was the President of Ciskei.

The Republic of Ciskei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Ciskei 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 (BDF) of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * The Venda Defence Force (VDF) of the Republic of Venda.
 * The Ciskei Defence Force.
 * Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress.
 * The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress.

Award criteria
The Independence Medal was instituted by the President in 1981 and was awarded to all members serving in the Ciskei Defence Force on 4 December 1981 to commemorate the independence of Ciskei.

Order of precedence
Since the Independence 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.


 * Ciskei Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
 * Official CDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Ciskei Defence Medal.
 * Succeeded by the Medal for Long Service, Bronze.


 * Ciskei official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Ciskei Defence Medal.
 * Succeeded by the Police Insignia for Merit.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Venda.
 * Succeeded by the Military Rule Medal of the Republic of Transkei.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Police Establishment Medal of the Gazankulu Homeland.
 * Succeeded by the Police Foundation Medal of the Qwaqwa Homeland.

The position of the Independence Medal in the official order of precedence was revised twice after 1994 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first in April 1996 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again with the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged on both occasions.

Description
The Independence Medal is a medallion struck in copper, 38 millimetres in diameter, displaying a blue crane on a crossed spear and knobkierie framed inside a double circle that is inscribed "IXKULULEKO" at left, "CISKEI" at the top, "INDEPENDENCE" at right and "4 DISEMBA 1981" below.
 * Obverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide with a 4 millimetres wide brown band, a 4 millimetres wide green band and a 4 millimetres wide blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by an 8 millimetres wide white band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Independence Medal was discontinued in 1981.