Merit Medal in Bronze

The Merit Medal in Bronze, post-nominal letters MMB, 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 have distinguished themselves during The Struggle by service of a high order.

Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in Zulu, 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 by means of sabotage, bombings and landmines.

On 27 April 1994 Umkhonto we Sizwe 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 (CDF) of the Republic of Ciskei.
 * Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress.

Award criteria
The Fount of Honour for all South African military decorations and medals is the President of South Africa.

The Merit Medal in Bronze, post-nominal letters MMB, was instituted by the President in April 1996, for award to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe who have distinguished themselves during The Struggle by service of a high order.

Order of precedence
The position of the Merit Medal in Bronze in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.


 * Umkhonto we Sizwe:
 * Official MK order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Merit Medal in Silver (MMS).
 * Succeeded by the Operational Medal for Southern Africa.


 * South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Bronze Medal for Merit (BMM) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal of the Republic of Ciskei.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Bronze Medal for Merit (BMM) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal of the Republic of Ciskei.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Bronze Medal for Merit (BMM) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (PB) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Bronze Medal for Merit (BMM) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (PB) of the Republic of South Africa.

Description
The Merit Medal in Bronze is struck in bronze and has an engrailed edge that has nine points, to fit in a circle 38 millimetres in diameter. It depicts the Umkhonto we Sizwe emblem and a protea flower in each of the nine points.
 * Obverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with a 12 millimetres wide dark yellow band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Merit Medal in Bronze was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.