Operational Medal for Southern Africa

The Operational Medal for Southern Africa was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in 1998. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service outside South Africa during The Struggle.

MK and APLA
Umkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in Zulu, was the para-military wing of the African National Congress (ANC). MK 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.

The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) was the para-military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress. APLA was also established in 1961, but its campaign focused mainly on soft targets such as white people in caravan parks, restaurants and taverns and even during church services.

On 27 April 1994 Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army were amalgamated with five statutory defence 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.

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

The Operational Medal for Southern Africa was instituted by the President in 1998, for award to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service outside South Africa during The Struggle.

Order of precedence
The position of the Operational Medal for Southern Africa in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged.


 * Umkhonto we Sizwe:
 * Official MK order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Merit Medal in Bronze (MMB).
 * Succeeded by the South Africa Service Medal.


 * Azanian People's Liberation Army:
 * Official APLA order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Bronze Medal for Merit (BMM).
 * Succeeded by the South Africa Service Medal.


 * South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the General Service Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * Succeeded by the South Africa Service Medal of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the General Service Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * Succeeded by the South Africa Service Medal of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army.

Description
The Operational Medal for Southern Africa is a medallion struck in nickel-silver, 38 millimetres in diameter with a raised rim, and depicts a baobab tree inside a hexagonal frame of chain.
 * Obverse

The reverse has a wide raised rim and displays the embellished pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.
 * Reverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 4 millimetres wide red band, an 8 millimetres wide green band and a 1 millimetre wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 6 millimetres wide black band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Operational Medal for Southern Africa was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.