Sandile Medal

The Sandile Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1988, for award to all ranks for meritorious service.

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 Sandile Medal was instituted by the President in 1988 and was awarded to all ranks for meritorious service.

Order of precedence
Since the Sandile 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 Cross for Bravery (CCB).
 * Succeeded by the Pro Merito Decoration (PMD).


 * Ciskei official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Prisons Service Star for Distinction (PSD).
 * Succeeded by the Prisons Service Star for Merit (PSM).


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Defence Force Merit Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * Succeeded by the Marumo Medal, Class I of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Medal fot Merit in the Prisons Service of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * Succeeded by the Prisons Service Star for Merit (PSM) of the Republic of Ciskei.

The position of the Sandile 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 on both occasions it remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994.

Description
The Sandile Medal is a medallion struck in silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and without a raised rim, displaying the eagle emblem of the Ciskei Defence Force in a laurel wreath.
 * Obverse

The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Ciskei.
 * Reverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide with a 5 millimetres wide red band and a 9 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 4 millimetres wide green band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Sandile Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Ciskei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.