Service Medal in Gold

The Service Medal in Gold 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, for thirty years exemplary service.

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 defence forces and para-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 Service Medal in Gold was instituted by the President in April 1996, for award to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe for thirty years exemplary service.

Order of precedence
The position of the Service Medal in Gold 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 South Africa Service Medal.
 * Succeeded by the Service Medal in Silver.


 * South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Gold Service Medal of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the John Chard Decoration (JCD) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Gold Service Medal of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the John Chard Decoration (JCD) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Gold Service Medal of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 30 years of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Gold Service Medal of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
 * Succeeded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 30 years of the Republic of South Africa.

Description
The Service Medal in Gold is a silver-gilt oval medallion with a raised edge, depicting the Umkhonto we Sizwe emblem.
 * Obverse

The reverse is smooth and displays the embellished pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms with watermarks stamped below and the medal number stamped above.
 * Reverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and green, with a 4 millimetres wide black edge at left and a 4 millimetres wide yellow edge at right.
 * Ribbon

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