Silver Service Medal

The Silver Service Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army, the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, for twenty years exemplary service.

Azanian People's Liberation Army
The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) was the para-military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). It was established in 1961 to wage an armed struggle against the Nationalist government inside South Africa by means of attacks on soft targets such as white people in caravan parks, restaurants and taverns and even during church services.

On 27 April 1994 the Azanian People's Liberation Army 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 (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress.
 * 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 Silver Service Medal was instituted by the President in April 1996 and was awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army for twenty years exemplary service.

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


 * Azanian People's Liberation Army:
 * Official APLA order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Gold Service Medal.
 * Succeeded by the Bronze Service Medal.


 * South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Service Medal in Silver of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Union Medal of the Union of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Service Medal in Silver of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Medal for Faithful Service in the Prisons Service of the Republic of South Africa.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Service Medal in Silver of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 20 years of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Service Medal in Silver of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 20 years of the Republic of South Africa.

Description
The Silver Service Medal is an oval medallion with a raised edge, struck in silver and depicting the Azanian People's Liberation Army emblem.
 * Obverse

The reverse is smooth and displays the embellished pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.
 * Reverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 6 millimetres wide black band and a 3 millimetres wide yellow band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 14 millimetres wide green band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

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