Distinguished Gallantry Cross

The Distinguished Gallantry Cross was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for hair-raising deeds of distinguished heroism.

The Bophuthatswana Defence Force
The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) was established upon that country's independence on 6 December 1977. It was organised into six military regions and the ground forces included two infantry battalions. The Bophuthatswana Air Wing was renamed to the Bophuthatswana Air Force (BAF) in late 1987, by which time it had twelve aircraft on strength. Initial training was provided by the South African Defence Force.

The Fount of Honour for all Bophuthatswana's military decorations and medals was the State President of Bophuthatswana.

The Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Bophuthatswana 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.
 * 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 (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress.

Award criteria
The Distinguished Gallantry Cross was instituted by the State President in 1982 and was awarded to all ranks for hair-raising deeds of distinguished heroism.

Order of precedence
Since the Distinguished Gallantry Cross 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.


 * Bophuthatswana Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
 * Official BDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Order of the Leopard, Military Division, Commander.
 * Succeeded by the Defence Force Merit Decoration.


 * Bophuthatswana official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Order of the Leopard, Military Division, Commander.
 * Succeeded by the Decoration for Valour in the Prisons Service.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Louw Wepener Decoration (LWD) of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Gallantry Cross, Gold (GCG) of the Republic of Venda.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the National Force Gallantry Cross, Gold (PCF) of the Republic of Venda.
 * Succeeded by the King's Cross for Bravery of the KwaZulu Homeland.

The position of the Distinguished Gallantry Cross 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 it remained unchanged on both occasions.

Description
The Distinguished Gallantry Cross is a silver-gilt cross 38 millimetres in diameter, with dark green enamelled arms and two rays between each pair of arms. In the centre is a leopard head on a red enamelled roundel. The decoration appears to be modelled on the medal of the British Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
 * Obverse

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

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark red.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Distinguished Gallantry Cross was discontinued when the Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.