Independence Medal (Transkei)

The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Transkei to commemorate Independence on 26 October 1976. It was awarded to all ranks on the active strength of the Transkei Defence Force upon independence.

The Transkei Defence Force
The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was established upon that country's independence on 26 October 1976 and initially consisted of an infantry battalion and an air wing with two light transport aircraft and two helicopters. Initial training was provided by the South African Defence Force.

The Fount of Honour for all Transkeian military decorations and medals was the State President of Transkei.

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

Award criteria for the Independence Medal
The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President on 26 October 1976 to commemorate the independence of the Republic of Transkei. It was awarded to all ranks that were on the active strength of the Transkei Defence Force upon independence, including members on detached duty from the South African Defence Force. While the medal is known to have been instituted and awarded, no warrant has yet been traced.

Order of precedence
Since the Independence 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.


 * Transkei Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
 * Official TDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Defence Force Medal.
 * Succeeded by the Military Rule Medal.


 * Transkei official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Police Medal for Combating Terrorism.
 * Succeeded by the Military Rule Medal.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal of the United Kingdom.
 * Succeeded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal of the United Kingdom.
 * Succeeded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.

The position of the Independence Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003.

Description
The Independence Medal is a medallion struck in nickel-silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, displaying the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Transkei.
 * Obverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 4 millimetres wide brown band and a 4 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 16 millimetres wide green band. Brown, white and green are the colours of the national flag of Transkei.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Independence Medal was discontinued in 1976.