Merit Medal in Silver

The Merit Medal in Silver, post-nominal letters MMS, 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, who have distinguished themselves during The Struggle by exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.

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 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 Merit Medal in Silver, post-nominal letters MMS, was instituted by the President in April 1996, for award to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe who have distinguished themselves during The Struggle by exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.

Order of precedence
The position of the Merit Medal in Silver in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged.


 * Umkhonto we Sizwe:
 * Official MK order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG).
 * Succeeded by the Merit Medal in Bronze (MMB).


 * South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Marumo Medal, Class I of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * Succeeded by the Silver Medal for Merit (SMM) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Medal of the Order of the Leopard of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * Succeeded by the Silver Medal for Merit (SMM) of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.

Description
The Merit Medal in Silver is struck in silver, to fit in a circle 38 millimetres in diameter. It depicts the Umkhonto we Sizwe emblem in a dark blue enameled roundel in the centre of a five-pointed starburst of radiating points.
 * Obverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with a 12 millimetres wide white band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

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