Gold Decoration for Merit

The Gold Decoration for Merit, post-nominal letters GDM, 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 outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty during The Struggle.

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 Gold Decoration for Merit, post-nominal letters GDM, was instituted by the President in April 1996, for award to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army for outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty during The Struggle.

Order of precedence
The position of the Gold Decoration for Merit 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 Star for Conspicuous Leadership (SCL).
 * Succeeded by the Silver Medal for Merit (SMM).


 * South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the Order of the Star of South Africa Class IV, Officer (OSSA) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
 * Succeeded by the iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) of the Republic of South Africa.

Description
The Gold Decoration for Merit is a silver-gilt straight armed cross with indented ends that fits in a circle with a diameter of 38 millimetres. The arms of the cross are in white enamel, with the Azanian People's Liberation Army emblem in a dark blue enameled roundel in the centre.
 * Obverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with two 6 millimetres wide yellow bands in the centre, spaced 4 millimetres apart.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Gold Decoration for Merit was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.