Ciskei Defence Medal

The Ciskei Defence Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1988, for award to all ranks for general service.

The Ciskei Defence Force
The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) was established upon that country's independence on 4 December 1981. With a population of only one million, the Ciskei Defence Force consisted of about 1,000 members. It was initially organized into two infantry battalions with one armoured personnel carrier and an air wing with five light aircraft and four helicopters.

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

The Republic of Ciskei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Ciskei 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 (BDF) of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * The Venda Defence Force (VDF) of the Republic of Venda.
 * The Ciskei Defence Force.
 * 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 Ciskei Defence Medal was instituted by the President in 1988 and was awarded to all ranks for general service.

Order of precedence
Since the Ciskei Defence 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.


 * Ciskei Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
 * Official CDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal.
 * Succeeded by the  Independence Medal.


 * Ciskei official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Police Medal for Maintenance of Law and Order.
 * Succeeded by the  Independence Medal.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the  General Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Nkwe Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the  General Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Nkwe Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.

The position of the Ciskei Defence Medal 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 Ciskei Defence Medal is a medallion struck in bronze, 38 millimetres in diameter, displaying a Xhosa shield on a crossed spear and knobkierrie between two sprays of leaves.
 * Obverse

The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Ciskei and the inscriptions "IMBASA YO MKHOSI" and "DEFENCE MEDAL".
 * Reverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide with a 10 millimetres wide blue band and a 4 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 4 millimetres wide black band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Ciskei Defence Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Ciskei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.