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 had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.South African Medal Website - Liberation armies (Accessed 30 April 2015)South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
uMkhonto we Sizwe uMkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in isiZulu, was the paramilitary 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. On 27 April 1994, Umkhonto we Sizwe was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).Warrant of the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of the "UNITAS MEDAL-UNITAS-MEDALJE", Gazette no. 16087 dated 25 November 1994.
Institution The Merit Medal in Silver, post-nominal letters MMS, was instituted by the President in April 1996. It is the middle award of a set of three decorations for merit, along with the Decoration for Merit in Gold and the Merit Medal in Bronze.
Umkhonto we Sizwe's military decorations and medals were modelled on those of the South African Defence Force and these three decorations are the approximate equivalents of, respectively, the Southern Cross Decoration and Pro Merito Decoration, the Southern Cross Medal (1975) and Pro Merito Medal (1975), and the Military Merit Medal.
Award criteria The decoration could be awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.
Order of wear
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.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, Presidential Warrant by the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of Honours for Bravery in the South African National Defence Force, Gazette no. 25213 dated 25 July 2003.
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 Obverse The Merit Medal in Silver was 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.Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK)
Reverse The reverse displays the embellished pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.
Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with a 12 millimetres wide white band in the centre.
Discontinuation Conferment of the Merit Medal in Silver was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.
References