IPhrothiya yeGolide

Last updated

iPhrothiya yeGolide
Golden Protea
IPhrothiya yeGolide medal.jpg
TypeMilitary decoration for merit
Awarded forExceptional leadership or exceptional meritorious service and the utmost devotion to duty
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Presented bythe President
EligibilityAll ranks
Post-nominalsPG
StatusCurrent
Established27 April 2003
IPhrothiya yeGolide Ribbon Bar.svg
Ribbon bar
Order of wear
Next (higher) Yellow star on green.png Gold Decoration for Merit
Next (lower) Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg Van Riebeeck Medal

The iPhrothiya yeGolide - Golden Protea, post-nominal letters PG, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. It can be awarded to all ranks who have distinguished themselves by exceptional leadership or exceptional meritorious service and the utmost devotion to duty. It is South Africa's highest existing military decoration for meritorious conduct. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The South African military

The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994, it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). [2] [4]

Institution

The iPhrothiya yeGolide - Golden Protea, post-nominal letters PG, was instituted by the President on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003, to replace the Southern Cross Decoration (SD) and Pro Merito Decoration (PMD). The bilingual title of the decoration is in isiZulu and English. [3] [5]

Award criteria

The decoration can be awarded to all ranks of the South African National Defence Force and of any Auxiliary Service of the SANDF, and of any Armed Forces attached to or serving with or rendering any service to the SANDF, who have distinguished themselves by exceptional leadership or exceptional meritorious service and the utmost devotion to duty. The decoration is the senior of a set of three military decorations for merit, along with the iPhrothiya yeSiliva – Silver Protea and the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi - Bronze Protea. [1] [6]

Bar to the iPhrothiya yeGolide - Golden Protea Iphrothiya ye Golide (PG) bar.jpg
Bar to the iPhrothiya yeGolide - Golden Protea

A bar may be awarded for every subsequent action which would make recipients eligible for the award of the same decoration. The decoration and bar may be awarded posthumously. [1]

Guidelines consisting of appropriate phrases which may be useful when writing a citation for the award of the iPhrothiya yeGolide – Golden Protea have been published by the South African Defence Department. [6]

Exceptional Leadership
Outstanding Service of Highest Order
Outstanding Service

Order of wear

The position of the iPhrothiya yeGolide – Golden Protea in the official military and national orders of precedence is as follows: [7]

Ribbon - Gold Decoration for Merit.png Ribbon - iPhrothiya yeGolide.gif VRMRibbon.GIF

Official military order of precedence
Official national order of precedence

Description

Obverse

The iPhrothiya yeGolide - Golden Protea is a six-pointed star, struck in silver-gilt and displaying a stylised protea, South Africa's national flower, on a blue hexagon in the centre. [1] [2]

Bar button and insignia for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Military Health Service Iphrothiya ye Golide (PG) insignia.jpg
Bar button and insignia for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Military Health Service
Reverse

The reverse bears, in relief, the coat of arms of South Africa. The decoration is attached to a plain silver-gilt suspender, affixed to the upper point of the star. The medal number is stamped or engraved below the coat of arms. [1]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and national flag blue with, in the centre, a 2 millimetres wide gold band, a 2 millimetres wide black band and a 2 millimetres wide gold band. [1]

Bar

The bar for subsequent conferments of the iPhrothiya yeGolide – Golden Protea is 33 millimetres in length and 5 millimetres wide, struck in silver-gilt and embossed in the centre with a silhouette replica of the decoration. When only a ribbon bar is worn, a button silhouette replica of the decoration, 8 millimetres in diameter and struck in silver-gilt, is affixed to the ribbon bar.

Insignia

Award of the decoration for service in active military operations is indicated by distinguishing insignia, which indicate the arm of the service in which the recipient was serving at the time of the action for which the decoration was conferred. The insignia are struck in silver-gilt and is worn on the ribbon, above any bars which may have been awarded.

Recipients

In respect of those recipients about whom it is available, the actions they were cited for follow below the table, since inclusion in the table itself is impractical.

NameRankPG no.Date of actionUnitService
Arm
Dixon, William Louis [lower-alpha 1] Col 013222 Mar 2013 Inf Fmn SA Army
Lechoenyo, Solomon Sehularo NS MMM [lower-alpha 1] Lt Col 013322 Mar 2013 5 SFR SA Army

Note 1:   denotes a posthumous award.

Actions cited for

  1. 1 2 Battle of Bangui Awarded for actions during the Battle of Bangui in the Central African Republic from 22 to 24 March 2013. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkwe ya Selefera</span> South African military decoration

The Nkwe ya Selefera - Silver Leopard, post-nominal letters NS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. It is South Africa's second highest military decoration for bravery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkwe ya Boronse</span> South African military bravery medal

The Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard, post-nominal letters NB, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted in 2003. It is South Africa's third highest military decoration for bravery.

iPhrothiya yeSiliva South African military decoration

The iPhrothiya yeSiliva - Silver Protea, post-nominal letters PS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. It can be awarded to all ranks who have distinguished themselves by outstanding leadership or outstanding meritorious service and particular devotion to duty. It is South Africa's second highest existing military decoration for meritorious conduct.

iPhrothiya yeBhronzi South African military decoration

The iPhrothiya yeBhronzi - Bronze Protea, post-nominal letters PB, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. It can be awarded to all ranks who have distinguished themselves by leadership or meritorious service and devotion to duty.

An overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.

South African orders, decorations and medals are those military and civilian orders, decorations and medals issued by the Government of South Africa. The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of these:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Riebeeck Medal</span> Former South African military decoration

The Van Riebeeck Medal, post-nominal letters VRM, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was awarded to other ranks for distinguished service in the field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danie Theron Medal</span> Military decoration of the Republic of South Africa

The Danie Theron Medal, post-nominal letters DTM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1970 and which was in use until 1993. It was awarded for diligent service in the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force. Originally reserved for officers, it was available to all ranks from 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Merit Medal (South Africa)</span> Miliary award for service of high order

The Military Merit Medal, post-nominal letters MMM, is a military decoration which was instituted in the Republic of South Africa on 9 October 1974 as the Chief of the Defence Force's Commendation Medal. It could be awarded to all ranks of the South African Defence Force for service of a high order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Cross Decoration</span> Former South African military decoration

The Southern Cross Decoration, post-nominal letters SD, is a South African military decoration for merit which was instituted by the Republic on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro Merito Decoration</span> Former South African military decoration

The Pro Merito Decoration, post-nominal letters PMD, is a military decoration for merit which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro Virtute Decoration</span> Former South African military decoration

The Pro Virtute Decoration, post-nominal letters PVD, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and exceptional leadership during combat operations in the field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Cross Medal (1975)</span> South African military meritorious service award

The Southern Cross Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters SM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro Merito Medal (1975)</span> Discontinued South African military decoration

The Pro Merito Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters PMM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty, and was the non-commissioned officers' version of the Southern Cross Medal of 1975 (SM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Service Medal, Gold</span> Award

The Good Service Medal, Gold, originally named the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal, Gold, is the senior of a set of three military medals which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was initially awarded to members of all elements of the South African Defence Force for thirty years of exemplary service, but was restricted to Permanent Force personnel from 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merit Medal in Silver</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merit Medal in Bronze</span> Award

The Merit Medal in Bronze, post-nominal letters MMB, 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 service of a high order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Decoration for Merit</span> Award

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Medal for Merit</span> Award

The Silver Medal for Merit, post-nominal letters SMM, 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 exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty during the "struggle".

Brigadier-General Renier (Cojack) Coetzee was a General Officer in the South African Army from the recces.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Presidential Warrant by the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of Honours for Meritorious Conduct in the South African National Defence Force, Gazette no. 25213 dated 25 July 2003.
  2. 1 2 3 South African Medal Website - South African National Defence Force (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  3. 1 2 South African Medal Website – Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  4. South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  5. 1 2 iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) (Merit Award Gold)
  6. Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981
  7. SANDF Armed Forces Day Parade, 21 February 2014 – Decoration and Medal Recipients, Battle of Bangui
  8. Zuma awards medals to Battle of Bangui soldiers in celebration of Armed Forces Day
  9. DefenceWeb Book Review: The Battle in Bangui: The untold inside story. By Helmoed Romer Heitman (Accessed 3 May 2015)
  10. Tia Mysoa – 'The Battle in Bangui: The untold inside story' – Truth or Propaganda? (Accessed 3 May 2015)