| Marumo Medal, Class I | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Military decoration for merit |
| Country |  Bophuthatswana |
| Presented by | the State President |
| Status | Discontinued in 1994 |
| Established | 1988 |
 Ribbon bar | |
| BDF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear | |
| Next (higher) | BDF precedence: SANDF precedence: |
| Next (lower) | BDF succession: SANDF succession: |
The Marumo Medal, Class I was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1988. [1] [2]
The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) was established upon that country's independence on 6 December 1977. The Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Bophuthatswana Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). [3] [4] [5]
The Marumo Medal, Class I was instituted by the State President of Bophuthatswana in 1988. It is the senior award of a set of two, along with the Marumo Medal, Class II. [1]
"Marumo" can be translated as "fight" or "fighting", adopted into SeTswana from a command used by Shaka Zulu.
The medal could be awarded for merit in action.
Since the Marumo Medal, Class I was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which 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. The position of the Marumo Medal, Class I 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 upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003. [1] [6]
The position of the Marumo Medal, Class I in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was in April 1996, when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003. [1]
The Marumo Medal, Class I is a silver-gilt medallion, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, with an encircled gold cross in a square in the centre, surrounded by eight red enameled triangles, the whole depicting four red-tipped arrows arranged as a cross. [7]
The reverse has the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 2 millimetres wide green band, a 9 millimetres wide dark blue band, a 1 millimetre wide green band, a 1 millimetre wide dark blue band and a 2½ millimetres wide dark red band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 1 millimetre wide green band in the centre. [7]
Conferment of the Marumo Medal, Class I was discontinued when the Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994. [5]
The Transkei Defence Force Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Transkei for award to all ranks as a military medal for merit.
The Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks as a long service medal for ten years service and good conduct.
The Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks as a long service medal for twenty years service and good conduct.
The Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks as a long service medal for thirty years service and good conduct.
The General Service Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1991, for award to all ranks for operational service inside Bophuthatswana.
The Nkwe Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1990, for award to all ranks for operational service.
The Marumo Medal, Class II was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1988.
The Defence Force Commendation Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982. It could be awarded to all ranks for service of a high standard.
The Defence Force Merit Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for extraordinarily excellent service and particular devotion to duty.
The Defence Force Merit Decoration was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to officers for distinguished service of high quality and utmost devotion to duty.
The Distinguished Gallantry Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for extraordinary gallantry.
The Distinguished Gallantry Cross was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for hair-raising deeds of distinguished heroism.
The Distinguished Service Medal, Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.
The Distinguished Service Medal, Silver was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for outstanding service and devotion to duty.
The Venda Defence Force Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1984, for award to all ranks for service of a high standard.
The Independence Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1979, for award to all ranks in commemoration of the independence of Venda.
The Sandile Decoration, post-nominal letters SD, was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1988, for award to all ranks for meritorious service.
The Sandile Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1988, for award to all ranks for meritorious service.
The Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1992, for award to all ranks for service commended by the Chief of the Ciskei Defence Force.
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.
