Nkwe ya Gauta

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Nkwe ya Gauta
Golden Leopard
Nkwe ya gauta ng.jpg
TypeMilitary decoration for bravery
Awarded forActs of exceptional bravery during military operations
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Presented bythe President
EligibilityAll ranks
Post-nominalsNG
StatusCurrent
Established27 April 2003
Ribbon - Nkwe ya Gauta.gif
Ribbon bar
Order of wear
Next (higher) Flag of the African National Congress.svg Star for Bravery in Gold
Next (lower) Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg Star of South Africa, Gold

The Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard, post-nominal letters NG, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted in 2003, to replace the Honoris Crux Gold (HCG). It is South Africa's highest military decoration for bravery. [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 Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard, post-nominal letters NG, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. The bilingual title of the decoration is in Sesotho and English. This decoration replaced the Honoris Crux Gold (HCG) as South Africa's highest military decoration for bravery. It is the senior of a set of three military decorations for bravery, along with the Nkwe ya Selefera - Silver Leopard and the Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard. [1] [2] [3]

Award criteria

The Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard 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 performing acts of exceptional bravery, on a single occasion or over a period of time, during military operations. [1] [5]

Bar to the Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard Nkwe ya Gauta.jpg
Bar to the Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard

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 Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard have been published by the South African Defence Department. [5]

Order of wear

The position of the Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard in the official military and national orders of precedence is as follows: [6]

Ribbon Star for Bravery in Gold.png Ribbon - Nkwe ya Gauta.gif Ribbon - Star of South Africa, Gold.gif

Official military order of precedence
Official national order of precedence

Description

Bar button and insignia for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Military Health Service Nkwe ya Gauta (NG) insignia.jpg
Bar button and insignia for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Military Health Service
Obverse

The Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard is a five-armed cross pattée struck in 9 carat gold, with a diameter of 38 millimetres. The arms of the cross are faceted per chevron, embowed throughout and the extremities also embowed, with each pair of arms of the cross separated by three short rays. In the centre of the obverse is a light blue enamel roundel, 19 millimetres in diameter, with a golden leopard's head. [1] [2]

Reverse

The reverse bears, in relief, the coat of arms of South Africa. The decoration is attached to a plain gold suspender, fixed to the upper arm of the decoration. The medal number is impressed or engraved below the coat of arms. [1]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and sky blue with 6 millimetres wide gold edges. [1] The blue represents the feathers of the blue crane, which Xhosa kings used to present to brave warriors. [2]

Bar

The Bar for subsequent conferments of the Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard is 33 millimetres wide and 5 millimetres high, struck in 9 carat gold and embossed in the centre with a replica of the decoration. When only a ribbon bar is worn, a button replica of the decoration, 8 millimetres in diameter and struck in 9 carat gold, 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. These insignia are struck in 9 carat gold and are worn on the ribbon, above any bars which may have been awarded. [2]

Recipients

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

NameRankNG no.Date of actionUnitService
Arm
Ramdin, Amrithlall Tothara  [lower-alpha 1] LS 01817 Feb 2017 Naval Base Durban SA Navy
Borg, Able Seaman Henro ter Borg  [lower-alpha 2] AB 01917 Feb 2017 Naval Base Durban SA Navy
Mundell, Seaman Francois William Mundell  [lower-alpha 3] SM 02017 Feb 2017 Naval Base Durban SA Navy

Note 1:   denotes a posthumous award.

Actions cited for

  1. Ramdin, Amrithlall Tothara Awarded for his action in attempting to rescue three staff members of the Department of Public Works from a gas-filled sewage pit at the Durban Naval Base.
  2. Borg, Henro ter Borg Awarded for his action in attempting to rescue three staff members of the Department of Public Works from a gas-filled sewage pit at the Durban Naval Base.
  3. Mundell, Francois William Awarded for his action in attempting to rescue three staff members of the Department of Public Works from a gas-filled sewage pit at the Durban Naval Base.

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 yeGolide South African military decoration

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.

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">Honoris Crux Silver</span> Award

The Honoris Crux Silver, post-nominal letters HCS, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for exceptional acts of bravery while in great danger. The Honoris Crux Silver was the third most senior in a set of four classes of Honoris Crux decorations, which together replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy Cross (South Africa)</span> Award

The Navy Cross, post-nominal letters CN is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Navy for bravery. It was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.

<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">Ad Astra Decoration</span> Award

The Ad Astra Decoration, post-nominal letters AAD, was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1991, to reward South African Air Force aircrew members on board aircraft for excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or critically unusual situations in the air. It was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts performed during the period in effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honoris Crux (1975)</span> Former South African military decoration

The Honoris Crux of 1975, post-nominal letters HC, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. The decoration was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for bravery in dangerous circumstances. It was the junior in a set of four Honoris Crux decorations in four classes, which together replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star of South Africa, Gold</span> Award

The Star of South Africa, Gold, post-nominal letters SSA, is the senior decoration of two military and five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, a South African Order which was instituted in 1975, for award to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana)</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nkwe Medal</span> Award

The Nkwe Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1990, for award to all ranks for operational service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distinguished Gallantry Medal</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distinguished Gallantry Cross</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gallantry Cross, Silver</span> Award

The Gallantry Cross, Silver, post-nominal letters GCS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for courage or bravery or valour beyond the normal call of duty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star for Bravery in Gold</span> Award

The Star for Bravery in Gold, post-nominal letters SBG, 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 have distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of exceptional bravery in great danger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star for Bravery in Silver</span> Award

The Star for Bravery in Silver, post-nominal letters SBS, 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 performing acts of bravery.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "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" (PDF). South African Government. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 South African Medals Website - South African National Defence Force (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  3. 1 2 South African Medals Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 2 May 2015)
  4. South African Medals Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  5. 1 2 Nkwe ya Gauta (NG) (Bravery Award Gold)
  6. Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981