The Order of the Leopard is a merit order of the former Republic of Bophuthatswana.[1] The Order was instituted in order to recognise service to the people of the Republic of Bophuthatswana. It was instituted by the President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana by official Warrant on 28 December 1979.[2]
The Order was instituted in order to recognise persons, whether civilian or military and whether citizens of a foreign country or citizens of Bophuthatswana who have distinguished themselves by their services to Bophuthatswana in the field of international relations or by acts in the interest of the people of Bophuthatswana.[2]
Classes
The Order was initially divided into the following classes:
Special Class: Grand Cross
First Class: Grand Commander
Second Class: Commander
Third Class: Officer
In 1992 the Order of the Leopard, Military Division, Commander was also created as part of the Order and which, in its appearance, resembled (and was succeeded in the BDF order of precedence by) the Distinguished Gallantry Cross.
According to the 1979 Warrant, the following persons were eligible for the award:
Special Class: Grand Cross
Heads of State and Prime Ministers.
First Class: Grand Commander
Ministers of State, Judges of the Supreme Courts, Presidents of Legislative Bodies, Secretaries of State, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Commanders in Chief of the Armed Forces, other functionaries of comparable rank, and such persons as the Executive Council of Bophuthatswana designated as suitable recipients of this class of the Order.
Second Class: Commander
Members of Legislative Bodies, Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary Charge d' Affaires, general officers of Armed Forces, Counsellors of Diplomatic Missions, Consuls-General, Colonels or Lieutenant Colonels or equivalent rank, other functionaries of comparable rank, advisers, and such persons as the Executive Council of Bophuthatswana designated as suitable recipients of this class of the Order.
Third Class: Officer
Secretaries of Diplomatic Missions, Consuls, lower ranking officers of the Armed Forces, other functionaries of comparable rank and station, and such persons as the Executive Council of Bophuthatswana designated as suitable recipients of this class of the Order.
The Insignia of the Order comprised a Badge, a Star, a Sash, a Riband and a Miniature.[2][3]
The Badge of the Order is described as being in the form of an eight-pointed star with the vertical rays somewhat longer than the others with obverse and reverse medallions. The obverse medallion bears a leopard head in gold on a circular enamel background composed of a red outer circle around a green inner circle. The reverse medallion bears the coat of arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana within a circle of blue enamel. The badge is executed in silver plated with gold and measures 90mm from top to bottom. In the case of the Third Class the badge is executed in silver without gold plating.
The Star of the Order is in the form of an eight-pointed star multi-rayed star with the obverse of the badge of the Order super-imposed on it to form a harmonious whole. The reverse is omitted. The star measures 110mm across its widest points and is executed in gilt. The star is worn on the left breast.
The Sash of the Order is made of woven cloth of a royal blue colour. The badge of the Order hangs from the bow of the sash, if the sash is worn. It is worn over the right shoulder with the bow on the left hip.
The Riband of the Order is made of woven watered silk 35mm wide of cobalt blue with cadmium orange edgings on both sides of the ribbon. The riband is worn as a necklet with the badge of the Order as a pendant in the case of the First and Second Class. In the Third Class it is worn as a medal ribbon with the badge on the left breast. In the Special Class the riband is worn as a necklet with the badge of the Order as a pendant if the sash is not worn.
The Miniature Badge of the Order is a miniature of the Badge measuring 20mm in diameter and is worn as a miniature medal pendant from a miniature of the riband measuring 15mm wide.
Miniature of the Order of the Leopard
Military Division (1992 - 1994)
The Badge of the Order of the Leopard, Military Division: Commander is described as being a blue and gold convex cross which is made of silver plated with gold.[4] The obverse features a cadmium orange border surrounding a white enamel circle within which is imposed a leopard's head. The reverse is similar but features the coat of arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in place of the leopard's head.
The ribbon of the Military Division is made of royal blue silk, with royal blue edging, separated by two orange bands. A single white band runs within both orange bands.
Order of Wear
Bophuthatswana Defence Force until 26 April 1994
Order of the Leopard (Military Division): Commander (1992 - 1994)
The Order of the Leopard was authorised for wear by a statutory force which was, on 27 April 1994, incorporated into the South African National Defence Force. Its various classes received positions in the official order of precedence within the South African military decorations order of wear.[5][circular reference][6]
South African National Defence Force after 27 April 1994
Ribbon - Order of the Leopard
Order of the Leopard, Special Class: Grand Cross (1979 - 1992)[6]
Preceded in precedence by the Order of the Star of South Africa (Military) Class I: Gold and (Non-Military) Class I: Grand Cross (Gold).
Succeeded by the Order of the Leopard, Class II: Commander (1992 - 1994)
Order of the Leopard, Class II: Grand Commander (1992 - 1994)[6]
Preceded in precedence by the Order of the Leopard: Commander (1979 - 1992)
Succeeded by the Order of the Leopard (Military Division): Commander (1992 - 1994)
Badge of the Order of the Leopard (Military Division) (1992 - 1994)
Order of the Leopard (Military Division): Commander (1992 - 1994)[6]
Preceded in precedence by the Order of the Leopard, Class II: Grand Commander (1992 - 1994)
Succeeded by the Order of Thohoyandou: Commander
Recipients
Frank Sinatra was the first foreigner to receive the Order of the Leopard. The award was conferred on Frank Sinatra by President Lucas Mangope in 1981, when Sinatra performed at Sun City.[3][7][8]
Photographs of President Lucas Mangope depict him wearing the Badge of the Order of the Leopard and the Order of the Leopard (Military Division): Commander
Discontinuation
The Order of the Leopard was discontinued when the Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.
The Order of the Netherlands Lion, also known as the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands is a Dutch order of chivalry founded by King William I of the Netherlands on 29 September 1815.
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.
The Star of South Africa, post-nominal letters SSA, is a military decoration for merit which was instituted by the Union of South Africa from 1952 to 1975. It was awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service. The Star of South Africa was discontinued on 1 July 1975, when a new set of orders, decorations and medals was instituted.
The Order for Meritorious Service is a South African National Order that consisted of two classes, in gold and silver, and was awarded to deserving South African citizens. The order was discontinued on 2 December 2002.
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, and awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.
The Star of South Africa, Silver, post-nominal letters SSAS, was the second level decoration of two military and five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service of major military significance. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.
The Star of South Africa, Grand Cross, post-nominal letters SSA, is the senior decoration of five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, a South African Military Order that was instituted by the Republic on 1 July 1975. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.
The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana to commemorate that country's independence on 6 December 1977. It was awarded to all ranks on the active strength of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force upon independence.
The Marumo Medal, Class I was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1988.
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 Long Service Medal, Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for thirty years exemplary service.
The Long Service Medal, Silver was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for twenty years exemplary service.
The Star of South Africa, Officer is the fourth-ranked decoration of five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, a South African military order that was instituted by the Republic on 1 July 1975. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.
The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold, post-nominal letters WD, is the senior of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery. It replaced the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold, Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold and Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Gold, all of which ranked on par with each other and the award of which had been discontinued in 1952, 1961 and 1988 respectively.
The Star of South Africa, Grand Officer, post-nominal letters SSAS, is the second decoration of five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, a military order that was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
