The South African table of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Republic of South Africa. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol at events of a national nature.
No date of issuance was known to the public, but the present table was amended on 1 January 1996.
South African Official Table of Precedence [1] is as follows:
| Rubric | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | President of the Republic (Cyril Ramaphosa) |
| 2 |
|
| 3 | Chief Justice (Raymond Zondo) |
| President of the Constitutional Court | |
| 4 | Former presidents of the Republic:
|
Former deputy presidents of the Republic (note that Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who would otherwise appear on the list, already appear above as former presidents):
| |
| 5 | By seniority:
|
| 6 | Ambassadors (by seniority) |
| Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary (by seniority) | |
| Chargé d'affaires en titre (by seniority) | |
| Heads of other Permanent Diplomatic Missions (by seniority) | |
| 7 | By seniority:
|
By seniority:
| |
By seniority:
| |
| 8 |
|
| 9 | Charges d'affaires ad interim of Embassies (by seniority) |
| Charges d'affaires ad interim of Legations (by seniority) | |
| Charges d'affaires ad interim of other Permanent Diplomatic Missions (by seniority) | |
| 10 | Leaders of other political parties in NA and NCOP (by seniority) |
| 11 | Deputy President of the Constitutional Court |
| Judges of Appeal (by seniority) | |
| Judges of the Constitutional Court (by seniority) | |
| Judges President (by seniority) | |
| Deputy Judges President (by seniority) | |
| Judges of the Supreme Court (by seniority) | |
| 12 | Former Chief Justices:
|
| 13 | Chairpersons of Commissions established under the Constitution (by seniority) |
| 14 | Members of NA and NCOP (by seniority) |
| Members of Provincial Legislatures (by seniority) | |
| Local royalties (by seniority) | |
| Chairman of the Council for Traditional Leaders | |
| Chairpersons of the Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders (by seniority) | |
| 15 | By seniority:
|
| Members of the Public Service Commission (by seniority) | |
| Directors-General and their equivalents of Government Departments, including Secretary to NA, Secretary to NCOP, Secretary for Safety and Security, Defence Secretary and Directors-General of Provinces (by seniority) | |
| Attorneys-General (by seniority) | |
| Chairpersons of State Corporations (by seniority) | |
| 16 | Mayor of the capital of the Province (in which the function is held) |
| Chairpersons of the Metropolitan Councils of the region (in which the function is held) | |
| 17 | Mayor of other Provincial Capitals |
| 18 | The spouses of the foregoing persons enjoy the precedence of their spouses |
| 19 | Courtesy precedence at the discretion of the President. |
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
The Medalje vir Troue Diens - Medal for Loyal Service 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 whose character and conduct have been irreproachable and who have completed ten years of qualifying service.
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 Honoris Crux Gold, post-nominal letters HCG, is a South African military decoration for bravery which was instituted in 1975. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for outstanding acts of bravery while in extreme danger. It was the second most senior in a set of four classes of Honoris Crux decorations which replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.
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 Pro Patria Medal is a South African military campaign medal which was instituted by the Republic in 1974. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for service in an operational area, as designated by the Minister of Defence or for engagement in armed combat with the enemy.
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.
The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Army for bravery. The Army Cross was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.
The Union Medal was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was awarded to Permanent Force members of the South African Defence Force for eighteen years of service and good conduct.
The Commandant General's Medal is a military marksmanship medal which was created by the Commandant General of the South African Defence Force in 1962 and formally instituted by the State President in 1965. It was awarded to the champion shot of the annual South African Defence Force Shooting Championships from 1962 to 1975. The year the award was earned, is shown on a bar which is worn on the ribbon. The award could be won multiple times, with each subsequent award indicated by an additional bar.
The SADF Champion Shot Medal is a military medal which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1975. It was awarded to the champion shots of the annual South African Defence Force Shooting Championships in the categories of full-bore, small-bore, service shooting and pistol. The medal could be won multiple times, with each subsequent award indicated by a bar.
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 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 Closure Commemoration Medal is a military commemoration medal which was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in 2010, to commemorate the disbandment of the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African National Defence Force.
The State President's Medal for Shooting was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1990, for award to champion shots.
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.
