Closure Commemoration Medal

Closure Commemoration Medal
Type	Military commemorative medal
Country	South Africa
Eligibility	Commando members
Status	Current
Ribbon bar
Precedence
Next (higher)	Unitas Medal
Next (lower)	Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 50 years

The Closure Commemoration Medal is a military commemoration medal that was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa to mark the disbandment of the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force.

The South African military

The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. It consisted of three components, the full-time Permanent Force, the part-time Citizen Force and the rural defence Commandos.

On 27 April 1994 the SADF was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The seven constituent military forces that were amalgamated were:

• The South African Defence Force (SADF).
• The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) of the Republic of Transkei.
• The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
• The Venda Defence Force (VDF) of the Republic of Venda.
• The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) of the Republic of Ciskei.
• Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
• The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

The Fount of Honour for all South Arican military decorations and medals is the President of South Africa.

Award criteria

The Closure Commemoration Medal was instituted by the President to commemorate the disbandment of the Commando system. Former members of this rural defence component of the South African Defence Force who had completed at least five years service on or after 27 April 2003 can apply for the award of the medal.

Order of precedence

Main article: South African military decorations order of precedence § Order of precedence

The Closure Commemoration Medal was instituted after the most recent revision of the "South African Consolidated Official Table of Precedence : Orders, Decorations and Medals" was published on 11 March 2005. As a newly instituted commemoration medal, its logical position in the order of precedence will be between the lowest ranked commemoration award and the highest ranked award for loyal service and good conduct.

• Official military order of precedence:
  • Preceded by the Unitas Medal of the Republic of South Africa.
  • Succeeded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 50 years of the Republic of South Africa.

• Official national order of precedence:
  • Preceded by the Police Service Amalgamation Medal of the Republic of South Africa.
  • Succeeded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 50 years of the Republic of South Africa.

Description

Obverse

The Closure Commemoration Medal is a medallion struck in nickel-silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, displaying three stacked rifles within a wreath of proteas.

Reverse

The reverse displays the embellished Coat of arms of South Africa above a bar bearing the stamped medal number and, around the perimeter, the inscriptions "CLOSURE COMMEMORATION MEDAL" at left, "SLUITINGSGEDENKMEDALJE" at right and "MEDALE WA KGOTSO WA MATSWALELAKGORO" below.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and green, with a 12 millimetres wide yellow band in the centre.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Closure Commemoration Medal has not yet been discontinued.

See also

• South African honours system
• South African military decorations
• South African military decorations order of precedence