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Star of South Africa, Gold

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Star of South Africa, Gold
TypeMilitary decoration for merit
Awarded forMeritorious military service which promoted SADF efficiency and preparedness and made a valuable contribution to national security
CountrySouth Africa
Presented bythe
State President of South Africa (until 1994)
President of South Africa (1994–2002)
EligibilityGeneral and flag officers
Post-nominalsSSA
StatusDiscontinued in 2002
Established1975
Ribbon bar
SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
SADF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
EquivalentStar of South Africa, Grand Cross
Next (lower)
SADF succession:
SANDF succession:

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.[1]

Background

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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) after the end of apartheid.[2][3][4][5][6]

Institution

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The Star of South Africa, Gold, post-nominal letters SSA, was instituted by the State President on 1 July 1975, as the senior decoration of two military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa. The Order was named after the first large diamond to be found in South Africa, the Star of South Africa, which was found on the banks of the Orange River in 1869 and which sparked the New Rush, leading to the establishment of Kimberley.[1][3]

The Order of the Star of South Africa was expanded on 17 October 1978, when a non-military division with decorations in five classes was instituted, for conferment on civilians and, from 1988, on senior police, prisons service and intelligence service officers, as well as foreign military attachés. The senior of these five non-military decorations, the Star of South Africa, Grand Cross, ranks on par with the Star of South Africa, Gold.[1][7]

Award criteria

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The Star of South Africa, Gold was awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force for meritorious military service which promoted SADF efficiency and preparedness and made a valuable contribution to national security. It replaced the Star of South Africa of 1952.[3]

In 1977, recipients of the Star of South Africa of 1952 were promoted to the new Order of the Star of South Africa, by being presented with the Star of South Africa, Gold in substitution of their existing decorations.[8]

Order of wear

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

The position of the Star of South Africa, Gold in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1975, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again 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 finally with the institution of a new set of awards on 27 April 2003.[7][9]

South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994

Honoris Crux Gold (HCG) Star of South Africa, Gold (SSA) Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS)

South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994

Honoris Crux Gold (HCG) Star of South Africa, Gold (SSA) Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS)

  • Official SANDF order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Honoris Crux Gold (HCG) of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Succeeded by the Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS) of the Republic of South Africa.[7]
  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Order of the Southern Cross, Gold (OSG) of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Succeeded by the Order of the Leopard, Special Class Grand Cross of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.[7]
South African National Defence Force from April 1996

Star for Bravery in Gold (SBG) Star of South Africa, Gold (SSA) Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS)

  • Official SANDF order of precedence:
  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Order of the Southern Cross, Gold (OSG) of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Succeeded by the Order of the Leopard, Special Class Grand Cross of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.[7]
South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003

Nkwe ya Gauta (NG) Star of South Africa, Gold (SSA) Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS)

  • Official SANDF order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Nkwe ya Gauta (NG) of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Succeeded by the Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS) of the Republic of South Africa.[7]
  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Order of the Southern Cross, Gold (OSG) of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Succeeded by the Order of the Leopard, Special Class Grand Cross of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.[7]

Description

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The Star of South Africa, Gold consists of five separate items.

  • A full size decoration with a neck chain.
  • A full size decoration with a neck ribbon.
  • A full size decoration with a smaller suspender, for mounting in a breast medal rack.
  • A miniature decoration for mess dress or formal evening dress.
  • A breast star.
Obverse

The Star of South Africa, Gold is a silver-gilt Maltese cross, with the arms in dark blue enamel, with protea flowers between the arms of the cross. Two four-pointed stars, superimposed on one another, are mounted on the cross.[3]

Breast star
Reverse

The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.

Ribbon and chain

The decoration is worn around the neck on a dark blue ribbon, 35 millimetres wide. Until 1988, the Star of South Africa, Gold also had a gold neck chain for ceremonial occasions.[3]

Breast star

Recipients also wear a gold breast star, with eight multi-rayed points, which displays the obverse of the decoration in its centre.[3]

Discontinuation

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The conferment of the Star of South Africa, Gold was discontinued on 6 December 2002, when a new set of national orders was instituted.[3]

List of recipients

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This is non-exhaustive list of the general and flag officers who were awarded the SSA in no chronological sequence:

References

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  1. ^ a b c South African Medals Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  2. ^ South African Medals Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g South African Medals Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  4. ^ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1952-1975
  5. ^ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003
  6. ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
  8. ^ City Coins, Cape Town - Postal Medal Auction 62 - Closing Date: 29 June 012 17:00 Hrs RSA. Lot 224, pp. 104-105. (Accessed 9 May 2015)
  9. ^ a b c Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
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