uMkhonto we Sizwe[edit]

uMkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, Zulu for "Spear of the Nation", was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC). It was established on 16 December 1961 to wage an armed "struggle" against the Nationalist government inside South Africa. On 27 April 1994, Umkhonto we Sizwe was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).^[1][3][4]

Institution[edit]

The Decoration for Merit in Gold, post-nominal letters DMG, was instituted by the President of South Africa in April 1996. It is the senior award of a set of three decorations for merit, along with the Merit Medal in Silver and the Merit Medal in Bronze.^[1][5][6]


uMkhonto we Sizwe's military decorations and medals were modeled on those of the South African Defence Force and these three decorations are the approximate equivalents of, respectively, the Southern Cross Decoration and Pro Merito Decoration, the Southern Cross Medal (1975) and Pro Merito Medal (1975), and the Military Merit Medal.^[5]

The position of the Decoration for Merit in Gold in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged.^[5][7]

Discontinuation[edit]

Conferment of the Decoration for Merit in Gold was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours for the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 2003.^[7]