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Merit Medal in Silver

The Merit Medal in Silver, post-nominal letters MMS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.[1][2]

Merit Medal in Silver

Military decoration for merit

Exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty

 South Africa

the President

Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres

MMS

The "struggle"

Discontinued in 2003

1996

MK precedence:
SANDF precedence:

MK succession:
SANDF succession:

uMkhonto we Sizwe[edit]

uMkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in isiZulu, 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]

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Institution[edit]

The Merit Medal in Silver, post-nominal letters MMS, was instituted by the President in April 1996. It is the middle award of a set of three decorations for merit, along with the Decoration for Merit in Gold and the Merit Medal in Bronze.[1][2][5]


Umkhonto we Sizwe's military decorations and medals were modelled 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]

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Award criteria[edit]

The decoration could be awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.[1][5]

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Decoration for Merit in Gold

The position of the Merit Medal in Silver 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][6]

Discontinuation[edit]

Conferment of the Merit Medal in Silver was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.[6]