The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was established upon that country's independence on 26 October 1976. The Republic of Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Transkei Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[3][4][5]
On 30 November 1987, Major General Bantu Holomisa, the Chief of the Transkei Defence Force, led a bloodless coup d'état against the Transkei government of Prime MinisterStella Sigcau, suspended the civilian constitution and refused South Africa's repeated demands for a return to civilian rule on the grounds that a civilian government would be a puppet controlled by Pretoria.[3]
Institutionedit
The Military Rule Medal was instituted by General Holomisa to commemorate the coup d'état. While the medal is known to have been instituted and awarded, no warrant has yet been traced.[1][6]
Award criteriaedit
The medal was awarded to all members of the Transkei Defence Force loyal to the military government.[1][6]
Since the Military Rule Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date.
Succeeded by the Unitas Medal of the Republic of South Africa.[6]
The position of the Military Rule Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003.[6]
Descriptionedit
Obverse
The Military Rule Medal is a medallion struck in bronze, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, displaying a crossed R1 automatic military rifle and spear, surrounded by a wreath.[7]
Reverse
The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Transkei, with the words "MILITARY RULE MEDAL" around the perimeter above and the date "30:11:1987" around the perimeter below.[8]
Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and green, with a 2 millimetres wide white band, a 2 millimetres wide brown band and a 2 millimetres wide white band in the centre. Brown, white and green are the colours of the Transkei national flag.
Discontinuationedit
Conferment of the Transkei Defence Force Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcSouth African Medal Website - Transkei Defence Force (Accessed 30 April 2015)
^Republic of Transkei Constitution Act, 1976, Act no. 15 of 1976
^ abcSouth Africa Homeland Militaries, May 1996 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
^Peled, Alon (1998), A Question of Loyalty: Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States, Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 50f, ISBN0-8014-3239-1
^ abWarrant of the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of the "UNITAS MEDAL-UNITAS-MEDALJE", Gazette no. 16087 dated 25 November 1994.
^ abcdefgRepublic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
^Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Transkei Defence Force (TDF)
military, rule, medal, instituted, state, president, republic, transkei, commemorate, bloodless, 1987, military, coup, état, which, overthrew, transkei, government, november, 1987, typemilitary, commemorative, medalawarded, forcommemoration, 1987, military, co. The Military Rule Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Transkei to commemorate the bloodless 1987 military coup d etat which overthrew the Transkei government on 30 November 1987 1 2 3 Military Rule MedalTypeMilitary commemorative medalAwarded forCommemoration of the 1987 military coup d etatCountryTranskeiPresented bythe State PresidentEligibilityAll ranksStatusDiscontinued in 1994Established1987Ribbon barTDF pre 1994 amp SANDF post 2002 orders of wearNext higher TDF precedence Independence Medal SANDF precedence Independence MedalNext lower TDF succession Faithful Service Medal SANDF succession Unitas Medal Contents 1 The Transkei Defence Force 2 Coup d etat 3 Institution 4 Award criteria 5 Order of wear 6 Description 7 Discontinuation 8 ReferencesThe Transkei Defence Force editThe Transkei Defence Force TDF was established upon that country s independence on 26 October 1976 The Republic of Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Transkei Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force SANDF 3 4 5 Coup d etat editMain article 1987 Transkei coup d etat On 30 November 1987 Major General Bantu Holomisa the Chief of the Transkei Defence Force led a bloodless coup d etat against the Transkei government of Prime Minister Stella Sigcau suspended the civilian constitution and refused South Africa s repeated demands for a return to civilian rule on the grounds that a civilian government would be a puppet controlled by Pretoria 3 Institution editThe Military Rule Medal was instituted by General Holomisa to commemorate the coup d etat While the medal is known to have been instituted and awarded no warrant has yet been traced 1 6 Award criteria editThe medal was awarded to all members of the Transkei Defence Force loyal to the military government 1 6 Order of wear editMain article South African military decorations order of wear Order of wear Since the Military Rule Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994 it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date Transkei Defence Force until 26 April 1994 nbsp nbsp nbsp Official TDF order of precedence Preceded by the Independence Medal Succeeded by the Faithful Service Medal 6 Transkei official national order of precedence Preceded by the Independence Medal Succeeded by the Police Faithful Service Medal 35 Years 6 South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994 nbsp nbsp nbsp Official SANDF order of precedence Preceded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Ciskei Succeeded by the Unitas Medal of the Republic of South Africa 6 Official national order of precedence Preceded by the KwaNdebele Police Medal Succeeded by the Unitas Medal of the Republic of South Africa 6 The position of the Military Rule Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged as it was on 27 April 1994 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non statutory forces the Azanian People s Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe and again when a new series of military orders decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003 6 Description editObverse The Military Rule Medal is a medallion struck in bronze 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim displaying a crossed R1 automatic military rifle and spear surrounded by a wreath 7 Reverse The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Transkei with the words MILITARY RULE MEDAL around the perimeter above and the date 30 11 1987 around the perimeter below 8 Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and green with a 2 millimetres wide white band a 2 millimetres wide brown band and a 2 millimetres wide white band in the centre Brown white and green are the colours of the Transkei national flag Discontinuation editConferment of the Transkei Defence Force Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 5 References edit a b c South African Medal Website Transkei Defence Force Accessed 30 April 2015 Republic of Transkei Constitution Act 1976 Act no 15 of 1976 a b c South Africa Homeland Militaries May 1996 Accessed 1 May 2015 Peled Alon 1998 A Question of Loyalty Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States Cornell Studies in Security Affairs Ithaca Cornell University Press pp 50f ISBN 0 8014 3239 1 a b Warrant of the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of the UNITAS MEDAL UNITAS MEDALJE Gazette no 16087 dated 25 November 1994 a b c d e f g Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol 477 no 27376 Pretoria 11 March 2005 OCLC 72827981 Uniform SA Army Former Forces Medals Transkei Defence Force TDF Reverse of the Military Rule Medal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Military Rule Medal amp oldid 1175807231, wikipedia, wiki, 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