The Independence Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1981, for award to all serving members of the Ciskei Defence Force on 4 December 1981 to commemorate the independence of Ciskei.Republic of Ciskei Constitution Act, no. 20 of 1981
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The Ciskei Defence Force

The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) was established upon that country's independence on 4 December 1981. The Republic of Ciskei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Ciskei Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).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.

Institution

The Independence Medal was instituted by the President of Ciskei in 1981.South African Medals Website – Legal aspects – Fount of Honour
(Accessed 1 May 2015)

Award criteria

The medal was awarded to all members serving in the Ciskei Defence Force on 4 December 1981, to commemorate the independence of Ciskei.

Order of wear

Since the Independence Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which came to be part of the

South African National Defence Force The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister ...

on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, ;Ciskei Defence Force until 26 April 1994: Ribbon - Ciskei Defence Medal

*Official CDF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Ciskei Defence Medal. ** Succeeded by the

Medal for Long Service, Bronze The Medal for Long Service, Bronze was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1988, for award to all ranks for ten years faithful service.

. *Ciskei official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Ciskei Defence Medal. ** Succeeded by the Police Insignia for Merit. ;South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994: Rbn TDF Military Rule Medal

*Official SANDF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Independence Medal of the

Republic of Venda Venda () was a Bantustan in northern South Africa, which is fairly close to the South African border with Zimbabwe to the north, while to the south and east, it shared a long border with another black homeland, Gazankulu. It is now part of the ...

. ** Succeeded by the Military Rule Medal of the Republic of Transkei. *Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Police Establishment Medal of the Gazankulu Homeland. ** Succeeded by the Police Foundation Medal of the

Qwaqwa QwaQwa was a bantustan ("homeland") in the central eastern part of South Africa. It encompassed a very small region of in the east of the former South African province of Orange Free State, bordering Lesotho. Its capital was Phuthaditjhaba. It ...

Homeland. The position of the Independence Medal in the official order of precedence was revised twice after 1994, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first in April 1996 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the

Azanian People's Liberation Army The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), formerly known as Poqo, was the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, an African nationalist movement in South Africa. In the Xhosa language, the word 'Poqo' means 'pure'. After attacks on ...

and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003. It remained unchanged on both occasions.

Description

;Obverse The Independence Medal is a disk struck in copper, 38 millimetres in diameter, displaying a blue crane on a crossed spear and knobkierie, framed inside a double circle which is inscribed "IXKULULEKO" at left, "CISKEI" at the top, "INDEPENDENCE" at right and "4 DISEMBA 1981" below.Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals – Ciskei Defence Force (CDF)
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(with Independence Medal (Venda)'s ribbon) ;Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 4 millimetres wide brown band, a 4 millimetres wide green band and a 4 millimetres wide blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by an 8 millimetres wide white band in the centre.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Independence Medal was discontinued in 1981.

References

{{South African military decorations and medals Military decorations and medals of Ciskei Awards established in 1981