The Military Rule Medal was instituted by the State President of the

Republic of Transkei A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

to commemorate the bloodless 1987 military coup d'état which overthrew the Transkei government on 30 November 1987.South African Medal Website - Transkei Defence Force
(Accessed 30 April 2015)Republic of Transkei Constitution Act, 1976, Act no. 15 of 1976
/ref>

The Transkei Defence Force

The

Transkei Defence Force The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was established during March 1981, from the 141 Battalion of the South African Defence Force (SADF). It was the defence force of the Republic of Transkei, a nominally independent bantustan during the Apartheid e ...

(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). (Accessed 1 May 2015)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.

Coup d'état

On 30 November 1987, Major General Bantu Holomisa, the Chief of the Transkei Defence Force, led a bloodless

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...

against the Transkei government of

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

Stella Sigcau Princess Stella Sigcau (4 or 14 January 1937 in Lusikisiki – 7 May 2006 in Durban) was a Minister in the South African Government. Sigcau was also the first female Prime Minister of the bantustan of Transkei before being deposed in a milit ...

, 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.

Institution

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.

Award criteria

The medal was awarded to all members of the Transkei Defence Force loyal to the military government.

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

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: Ribbon - Independence Medal (Transkei)

*Official TDF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Independence Medal. ** Succeeded by the Faithful Service Medal. *Transkei official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Independence Medal. ** Succeeded by the Police Faithful Service Medal, 35 Years. ;South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994: *Official SANDF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Ciskei. ** Succeeded by the

Unitas Medal The Unitas Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 4 November 1994. It was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of all seven constituent military forces from 27 April 1994 to 10 May 1994, to comme ...

of the

Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. *Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the KwaNdebele Police Medal. ** Succeeded by the Unitas Medal of the Republic of South Africa.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, 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.

Description

;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.Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Transkei Defence Force (TDF)
/ref> ;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.Reverse of the Military Rule Medal
/ref> ;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

Conferment of the Transkei Defence Force Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.

References

{{South African military decorations and medals Military decorations and medals of Transkei Awards established in 1987