The Unitas Medal was instituted by the President 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 ...

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 commemorate their amalgamation into the South African National Defence Force. It was also awarded to personnel of the British Military Advisory and Training Team which served in South Africa at the time.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.South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003
(Accessed 30 April 2015)

The South African military

The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994 it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
(Accessed 30 April 2015)

Institution

The Unitas Medal was instituted by the President on 4 November 1994 to commemorate the unification of defence forces and armed forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on 27 April 1994. The seven constituent military forces were: * The South African Defence Force (SADF). * The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) 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 ...

. * The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) of the Republic of Bophuthatswana. * The Venda Defence Force (VDF) of the Republic of Venda. * The

Ciskei Defence Force The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) was established during March 1981 from the 141 Battalion of the South African Defence Force (SADF). It was the defence force of Ciskei, a bantustan that was controlled by the apartheid regime of South Africa. The CD ...

(CDF) of the Republic of Ciskei. * Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

. * The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the

Pan Africanist Congress The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (known as the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)) is a South African national liberation Pan-Africanist movement that is now a political party. It was founded by an Africanist group, led by Robert Sobukwe, that ...

.South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour
(Accessed 1 May 2015)

Award criteria

The Unitas Medal was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of these seven constituent military forces on 27 April 1994 and until at least 10 May 1994, and also to the President, the Minister of Defence and the Deputy Minister of Defence. Personnel of the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) who were serving in South Africa at the time, were subsequently also awarded the Unitas Medal.

Order of wear

The position of the Unitas Medal in the official order of precedence was revised on 27 April 2003, when a new set of awards was instituted.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, It changed again in 2010, when the Closure Commemoration Medal was instituted.61 Mech Battalion Group Veterans Association - RFCA - Closure Commemoration Medal
/ref> ;From 27 April 1994: Rbn TDF Military Rule Medal

Ribbon - Medal for Distinguished Conduct & Loyal Service 2

* Official military order of precedence: ** Preceded by the

Military Rule Medal The Military Rule Medal was instituted by the State President of the Transkei, Republic of Transkei to commemorate the 1987 Transkei coup d'état, bloodless 1987 military coup d'état which overthrew the Transkei government on 30 November 1987. ...

of the

. ** Succeeded by the Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service of the

. * Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Military Rule Medal of the Republic of Transkei. ** Succeeded by the Police Service Amalgamation Medal of the Republic of South Africa. ;From 27 April 2003: Rbn TDF Military Rule Medal

* Official military order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Military Rule Medal of the Republic of Transkei. ** Succeeded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 50 years of the Republic of South Africa. *Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Military Rule Medal of the Republic of Transkei. ** Succeeded by the Police Service Amalgamation Medal of the Republic of South Africa. ;From 2010: Rbn TDF Military Rule Medal

* Official military order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Military Rule Medal of the Republic of Transkei. ** Succeeded by the Closure Commemoration Medal of the Republic of South Africa. *Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Military Rule Medal of the Republic of Transkei. ** Succeeded by the Police Service Amalgamation Medal of the Republic of South Africa.

Description

;Obverse The Unitas Medal is a medallion struck in bronze, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, displaying a seven-pointed star, charged with an embossed Greek lower case letter alpha within a circle. The star represents the seven constituent forces which formed the South African National Defence Force. ;Reverse The reverse displays the embellished pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms above the year inscription "1994" and the word "Unity" in ten official languages around the perimeter, from the top, "BONGWE", "BOTEE", "BUNYE", "EENHEID", "KOPANO", "UBUNYE", "UMANYANO", "UNITY", "VHUTHIHI" and "VUN'WE", all in relief. The medal number is impressed below the Coat of Arms and the year inscription. ;Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with an 8 millimetres wide arctic blue band and a 4 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by an 8 millimetres wide spectrum green band.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Unitas Medal was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 10 May 1994 and the medal was officially discontinued on 27 April 2003.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 26778, Pretoria, 17 September 2004

References

{{South African military decorations and medals Military decorations and medals of South Africa 1994 establishments in South Africa Awards established in 1994