The Star of South Africa, Gold, post-nominal letters SSA, is the senior decoration of two military and five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, a South African Order which was instituted in 1975, and awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.
Background.
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) after the end of apartheid.
Institution.
The Star of South Africa, Gold, post-nominal letters SSA, was instituted by the State President on 1 July 1975, as the senior decoration of two military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa. The Order was named after the first large diamond to be found in South Africa, the Star of South Africa, which was found on the banks of the Orange River in 1869 and which sparked the New Rush, leading to the establishment of Kimberley.
The Order of the Star of South Africa was expanded on 17 October 1978, when a non-military division with decorations in five classes was instituted, for conferment on civilians and, from 1988, on senior police, prisons service and intelligence service officers, as well as foreign military attachés. The senior of these five non-military decorations, the Star of South Africa, Grand Cross, ranks on par with the Star of South Africa, Gold.
Award criteria.
The Star of South Africa, Gold was awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force for meritorious military service which promoted SADF efficiency and preparedness and made a valuable contribution to national security. It replaced the Star of South Africa of 1952.
In 1977, recipients of the Star of South Africa of 1952 were promoted to the new Order of the Star of South Africa, by being presented with the Star of South Africa, Gold in substitution of their existing decorations.
Order of wear.
The position of the Star of South Africa, Gold in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1975, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again in April 1996, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and finally with the institution of a new set of awards on 27 April 2003.
Description.
The Star of South Africa, Gold consists of five separate items.
The Star of South Africa, Gold is a silver-gilt Maltese cross, with the arms in dark blue enamel, with protea flowers between the arms of the cross. Two four-pointed stars, superimposed on one another, are mounted on the cross.
The reverse has the .
The decoration is worn around the neck on a dark blue ribbon, 35 millimetres wide. Until 1988, the Star of South Africa, Gold also had a gold neck chain for ceremonial occasions.
Recipients also wear a gold breast star, with eight multi-rayed points, which displays the obverse of the decoration in its centre.
Discontinuation.
The conferment of the Star of South Africa, Gold was discontinued on 6 December 2002, when a new set of national orders was instituted.
List of recipients.
This is non-exhaustive list of the general and flag officers who were awarded the SSA in no chronological sequence:
References.
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