Nkwe ya Selefera
Encyclopedia
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's second of the three classes of the Nkwe Decorations (see also Nkwe ya Gauta
Nkwe ya Gauta
The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration (see also Nkwe ya Selefera and...
and Nkwe ya Boronse
Nkwe ya Boronse
The Nkwe ya Boronse is South Africa's third of the three classes of the Nkwe Decorations ....
decorations).
It was instituted with effect from 27 April 2003, and may be awarded to members of the South African National Defence Force
South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
(or any other armed forces serving with the SANDF) for conspicuous bravery during military operations. A bar may be awarded to a recipient who earns the decoration again. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters NS. The Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard) Decoration replaced the Honoris Crux Silver
Honoris Crux Silver
The Honoris Crux Silver was a South African military decoration that existed from 1975 to 2003. It was the third of the four classes of the Honoris Crux Decoration The Honoris Crux Silver (HCS) was a South African military decoration that existed from 1975 to 2003. It was the third of the four...
Decoration (Awarded for exceptional bravery in great danger).
Criteria
The honours for bravery may be awarded to officers and other ranks of the SANDF who have distinguished themselves by performing acts of conspicuous bravery during military operations. A bar may be awarded for a successive similar achievement. The award of the decoration. for service in active military operations shall be indicated by distinguishing insignia according to the Service in which the recipient was serving, ie Army uniform: Crossed swords; Air Force uniform: Eagle; Naval uniform: Anchor and Military Health Service uniform: Rod of Aesculapius.Guidelines
- Deliberate but daring and conspicuous actions on a single occasion or over a period of time.
- Dangerous situation (serious/critical).
- Possibility of loss of own life: endangered own life for others.
- Actions contributory for success.
- Perseverance under trying circumstances.
The decoration is a silver 5-armed convex cross with rays separating the arms. In the centre is a light blue roundel displaying a leopard's head. The South African coat of arms
Coat of arms of South Africa
The present coat of arms of South Africa was introducedon Freedom Day April 27, 2000. It replaced the earlier national arms, which had been in use since 1910. The motto ǃke e: ǀxarra ǁke is written in the Khoisan language of the ǀXam people and translates literally to "diverse people unite"...
appears on the reverse.
The ribbon is light blue with white edges. Light blue represents the feathers of the blue crane bird, which Xhosa kings used to present to brave warriors. An arm-of-service emblem is worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
, air force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
, navy
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
, or military health service at the time of earning the decoration.
Language of origin: SETSWANA
Medal distinction: LEOPARD
Ribbon colour design: WHITE (Silver) 6mm and SKY BLUE (Blue Crane) 20mm
The NS forms part of a trio of military decorations for bravery, the others being the Nkwe ya Gauta
Nkwe ya Gauta
The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration (see also Nkwe ya Selefera and...
(Golden Leopard) and the Nkwe ya Boronse
Nkwe ya Boronse
The Nkwe ya Boronse is South Africa's third of the three classes of the Nkwe Decorations ....
(Bronze Leopard).