Order of Mendi for Bravery
Encyclopedia
The Order of Mendi for Bravery is a South African honour, instituted on 30 November 2003. It was originally called the "Mendi Decoration for Bravery", and was renamed as an order on 22 October 2004.
The order is granted by the president
of South Africa, for bravery in saving life or property. It has three classes:
The order is named after a World War I
troopship, the SS Mendi, which sank after a collision in 1917, with the loss of more than 600 (black) South African troops.
The badge of the order is oval, On the obverse is an oval African shield, depicting the Mendi with a blue crane bird flying overhead. Behind the shield are a crossed assegai
and knobkierrie (war club), and the whole design is surrounded by a border decorated with lion pawprints. The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa
. The ribbon is gold, dotted with outlines of lion pawprints, alternately left and right.
Although this is primarily a civilian honour, there have been a few military awards, including a collective award to the South African Air Force
and South African Navy
units which rescued the passengers from a sinking ocean liner in 1991, and a collective award to SAAF units which carried out flood relief operations in Mozambique
in 2001.
The order is granted by the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of South Africa, for bravery in saving life or property. It has three classes:
- Gold (OMBG), for conspicuous bravery.
- Silver (OMBS), for exceptional bravery,
- Bronze (OMBB), for outstanding bravery.
The order is named after a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
troopship, the SS Mendi, which sank after a collision in 1917, with the loss of more than 600 (black) South African troops.
The badge of the order is oval, On the obverse is an oval African shield, depicting the Mendi with a blue crane bird flying overhead. Behind the shield are a crossed assegai
Assegai
An assegai or assagai is a pole weapon used for throwing or hurling, usually a light spear or javelin made of wood and pointed with iron.-Iklwa:...
and knobkierrie (war club), and the whole design is surrounded by a border decorated with lion pawprints. The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of South Africa
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"...
. The ribbon is gold, dotted with outlines of lion pawprints, alternately left and right.
Although this is primarily a civilian honour, there have been a few military awards, including a collective award to the South African 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...
and South African 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....
units which rescued the passengers from a sinking ocean liner in 1991, and a collective award to SAAF units which carried out flood relief operations in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
in 2001.
2003
- Members of the South African Air ForceSouth African Air ForceThe 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...
rescue team involved in the 2000 Mozambique flood2000 Mozambique floodThe 2000 Mozambique flood was a natural disaster that occurred in February and March 2000. The catastrophic flooding was caused by heavy rainfall that lasted for five weeks and made many homeless. Approximately 800 people were killed. 1,400 km² of arable land was affected and 20,000 head of...
- Gold - Basil February - Gold
- Petros Linda Jabane
- Members of the South African National Defence ForceSouth African National Defence ForceThe 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...
rescue team involved in the 1991 sinking of the OceanosOceanosMTS Oceanos was a French-built and Greek-owned cruise ship which sank off South Africa's eastern coast on 4 August 1991. Launched in July 1952 by Forges Chantiers de la Gironde in Bordeaux as the Jean Laborde, it was the last of four sister ships built for Messageries Maritimes. The ships were used...
- Silver - Sam Nkomo - Silver
- Slabbert Leonard - Silver
2004
- Richard Barney Lekgotla Molokoane - Gold
- Jimmy Booysen - Silver
- Etienne Gunter
2005
- Solomon Mahlangu - Gold
- Grant Nigel Kirkland - Silver
- Simon John Mthombeni - Bronze
- Sheik Yusuf