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Defence Act, 1957 (Act No. 44 of 1957)

Chapter XIII : General

136. Decorations and medals

 

 

(1) The State President may, in respect of conduct or service in peace or war which in his opinion requires or deserves suitable recognition, institute decorations and medals which may, subject to such rules as he may in the case of every such decoration or medal consider necessary, be awarded by him or the Minister to members of the South African Defence Force or the Cadet Corps, or any auxiliary service or voluntary nursing service established under this Act or any armed force attached to or serving with or rendering any service to the South African Defence Force.

[Subsection (1) amended by section 36 of Act No. 132 of 1992]

 

(1A) The State President may, in peace or war, institute decorations and medals which may, subject to such rules as he may in the case of every such decoration or medal consider necessary, be awarded by him or the Minister to civilian persons of a foreign State and to South African citizens who render services of military importance to the South African Defence Force.

[Subsection (1A) amended by section 36 of Act No. 132 of 1992]

 

(2) No decoration or medal instituted under subsection (1) shall be awarded to a member of any armed force other than the South African Defence force, unless the government of the force to which such member belongs has signified its concurrence in the award of such decoration or medal to such member.

[Subsection (2) amended by section 36 of Act No. 132 of 1992]

 

(3) The State President may, in respect of every decoration or medal instituted under subsection (1), make regulations relating to the grant, forfeiture and restoration thereof and such other matters concerning such decoration or medal as he may deem expedient.

[Subsection (3) amended by section 36 of Act No. 132 of 1992]

 

(4) Any decoration or medal instituted prior to the commencement of this Act by Royal Warrant on the advice of Her Majesty's Ministers of State for the Republic may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such warrant contained, but subject to the rules for the governance thereof, be awarded, and any warrant relating to any such decoration or medal may be amended or cancelled, by the State President.