The Tshumelo Ikatelaho - General Service Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003, and came into effect on 27 April 2003. It can be awarded to all ranks who have participated in military campaigns or operations which, while not warranting the institution of particular campaign medals, still justify the award of a medal for general service. The bilingual title of the medal is in Tshivenda and English.

The South African military

The Union Defence Force (UDF) was 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).

Award criteria

The medal can be awarded to all ranks of the South African National Defence Force, Auxiliary Service of the South African National Defence Force, and Armed Forces attached to or serving with or rendering any service to the South African National Defence Force who, for one day or more, have participated directly in or in support of military campaigns or operations, belligerent or otherwise, in accordance with the provisions of the Defence Act, which operations in themselves may not warrant the institution of particular campaign medals but which are nevertheless judged to be of sufficient significance to justify the award of a medal for general service.

The medal may be awarded posthumously. A member who is injured, killed, or dies before completing the required period of duty is deemed to have rendered the qualifying service for awarding of the medal or a clasp. The period of qualifying service for official visits or inspections in connection with an operation is a minimum of 34 days, which may be continuous or interrupted.

Mentioned in Dispatches - Okhankanyiweyo

thumb|Okhankanyiweyo

The Mentioned in Dispatches - Okhankanyiweyo emblem was instituted by the President on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. The bilingual title of the honour is in English and isiNdebele. Members of all ranks whose names have been mentioned in dispatches to the President for having distinguished themselves in the execution of duty for actions of bravery or meritorious conduct, leadership, service, or devotion to duty, which may not warrant the award of a particular decoration or medal, are awarded a miniature emblem in the form of the coat of arms of the Republic of South Africa.

The Mentioned in Dispatches - Okhankanyiweyo emblem is worn above any campaign clasp on the ribbon of the relevant campaign medal, or on the ribbon of the Tshumelo Ikatelaho - General Service Medal or, if the recipient has no such medal, in the position of a single ribbon on a ribbon bar after all other honours worn by the recipient.

x37px|South Africa Service Medal x37px|Tshumelo Ikatelaho x37px|Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

;Official military order of precedence

  • Preceded by the South Africa Service Medal of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
  • Succeeded by the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal of the United Kingdom.

;Official national order of precedence

  • Preceded by the South Africa Service Medal of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army.
  • Succeeded by the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal of the United Kingdom.

Description

;Front

The Tshumelo Ikatelaho - General Service Medal is a bronze, octagonal medal, 38 millimetres in diameter, with a faceted nine-pointed star charged within a laurel wreath. The star represents the nine Provinces of the Republic of South Africa.