The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) was the para-military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). It was established in 1961 to wage an armed "struggle" against the Nationalist government inside South Africa. On 27 April 1994, the Azanian People's Liberation Army was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[1][3][4]
The decoration could be awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army who had rendered service of a high order during the "struggle".[1]
The position of the Bronze Medal for Merit in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged.[5][6]
Preceded by the Transkei Defence Force Medal of the Republic of Transkei.
Succeeded by the Merit Medal in Bronze (MMB) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.[5]
Description
Obverse
The Bronze Medal for Merit was struck in bronze and has an engrailed edge which has nine points, to fit in a circle 38 millimetres in diameter. It depicts the Azanian People's Liberation Army emblem and a protea flower in each of the nine points.[1][7][8]
Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with two 6 millimetres wide dark yellow bands in the centre, spaced 4 millimetres apart.[1][7][8]
Discontinuation
Conferment of the Bronze Medal for Merit was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.[6]
^Warrant of the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of the "UNITAS MEDAL-UNITAS-MEDALJE", Gazette no. 16087 dated 25 November 1994.
^ abcdefRepublic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC72827981
^ abPresidential Warrant by the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of Honours for Bravery in the South African National Defence Force, Gazette no. 25213 dated 25 July 2003.