The Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard, post-nominal letters NB, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted in 2003. It is South Africa's third highest military decoration for bravery.[1][2][3]
Nkwe ya Boronse Bronze Leopard | |
---|---|
Type | Military decoration for bravery |
Awarded for | Acts of bravery during military operations or exceptional combat leadership |
Country | South Africa |
Presented by | the President |
Eligibility | All ranks |
Post-nominals | NB |
Status | Current |
Established | 27 April 2003 |
First awarded | 2008 |
Total | 14 |
Total awarded posthumously | 3 |
Order of wear | |
Next (higher) | Distinguished Gallantry Medal |
Next (lower) | Ad Astra Decoration |
Institution
editThe Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard, post-nominal letters NB, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. The bilingual title of the decoration is in Sepedi and English. It is the junior of a set of three military decorations for bravery, along with the Nkwe ya Gauta - Golden Leopard and the Nkwe ya Selefera - Silver Leopard.[1][2][3][4]
Award criteria
editThe Nkwe ya Boronse can be awarded to all ranks of the South African National Defence Force and of any Auxiliary Service of the SANDF, and of any Armed Forces attached to or serving with or rendering any service to the SANDF, who have distinguished themselves by performing acts of bravery on a single occasion or over a period of time during military operations, or for exceptional combat leadership.[1][3]
A Bar may be awarded for every subsequent action which would make recipients eligible for the award of the same decoration. The decoration and Bar may be awarded posthumously.[1]
Guidelines, consisting of appropriate phrases which may be useful when writing a citation for the award of the Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard, have been published by the South African Defence Department. The exceptional combat leadership criteria were apparently added after the Battle of Bangui in the Central African Republic from 22 to 24 March 2013.[3]
- For acts of bravery
- Distinguished conduct.
- Distinguished above others.
- Incident or different incidents.
- Sustained high performance.
- More than normal.
- Positive conduct sheet.
- Creative.
- Initiative.
- For exceptional combat leadership
- Incidents or deeds depicting outstanding leadership qualities.
- Result of operation in favour of the SANDF.
- Create trust amongst fellow soldiers.
- Places a high premium on the prevention of the loss of lives.
- Careful execution of the operational plan.
Order of wear
editThe position of the Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard in the official military and national orders of precedence is as follows:[5]
- Official military order of precedence
- Preceded by the Distinguished Gallantry Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
- Succeeded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD) of the Republic of South Africa.
- Official national order of precedence
- Preceded by the Medal for Valour in the Prisons Service of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
- Succeeded by the Mendi Decoration for Bravery, Bronze (MDB) of the Republic of South Africa.
Description
edit- Obverse
The Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard is a five-armed cross pattée, struck in bronze, with a diameter of 38 millimetres. The extremities of the arms of the cross are embowed, with their flat surfaces urdy and their corners concave, with each pair of arms of the cross separated by three short rays. In the centre of the obverse is a light blue enamel roundel, 19 millimetres in diameter, with a bronze leopard's head.[1][2]
- Reverse
The reverse bears, in relief, the coat of arms of South Africa. The decoration is attached to a plain bronze suspender, fixed to the upper arm of the decoration. The medal number is stamped or engraved below the coat of arms.[1]
- Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and sky blue, with 6 millimetres wide light brown edges.[1] The blue represents the feathers of the blue crane, which Xhosa kings used to present to brave warriors.
- Bar
The Bar for subsequent conferments of the Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard is 33 millimetres in length and 5 millimetres high, struck in bronze and embossed in the centre with a replica of the decoration. When only a ribbon bar is worn, a button replica of the decoration, 8 millimetres in diameter and struck in bronze, is affixed to the ribbon bar.
- Insignia
Award of the decoration for service in active military operations, is indicated by distinguishing insignia which indicate the arm of the service in which the recipient was serving at the time of the action for which the decoration was conferred. The insignia are struck in bronze and worn on the ribbon, above any bars which may have been awarded.
- Crossed swords for the South African Army.
- An eagle for the South African Air Force.
- An Anchor for the South African Navy.
- The Rod of Aesculapius for the South African Military Health Service.
Recipients
editIn respect of those recipients about whom it is available, the actions they were cited for follow below the table, since inclusion in the table itself is impractical.
Name | Rank | NS no. | Date of action | Unit | Service Arm |
Photo |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
van Nieuwholtz, J. PB [a] | WO2 | 001 | 27 Nov 2008 | Diving Sch | SA Navy | |
Du Plessis, Ivor PB [a] | CPO | 002 | 27 Nov 2008 | Diving Sch | SA Navy | |
Smith, N.C. CN [a] | CPO | 003 | 27 Nov 2008 | Diving Sch | SA Navy | |
Silva, Michel [b] | Maj | 007 | 22 Mar 2013 | Inf Fmn | SA Army | |
Jiyana, Stephen [b] | Maj | 012 | 22 Mar 2013 | 1 Para Bn | SA Army | |
Rabilwana, Mphetshanga Wilson CM MMM [b] | WO2 | 006 | 22 Mar 2013 | 5 SFR | SA Army | |
Nkosi, Big-Boy Alphios [b] | S Sgt | 011 | 22 Mar 2013 | 5 SFR | SA Army | |
Mampa, Serole Colman [b] | Sgt | 022 | 22 Mar 2013 | 7 Med Bn Gp | SAMHS | |
Ngobese, Mandla Maxwell [b] | Cpl | 009 | 22 Mar 2013 | 7 Med Bn Gp | SAMHS | |
Nkoana, Molatelo Alphina [b] | Cpl | 015 | 22 Mar 2013 | 7 Med Bn Gp | SAMHS | |
Smith, Shane Jacque Donavon [b] | L Cpl | 008 | 22 Mar 2013 | 44 Para Reg | SA Army | |
Bojane, Motsamai William † [b] | Rfn | 013 | 22 Mar 2013 | 1 Para Bn | SA Army | |
Mxhosana, Zamani Jim † [b] | Rfn | 014 | 22 Mar 2013 | 1 Para Bn | SA Army | |
Moloke, Khotso Lucas † [b] | Rfn | 024 | 22 Mar 2013 | 1 Para Bn | SA Army |
Note 1: † denotes a posthumous award.
Actions cited for
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Presidential 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.
- ^ a b c South African Medals Website - South African National Defence Force (Accessed 1 May 2015)
- ^ a b c d Nkwe ya Boronzi (sic) (NB) (Bravery Award Bronze)
- ^ South African Medals Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
- ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
- ^ "Media release". 26 November 2008.
- ^ SA Navy Bravery Awards November 2008
- ^ SANDF Armed Forces Day Parade, 21 February 2014 - Decoration and Medal Recipients, Battle of Bangui
- ^ Zuma awards medals to Battle of Bangui soldiers in celebration of Armed Forces Day
- ^ The Battle in Bangui: The untold inside story. By Helmoed Heitman.