National Orders of South Africa

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Cachet: South African coat of arms.

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**SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ORDERS** These five 21c stamps depict South African National Orders which are awarded for various services and achievements. **The Woltemade Cross for Bravery** The Woltemade Cross for Bravery (Gold or Silver) was instituted on 30 September 1988 to replace The Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, instituted on 29 May 1970 to pay homage to those who have displayed outstanding or exceptional bravery. It is available for award to persons within or outside the Republic of South Africa. The decoration is a cross potent facetted nowy, bearing in the centre, in relief, a representation of Wolraad Woltemade mounted on his horse, saving a man from the sea. The reverse side consists of the embellished coat of arms of the Republic of South Africa. The recipient may append to his name the letters WD in the case of Gold, and WDS in the case of Silver. **The Order of the Southern Cross** The Order (Gold or Silver) was instituted on 24 October 1986 to honour South African citizens for unique achievements of the highest standard in serving the interests of the Republic of South Africa. The decoration consists of a gold or silver five-armed ball-tipped Maltese Cross, enamelled in white, charged in the centre with a 0,50 or 0,25 carat diamond, surmounting a faceted gold or silver five-point star inverted, enamelled in blue. The reverse side carries the embellished coat of arms of the Republic of South Africa. The pendant is a gold or silver leaved protea flowerhead, fixed to the neck ribbon and attached to the cross by means of a swivelling inverted Y-shaped link. The neck ribbon has vertical stripes of blue, white and orange. The recipient of the Order may append to his name the letters OSG in the case of the Order in Gold, and OSS in the case of Silver. **The Order of the Star of South Africa (Non-military)** The Order of the Star of South Africa was instituted in five classes on 30 June 1975 to recognise those who rendered exceptional or meritorious service that contributed lastingly to the security and/or general national interest of the Republic of South Africa. The classes are the Grand Cross (Gold), Grand Officer (Silver), Commander, Officer, and Member. The Order consists of a circular protea wreath of gold or silver, on which a blue Maltese Cross bordered in gold or silver, surmounted by an eight-point star of gold or silver with alternate long and short rays and in the centre a diamond of 0,25 carat (only Grand Cross). The gold or silver pendant consists of four bound rods within a laurel wreath. The blue neck ribbon has vertical gold or silver stripes. The recipient of the Order may append the letters SSA to his name in the case of the Order in Gold, and SSAS in the case of Silver. **The Order for Meritorious Service** The Order for Meritorious Service (Gold or Silver) was instituted with effect from 24 October 1986 in recognition of those who have distinguished themselves by exceptional or outstanding merit, by rendering exceptionally meritorious service in the general public's interest. The Order consists of a gold or silver cross gably enamelled in white, charged with a gold or silver cross nowy couped, surmounted by a circular medallion of the shield of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of South Africa, enamelled proper, bordered in gold or silver. The reverse bears the embellished Coat of Arms of the Republic of South Africa. The pendant is a gold or silver representation of the crest of the Coat of Arms of the RSA standing on an ornamental base to which the cross is attached by means of a swivelling ring. The ribbon has vertical stripes of blue, white and orange. The recipient of the Order in Gold may append to his name the letters OMSG, and in the case of Silver the letters OMSS. **The Order of Good Hope** The Order of Good Hope was instituted in five classes on 21 October 1988, to honour citizens of foreign countries who have distinguished themselves by their services for the mutual promotion of international relations or have promoted the interests of the Republic of South Africa. The classes are Grand Cross (Gold), Grand Officer (Silver), Commander, Officer, and Member. The Grand Cross (Gold) and Grand Officer (Silver) consist of an eight-point, multi-ray star and a medallion bearing an ascending and descending white dove on a turquoise background within a circular white border carrying the legend *Spes Bona* above and embellished below with eight protea flowers slipped and leaved. The pendant of gold or silver takes the form of a cabled anchor connected to the neck decoration by means of a hinge-joint. The neck ribbon has vertical bands of green and gold. The award of the Order of Good Hope does not entail any designation, title, rank or privilege.

Additional information

Issued by the South African Post Office on 6 December 1990 and cancelled in Pretoria with the special "Chancery of Orders" postmark, commemorates the National Orders of South Africa - the country's system of state honours and decorations. It carries a set of five 21c stamps, designed by J. Hoekstra, each depicting one of the Republic's national orders: the Woltemade Cross for Bravery, the Order of the Southern Cross, the Order of the Star of South Africa, the Order for Meritorious Service, and the Order of Good Hope. The cover itself is decorated with a gold-embossed rendering of South Africa's Coat of Arms, bearing the pre-1994 national motto Ex Unitate Vires ("From Unity, Strength"), and is bilingually titled "Die Nasionale Ordes van Suid-Afrika / The National Orders of South Africa."

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