Order of Mendi for Bravery | |
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Type | Civilian national order |
Awarded for | Acts of bravery |
Country | Republic of South Africa |
Presented by | The President of South Africa |
Eligibility | South African citizens |
Post-nominals |
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Established | 30 November 2003 |
Total | 67 awards |
The Order of Mendi for Bravery is a South African civilian honour awarded to South Africans who have performed acts of bravery in attempts to save lives or property. It is granted by the President of South Africa for acts performed by South African citizens anywhere in the world.[1] Instituted on 30 November 2003,[2] it was originally called the Mendi Decoration for Bravery and was renamed as an order on 22 October 2004.
The order is named after a World War I troopship, the SS Mendi, which sank after a collision in 1917, killing more than 600 black South African troops. Although it is a civilian honour, it has been awarded to military units, including units involved in rescuing the victims of the 1991 MTS Oceanos wreck and the 2000 Mozambican floods.