Order of Mendi for Bravery

Order of Mendi for Bravery
Badge of the Order of Mendi
TypeCivilian national order
Awarded forActs of bravery
CountryRepublic of South Africa
Presented byThe President of South Africa
EligibilitySouth African citizens
Post-nominals
  • Gold – OMBG
  • Silver – OMBS
  • Bronze – OMBB
Established30 November 2003
Total67 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.

  1. ^ "The Order of Mendi for Bravery". The Presidency. Republic of South Africa. Archived from the original on 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  2. ^ "An award for courage for all time". IOL. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2023.