Order of Mendi for Bravery: History, Classes and Recipients
A guide to South Africa’s Order of Mendi for Bravery, including the SS Mendi connection, award classes, symbolism and recipient criteria.
What is the Order of Mendi for Bravery?
The Order of Mendi for Bravery is the South African National Order for acts of bravery. It is awarded to South Africans whose actions placed their lives in danger, including people who lost their lives while trying to save others or protect property. [1][3]
The qualifying act may take place inside or outside South Africa. The Presidency therefore defines the Order by the nature of the act rather than by where it occurred. [1]
Why the Order is named after the SS Mendi
The Order commemorates the men of the SS Mendi. On 21 February 1917 the ship sank in the English Channel near the Isle of Wight after a collision while carrying more than 600 Black South African volunteer soldiers who were travelling to assist the Allied war effort during the First World War. [1]
The Presidency’s account associates the final moments of the soldiers with courage and collective resolve. Their memory provides the historical basis for an Order intended to recognise bravery and self-sacrifice. [1]
Design and symbolism
The central badge is shaped around a traditional African shield and incorporates the spoor of a lion, a knobkierrie, a spear and an image of the SS Mendi. These elements are used to represent vigilance, defence, honour and bravery. [1]
A blue crane appears above the ship, symbolising the souls of the dead soldiers, while bitter aloe motifs represent resilience and survival. The official design therefore combines the historical event with broader symbols of courage and protection. [1]
Gold, silver and bronze classes
The Order is conferred in gold, silver and bronze. Gold is reserved for exceptional acts of bravery involving great danger or loss of life while saving lives or property. Silver recognises extraordinary acts involving great danger, while bronze recognises outstanding acts in which the recipient’s life was endangered during an attempted rescue or protection of property. [1]
Recipients may use OMBG after their names for gold, OMBS for silver and OMBB for bronze. Each award includes a neck badge, miniature and lapel rosette. [1]
Examples of recipients
A National Orders announcement for the 2021 awards named Gcinisizwe Khwezi Sylvester Kondile and Reverend Isaac William Dyobha Wauchope posthumously for the Order of Mendi for Bravery in Gold. Chad Basson and Roydon Olckers were named posthumously for silver. [4]
The official citations ranged from sacrifice in the anti-apartheid struggle to acts in which recipients died while protecting or rescuing other people. The breadth of those examples reflects the Order’s focus on personal courage rather than a single profession or historical context. [4]
Nominations and the National Orders process
Members of the public may nominate candidates. The 2026 nomination notice specifically describes the Order of Mendi for Bravery as recognising extraordinary acts that placed the nominee’s life in great danger or resulted in the loss of the nominee’s life while trying to save another person or property. [3]
As with the other National Orders, the President formally bestows the award after the national honours process, supported by the Chancellor of National Orders and the Advisory Council on National Orders. [2]
Sources
- The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, The Order of Mendi for Bravery. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-24. ↩
- The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, National Orders. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-24. ↩
- The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, The Presidency invites nominations for National Orders, 2026-09-08. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-24. ↩
- The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, Presidency announces recipients of National Orders, 2021-11-18. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-24. ↩