Nkwe ya Boronse


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.

The South African military

The Union Defence Forces were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force in 1958. On 27 April 1994, it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force.

Institution

The 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.

Award criteria

The 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.
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.
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.
;For acts of bravery
;For exceptional combat leadership
The position of the Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard in the official military and national orders of precedence is as follows:

;Official military order of precedence:
;Official national order of precedence:
;Obverse
The Nkwe ya Boronse - Bronze Leopard is a five-armed cross paty, 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.
;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.
;Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and sky blue, with 6 millimetres wide light brown edges. 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.
In 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.
NameRankNB
no.		Date of
action		UnitService
Arm
van Nieuwholtz, J. PB WO2001Diving SchSA Navy
Du Plessis, Ivor PB CPO002Diving SchSA Navy
Smith, N.C. CN CPO003Diving SchSA Navy
Silva, Michel Maj007Inf FmnSA Army
Jiyana, Stephen Maj0121 Para BnSA Army
Rabilwana, Mphetshanga Wilson CM MMM WO20065 SFRSA Army
Nkosi, Big-Boy Alphios S Sgt0115 SFRSA Army
Mampa, Serole Colman Sgt0227 Med Bn GpSAMHS
Ngobese, Mandla Maxwell Cpl0097 Med Bn GpSAMHS
Nkoana, Molatelo Alphina Cpl0157 Med Bn GpSAMHS
Smith, Shane Jacque Donavon L Cpl00844 Para RegSA Army
Bojane, Motsamai William Rfn0131 Para BnSA Army
Mxhosana, Zamani Jim Rfn0141 Para BnSA Army
Moloke, Khotso Lucas Rfn0241 Para BnSA Army

Note 1: denotes a posthumous award.

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