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The '''Star of South Africa, Officer''', post-nominal letters '''OSSA''', is the fourth-ranked decoration of five non-military classes of the [[Order of the Star of South Africa]], a [[South African military decorations|military order]] that was instituted by the [[South Africa|Republic of South Africa]] on 1 July 1975. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.<ref name="Civil 1967-2002">[http://samw.hwmw.net46.net/civ67.htm South African Medals Website - Civil orders, decorations and medals - Republic of South Africa : 1967-2002]</ref><ref name="PostNominals">[http://samw.hwmw.net46.net/sapnls.htm South African Medals Website - Post-nominal Letters]</ref><ref name="SADF 1975-2003">[http://samw.hwmw.net46.net/mil75.htm South African Medals Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003]</ref>
The '''''Star of South Africa, Officer''''', post-nominal letters '''OSSA''', is the fourth-ranked decoration of five non-military classes of the [[Order of the Star of South Africa]], a [[South African military decorations|military order]] that was instituted by the [[South Africa|Republic of South Africa]] on 1 July 1975. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.<ref name="RSACivil">[http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/civ67.htm South African Medal Website - Republic of South Africa: 1967-2002] (Accessed 1 May 2015)</ref><ref name="PostNominals">[http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/sapnls.htm#MNO South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters] (Accessed 28 April 2015)</ref><ref name="SADF 1975-2003">[http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/mil75.htm South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003] (Accessed 30 April 2015)</ref>


==Fount of Honour==
==Fount of Honour==
Until 1958 the top three South African honours were reserved for conferment by [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]] while the rest were awarded by the [[Governor-General of the Union of South Africa|Governor-General]], but in 1958 the Governor-General was authorised to also award the top three. In 1961 the State President became the [[Fount of honour|Fount of Honour]], and in 1994 the President.<ref name="SADF 1952-1975">[http://samw.hwmw.net46.net/mil52.htm South African Medals Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975]</ref>
Until 1958 the top three South African honours were reserved for conferment by [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]] while the rest were awarded by the [[Governor-General of the Union of South Africa|Governor-General]], but in 1958 the Governor-General was authorised to also award the top three. In 1961 the State President became the [[Fount of honour|Fount of Honour]], and in 1994 the President.<ref name="SADF 1952-1975">[http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/mil52.htm South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975] (Accessed 30 April 2015)</ref><ref name="Legal aspects">[http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/legal.htm South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour] (Accessed 1 May 2015)</ref>


Civil honours were gradually introduced from May 1967. They were revised in the 1980s and in 1986 a Chancery of Orders was established in the Office of the State President, after 1994 the Presidency, to administer most of them. Most of these honours remained in use after 1994, until an entirely new honours system was introduced in December 2002.<ref name="Civil 1967-2002"/>
Civil honours were gradually introduced from May 1967. They were revised in the 1980s and in 1986 a Chancery of Orders was established in the Office of the State President, after 1994 the Presidency, to administer most of them. Most of these honours remained in use after 1994, until an entirely new honours system was introduced in December 2002.<ref name="RSACivil"/>


==Institution==
==Institution==
Line 52: Line 52:


==Award criteria==
==Award criteria==
The '''Star of South Africa, Officer''', post-nominal letters '''OSSA''', is the fourth-ranked decoration of these five civil honours. It was bestowed on civilians in defence-related industries and organisations and, from 1988, on general officers of the [[South African Police]], South African Railways Police, [[Department of Correctional Services (South Africa)|South African Prisons Service]] and [[National Intelligence Service (South Africa)|South African Intelligence Service]] for exceptionally meritorious service which made a meaningful contribution to the security and general national interest of South Africa. It was also bestowed on foreign military attachés for excellent meritorious service.<ref name="Civil 1967-2002"/>
The ''Star of South Africa, Officer'', post-nominal letters OSSA, is the fourth-ranked decoration of these five civil honours. It was bestowed on civilians in defence-related industries and organisations and, from 1988, on general officers of the [[South African Police]], South African Railways Police, [[Department of Correctional Services (South Africa)|South African Prisons Service]] and [[National Intelligence Service (South Africa)|South African Intelligence Service]] for exceptionally meritorious service which made a meaningful contribution to the security and general national interest of South Africa. It was also bestowed on foreign military attachés for excellent meritorious service.<ref name="RSACivil"/><ref name="PostNominals"/>


==Order of precedence==
==Order of precedence==
The position of the Star of South Africa, Officer in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1978 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first with the integration process of 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the [[Azanian People's Liberation Army]] and [[Umkhonto we Sizwe]], and again with the institution of a new set of awards in 2002 an 2003.<ref name="Gazette 27376"/><ref name="PostNominals"/>
The position of the ''Star of South Africa, Officer'' in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1978 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first with the integration process of 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the [[Azanian People's Liberation Army]] and [[Umkhonto we Sizwe]], and again with the institution of a new set of awards in 2002 an 2003.<ref name="Gazette 27376"/>


;Official national order of precedence until 26 April 1994:
;Official national order of precedence until 26 April 1994:
Line 75: Line 75:
==Description==
==Description==
;Obverse
;Obverse
The Star of South Africa, Officer is a silver-gilt Maltese cross with the arms in dark blue enamel, with two four-pointed stars superimposed on one another and, together, on the cross.<ref name="Civil 1967-2002"/>
The ''Star of South Africa, Officer'' is a silver-gilt Maltese cross with the arms in dark blue enamel, with two four-pointed stars superimposed on one another and, together, on the cross.<ref name="RSACivil"/>


;Reverse
;Reverse
Line 81: Line 81:


;Ribbon
;Ribbon
The decoration is worn on the chest on a blue ribbon, 35 millimetres wide, with a 2 millimetres wide white band, an 11½ millimetres wide blue band, a 1 millimetre wide white band and a 2 millimetres wide blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide orange band in the centre.<ref name="Civil 1967-2002"/>
The decoration is worn on the chest on a blue ribbon, 35 millimetres wide, with a 2 millimetres wide white band, an 11½ millimetres wide blue band, a 1 millimetre wide white band and a 2 millimetres wide blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide orange band in the centre.<ref name="RSACivil"/>


==Discontinuation==
==Discontinuation==
Conferment of the decoration was discontinued on 6 December 2002 when a new set of national orders was instituted.<ref name="Civil 1967-2002"/>
Conferment of the decoration was discontinued on 6 December 2002 when a new set of national orders was instituted.<ref name="RSACivil"/>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Order of the Star of South Africa]]
* [[Order of the Star of South Africa]]
* [[South African honours system]]
* [[South African honours system]]
* [[Star of South Africa, Grand Cross]]
* [[Star of South Africa, Grand Officer]]
* [[Star of South Africa, Commander]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 16:17, 3 May 2015

Star of South Africa, Officer
TypeCivil decoration for merit
CountrySouth Africa  South Africa
EligibilityCivilians in defence-related industries, general officers in the police, railways police, prisons service and intelligence service and foreign military attachés
Post-nominalsOSSA
StatusDiscontinued in 2002
Established1978
Ribbon bar
Pre-1994 & post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
Pre-1994 precedence:
  • National Inteligence Service Decoration, Gold
Post-2002 precedence:
Next (lower)
Pre-1994 succession:
  • Order of Good Hope, Officer
Post-2002 succession:
  • Order of the Leopard, Officer

The Star of South Africa, Officer, post-nominal letters OSSA, is the fourth-ranked decoration of five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, a military order that was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.[1][2][3]

Fount of Honour

Until 1958 the top three South African honours were reserved for conferment by the Queen while the rest were awarded by the Governor-General, but in 1958 the Governor-General was authorised to also award the top three. In 1961 the State President became the Fount of Honour, and in 1994 the President.[4][5]

Civil honours were gradually introduced from May 1967. They were revised in the 1980s and in 1986 a Chancery of Orders was established in the Office of the State President, after 1994 the Presidency, to administer most of them. Most of these honours remained in use after 1994, until an entirely new honours system was introduced in December 2002.[1]

Institution

The military Order of the Star of South Africa, established in 1975 and conferred on general and flag officers in two classes, was named after the first large diamond to be found in South Africa, the Star of South Africa that was found on the banks of the Orange River in 1869 and that sparked the New Rush, leading to the establishment of Kimberley. The order was expanded on 17 October 1978 with the institution of five non-military classes of the Order.[3]

Award criteria

The Star of South Africa, Officer, post-nominal letters OSSA, is the fourth-ranked decoration of these five civil honours. It was bestowed on civilians in defence-related industries and organisations and, from 1988, on general officers of the South African Police, South African Railways Police, South African Prisons Service and South African Intelligence Service for exceptionally meritorious service which made a meaningful contribution to the security and general national interest of South Africa. It was also bestowed on foreign military attachés for excellent meritorious service.[1][2]

Order of precedence

The position of the Star of South Africa, Officer in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1978 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first with the integration process of 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again with the institution of a new set of awards in 2002 an 2003.[6]

Official national order of precedence until 26 April 1994
  • Preceded by the National Intelligence Service Decoration, Gold.
  • Succeeded by the Order of Good Hope, Class IV, Officer.[7]
Official national order of precedence from 27 April 1994
Official national order of precedence from April 1996
Official national order of precedence from 27 April 2003

Description

Obverse

The Star of South Africa, Officer is a silver-gilt Maltese cross with the arms in dark blue enamel, with two four-pointed stars superimposed on one another and, together, on the cross.[1]

Reverse

The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number usually impressed on the upper arm of the cross and the silver hallmark below the Coat of Arms.

Ribbon

The decoration is worn on the chest on a blue ribbon, 35 millimetres wide, with a 2 millimetres wide white band, an 11½ millimetres wide blue band, a 1 millimetre wide white band and a 2 millimetres wide blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide orange band in the centre.[1]

Discontinuation

Conferment of the decoration was discontinued on 6 December 2002 when a new set of national orders was instituted.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f South African Medal Website - Republic of South Africa: 1967-2002 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  2. ^ a b South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  3. ^ a b South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  4. ^ South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  5. ^ a b c d Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
  6. ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
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