Post-Nominal Letters
In keeping with the British tradition, recipients of the more important South African honours and awards are granted the privilege of placing letters behind their names. To avoid having different sets of initials in the different official languages, many awards use initials based on Latin translations of their names.
Note: although post-nominal letters were authorised for the British Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and the King's Police Medal (KPM)/Queen's Police Medal (QPM), those letters were not authorised by the Royal Warrants and regulations for the South African issues of those medals.
The following is a list of authorised post-nominal letters, in alphabetical order.
AAD - Ad Astra Decoration
BMM - Azanian People's Liberation Army Bronze Medal for Merit
BSS - Azanian People's Liberation Army Bravery Star in Silver
CA - Air Force Cross ("Crux Aeronautica") (letters authorised in 1993)
CC - SA Medical Services Cross ("Crux Curationis") (letters authorised in 1993)
CDM - Ciskei Decoration for Merit
CGH - Castle of Good Hope Decoration (never awarded)
CLS - uMkhonto we Sizwe Conspicuous Leadership Star
CM - Army Cross ("Crux Militaria") (letters authorised in 1993)
CN - Navy Cross ("Crux Navalis") (letters authorised in 1993)
COB - Order of the Baobab: Counsellor
COT - Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo: Companion (letters authorised in 2005)
CPF - Department of Correctional Services Cross for Valour: Ruby ("Crux Pro Fortitudinis")
CPM - Department of Correctional Services Cross for Merit ("Crux Pro Merito")
CPV - (1) Decoration for Valour in the SA Prisons Service ("Custodi Pro Virtute") - (2) Department of Correctional Services Cross for Valour: Diamond ("Crux Pro Virtute") (never awarded) - (3) KwaZulu Correctional Services Cross for Gallantry - (4) Venda Prisons Service Gallantry Cross
CSSA - Order of the Star of SA (Non-Military): Commander (letters authorised in 2005)
CT - Order of Transkei: Commander
CV - National Intelligence Service Cross for Valour: Gold ("Crux Virtus")
CVS - National Intelligence Service Cross for Valour: Silver ("Crux Virtus Silver")
DB
Dekorasie vir Bekwaamheid (Afrikaans equivalent of ED (1))
DMG
uMkhonto we Sizwe Decoration for Merit in Gold
DMS
Decoration for Meritorious Service
DSB - Intelligence Services Distinguished Service Medal: Bronze
DSG - Intelligence Services Distinguished Service Medal: Gold
DSS - Intelligence Services Distinguished Service Medal: Silver
DTD - Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst
DTM - Danie Theron Medal (letters authorised in 1993)
DVD - Dekorasie vir Voortreflike Diens (Afrikaans equivalent of DMS)
DVR - Van Riebeeck Decoration
DWD - De Wet Decoration (letters suspended from 1977 to 1986)
ED - (1) Efficiency Decoration - (2) National Intelligence Service Decoration for Outstanding Leadership ("Excellentis Ductus")
GCG - [Venda Defence Force] Gallantry Cross: Gold
GCS - [Venda Defence Force] Gallantry Cross: Silver
GCOB - Order of the Baobab: Grand Counsellor
GCOT - Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo: Grand Companion (letters authorised in 2005)
GCT - Order of Transkei: Grand Cross
GDM - Azanian People's Liberation Army Gold Decoration for Merit
GOT - Order of Transkei: Grand Officer
GSB - Azanian People's Liberation Army Gold Star for Bravery
HC - (1) Honoris Crux - 1st Type - (2) Honoris Crux - 2nd Type
HCD - Honoris Crux Diamond
HCG - Honoris Crux Gold
HCS - Honoris Crux Silver
IF - SA Railways Police Cross for Valour ("Insigne Fortitudinis") (never awarded?)
JCD - John Chard Decoration (letters suspended from 1977 to 1986)
JHM - Jack Hindon Medal (letters authorised in 1993, 18 years after the medal had been discontinued)
LWD - Louw Wepener Decoration
LWM - Louw Wepener Medal
MMB - uMkhonto we Sizwe Medal for Merit in Bronze
MMM - Military Merit Medal (letters authorised when the medal was renamed in 1993)
MMS - uMkhonto we Sizwe Medal for Merit in Silver
MPBG - Municipal/Metropolitan Police Service Gold Cross for Bravery
MPGS - Municipal/Metropolitan Police Service Gold Decoration for Outstanding Service
MPSB - Municipal/Metropolitan Police Service Silver Cross for Bravery
MPSS - Municipal/Metropolitan Police Service Silver Decoration for Outstanding Service
MSSA - Order of the Star of SA (Non-Military): Member (letters authorised in 2005)
MT - Order of Transkei: Member
MV - Intelligence Services Medal for Valour
NB - Nkwe ya Boronse ("Bronze Leopard")
NG - Nkwe ya Gauta ("Golden Leopard")
NKN - [Ciskei] Order of Ntaba ka Ndoda
NS - Nkwe ya Selefera ("Silver Leopard")
OD - National Intelligence Service Decoration for Distinguished Leadership ("Optimi Ductus")
OIB - Order of Ikhamanga: Bronze
OIG - Order of Ikhamanga: Gold
OIS - Order of Ikhamanga: Silver
OLB - Order of Luthuli: Bronze
OLG - Order of Luthuli: Gold
OLM - Intelligence Services Outstanding Leadership Medal
OLS - Order of Luthuli: Silver
OMB - Order of Mapungubwe: Bronze
OMBB - Order of Mendi for Bravery: Bronze
OMBG - Order of Mendi for Bravery: Gold
OMBS - Order of Mendi for Bravery: Silver
OMG - Order of Mapungubwe: Gold
OMP - Order of Mapungubwe: Platinum
OMS - Order of Mapungubwe: Silver
OMSG - Order for Meritorious Service: Gold
OMSS - Order for Meritorious Service: Silver
OO - National Intelligence Service Medal for Distinguished Service: Gold ("Officii Optimi")
OOB - National Intelligence Service Medal for Distinguished Service: Bronze ("Officii Optimi Bronze")
OOS - National Intelligence Service Medal for Distinguished Service: Silver ("Officii Optimi Silver")
OSG - Order of the Southern Cross: Gold
OSS - Order of the Southern Cross: Silver
OSSA - Order of the Star of SA (Non-Military): Officer (letters authorised in 2005)
OT - Order of Transkei: Officer
OVDG - Orde vir Voortreflike Diens: Goud (Afrikaans equivalent of OMSG)
OVDS - Orde vir Voortreflike Diens: Silwer (Afrikaans equivalent of OMSS)
PB - iPhrothiya yeBhronzi ("Bronze Protea")
PCF - (1) SA Police Cross for Bravery - 1st Type ("Praefecturae Crux Fortitudinis") - (2) SA Police Cross for Bravery - 2nd Type - (3) Venda National Force Gallantry Cross - (4) Venda Police Gallantry Cross
PCFG - (1) SA Police Cross for Bravery Gold ("Praefecturae Crux Fortitudinis Gold") - (2) SA Police Service Gold Cross for Bravery
PCFS - (1) SA Police Cross for Bravery Silver ("Praefecturae Crux Fortitudinis Silver") - (2) SA Police Service Silver Cross for Bravery
PG - iPhrothiya yeGolide ("Golden Protea")
PGC - Ciskei Prisons Service Cross for Gallantry
PMD - Pro Merito Decoration
PMM - (1) Pro Merito Medal - 1st Type - (2) Pro Merito Medal - 2nd Type (letters authorised in 1993)
PS - iPhrothiya yeSiliva ("Silver Protea")
PSD - Ciskei Prisons Service Star for Distinction
PSE - Ciskei Prisons Serive Star for Excellence
PSM - Ciskei Prisons Service Star for Merit
PVD - Pro Virtute Decoration
PVM - Pro Virtute Medal
RYGT - Bophuthatswana Police Cross for Bravery ("Re Ya Go Tlotla")
SBG - uMkhonto we Sizwe Star for Bravery in Gold
SBS - uMkhonto we Sizwe Star for Bravery in Silver
SCG - SA Police Silver Cross for Gallantry
SCL - Azanian People's Liberation Army Star for Conspicuous Leadership
SCOB - Order of the Baobab: Supreme Counsellor
SCOT - Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo: Supreme Companion (letters authorised in 2005)
SD - (1) Southern Cross Decoration - (2) [Ciskei] Sandile Decoration
SDE - SA Railways Police Star for Distinguished Devotion ("Stella Diligentiae Egregiae")
SED - (1) SA Police Star for Distinguished Leadership ("Stella Excellentis Ductus") - (2) KwaZulu Police Star for Distinguished Leadership
SEE - SA Railways Police Star for Distinguished Leadership ("Stella Eximii Emperii")
SKD - SA Polisie Silwerkruis vir Dapperheid (Afrikaans equivalent of SCG)
SM - (1) Southern Cross Medal - 1st Type - (2) Southern Cross Medal - 2nd Type (letters authorised in 1993) - (3) [Ciskei] Sandile Medal
SMM - Azanian People's Liberation Army Silver Medal for Merit
SMO - Decoration for Distinguished [or Outstanding] Service in the SA Railways Police Force ("Stella Muneris Optimi")
SOE - (1) SA Police Star for Outstanding Service ("Stella Officii Egregii") - (2) SWA Police Star for Outstanding Service - (3) Venda National Force Outstanding Service Medal - (4) Venda Police Star for Outstanding Service
SOEG - SA Police Service Gold Medal for Outstanding Service ("Stella Officii Egregii Gold")
SOES - SA Police Service Silver Medal for Outstanding Service ("Stella Officii Egregii Silver")
SOO - (1) SA Police Star for Distinguished Service - 1st Type ("Stella Officii Optimi") - (2) SA Police Star for Distinguished Service - 2nd Type - (3) SWA Police Star for Distinguished Service - (4) Bophuthatswana Police Medal for Outstanding Leadership - (5) KwaZulu Police Star for Distinguished Service - (6) Venda National Force Distinguished Service Medal - (7) Venda Police Distinguished Service Decoration
SPA - KwaZulu Correctional Services Star for Excellence
SPDE - Ciskei Police Star for Distinguished Leadership ("Stella Pro Duce Excellentis")
SPE - Department of Correctional Services Star for Excellence ("Stella Pro Excellentia")
SPM - (1) Department of Correctional Services Star for Merit ("Stella Pro Merito") - (2) KwaZulu Correctional Services Star for Merit - (3) Venda Prisons Service Distinguished Service Medal: Silver
SPME - Ciskei Police Star for Distinguished Service ("Stella Pro Meritis Excellentibus")
SPO - (1) Department of Correctional Services Star for Distinction ("Stella Pro Optimo") - (2) KwaZulu Correctional Services Star for Distinction - (3) Venda Prisons Service Distinguished Service Medal: Gold
SSA - (1) Star of South Africa - (2) Order of the Star of South Africa (Military): Gold - (3) Order of the Star of South Africa (Non-Military): Grand Cross (letters authorised in 1987)
SSAS - (1) Order of the Star of South Africa (Military): Silver - (2) Order of the Star of South Africa (Non-Military): Grand Officer (letters authorised in 1987)
TK - Bophuthatswana Police Decoration for Distinguished Service
VD - (1) Volunteer Officers' Decoration - (2) Colonial Auxiliary Forces' Officers' Decoration - (3) RNVR Volunteer Officers' Decoration (letters later changed to VRD)
VRM - Van Riebeeck Medal
WD - Woltemade Cross for Bravery: Gold
WDS - Woltemade Cross for Bravery: Silver