Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act No. 111 of 1998)RulesRules for the award of the Medal for Faithful Long Service, 2026Schedule |
DEFINITIONS
In these Rules, unless the contest indicates otherwise:
"Award" shall mean the conferment of the medal referred to in Rule 1 of the Rules.
"Annulment" shall mean shall mean that an award is declared to be cancelled and void.
"Designated Official" shall mean an official appointed by the National Commissioner to perform the functions prescribed with which the official has been charged under these Rules.
"forfeiture" shall mean that
| (a) | prior to the award of the Medal the conferment of the Medal or the bars thereto may be deferred for a prescribed period of time which period, however, shall be permanently erased from the official's total period of service: |
| (b) | or after the award of the medal the recipient may be deprived of the of the Medal and-the bars thereto and of the right to wear the Medal, the bars, and the ribbon for a prescribed period of time, and which period shall also be permanently erased from the official's total period of service. |
"Medal" shall mean the Medal for Faithful! Long Service.
"Recipient" shall meat any person to whom the Medal has been awarded in terms of these Rules.
"Ribbon bar" shall mean one or more strips of Medal ribbon sew or otherwise affixed to a metal badge or strip or other stiffening material for wear when the medals themselves are not to be worn.
"Rules" mean the Rules for the award of the Medal for Faithful Long Service.
RULES FOR THE AWARD OF THE MEDAL FOR FAITHFUL LONG SERVICE
Rule 1: The honour for completing prescribed periods of faithful tong service in the Department of Correctional Services, shall be designated, and styled the Medal for Faithful Long Service for all qualifying officials and Faithful Service to the National Commissioner.
Rule 2: The Purpose of the Medal for Faithful Long Service is to formally reinstate the Long Service Awards, recognize loyal service, promote morale, regulate the awarding, wearing and protection of the awards.
Rule 3: The Medal shall be circular in shape with a diameter of 38 millimetres and the edge evenly scalloped. The obverse of the medal shall bear the Coat of Arms of the Republic of South Africa. The revised design will display the Coat of Arms, circular outlined with protea flowers on the front and the long-service details imprinted on the reverse of the medal. The reverse of the Medal shall bear in relief the words "Faithful Long Service and "Department of Correctional Services"
Rule 4: The Medal shall be worn on the left breast pendent from a suspender attached to a ribbon 32 millimetres wide. The ribbon for the Medal shall be gold in colour with black 3 millimetres stripes, as per the approved design for periods of service.
Rule 5: The Medal shall be awarded only to officials of the South African Department of Correctional Services, irrespective of rank, who are South African citizens, whose character and conduct have been irreproachable and who, on or after the 22nd day of January 2026 completed ten years' - twenty years, thirty years and fourth years qualifying continuous service. Refer to rule 8.
Rule 6: The 1-, 3- and 5-year Faithful Service Medal shall be awarded only to the National Commissioner of the South African Department of Correctional Services. who is a South African citizen, whose character and conduct have been irreproachable and who, on or after the 22nd day of January 2026, completed one year - three years' and five years qualifying continuous service. The reverse of the Medal shall bear in relief the words "National Commissioner Faithful Service" and “Department of Correctional Services". Refer to rule 8.
Rule 7: Only one medal shall be conferred per Medal Award Ceremony for each additional period of ten years' qualifying service, to a maximum of forty years', which may be interrupted service, during which the official's character and conduct have remained irreproachable, recognition may be accorded for the service by the award of a bar to denote a subsequent conferment of the medal. The bars shall be 33 millimetres in length by 5 millimetres wide. The bars shall be worn on the ribbon at even distances between the suspender and the top of the ribbon. When only a ribbon bar is worn a silhouette replica of the medal, 8 millimetres in diameter, of the same metal as the medal, and with the numerals period of service. The first replica shall be affixed to the centre of the ribbon bar.
Rule 8: Categories for Faithful Long Service awards;
Rule 9: The Medal and the bars may be awarded posthumously.
Rule 10: The conferment of the medal shall not entitle the recipients to any individual precedence, or promotion in seniority.
Rule 11: In accordance with these rules for the granting, forfeiture, annulment, and restoration of the 10, 20, 30 and 40 years faithful long service Medal, the National Commissioner of Correctional Services may confer awards, declare awards forfeited, annul awards, and restore award after forfeiture. The aforementioned is mutatis mutandis applicable to the 1, 3- and 5-years faithful service award to the National Commissioner by the Minister of Correctional Services.
Rule 12: Every recipient of the medal shall be entitled to:
| 12.1. | a miniature thereof and to wear the miniature on appropriate occasions as prescribed by the Dress Regulations. |
| 12. 2. | a certificate of the award, in a form determined by the National Commissioner. |
Rule 13: A sealed pattern of the medal and of the bars, together with a sealed pattern of a reproduction in miniature, shall be kept in the office of the National Commissioner.
Rule 14: The following circumstances shall not be deemed qualifying periods of service for the Medal;
| 14.1 | Any period of suspension without renumeration, |
| 14.2 | Periods of absence from duty due to the misconduct or negligence of an official, |
| 14.3 | Periods for which no account can be established of an official's service. |
Rule 15: The medal, ribbon, and the miniature thereof as well as the certificate of award shall be issued only once to a recipient at State expense. Replacement after loss thereof shall be affected at the expense of the recipient or nest of kin, at a cost determined by the National Commissioner.
Rule 16: A single numbered specimen of the Medal and its ribbon and of the miniature medal and ribbon may be made available to an accredited museum or similar institution approved of by the National Commissioner.
Rule 17: A unique serial number shall be stamped or engraved on each full-sized medal but not on the miniature thereof. The National Commissioner shall maintain a permanent register in which shall be recorded;
| 17.1 | the serial number of each medal, |
| 17.2 | the names of the recipients or of the museums or institutions to whom or to which Medals have been awarded or donated and the dates of the award or donation, |
| 17.3 | any forfeited, annulment, loss, replacement or restoration of a medal and the dates of each action, |
| 17.4 | any additional information deemed necessary by the National Commissioner or delegated official. |
Rule 18: When it is practicable, a medal shall be presented to a recipient on a parade or ceremony approved by the National Commissioner, provided that should a recipient have died before the presentation, the medal may be presented on a parade or otherwise to the next of kin or to any other person at the discretion of the National Commissioner.
Rule 19: Annulment of the Award of the Medal. In accordance with Rule 1 and 2, and subject to the provisions of the Promotion of the Administration of Justice Act, (Act No, 3 of 2000), the National Commissioner (Minister for 1, 3- and 5-year faithful services award to the National Commissioner) may declare any award made in terms of the provisions of this Warrant annulled If the recipient;
| 19.1 | is convicted of any violent crimes, such as rape, sexual assault, robbery, assault, and murder, or |
| 19.2 | is convicted of any gender-based violence (GBV) crimes, or |
| 19.3 | is convicted and sentenced to any judgement, sanction or punishment that justifies annulment, or |
| 19.4 | is sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine. |
Rule 20: Upon annulment by the National Commissioner / Minister, the Medal and the bars thereto shall be permanently withdrawn from the holder who shall no longer be permitted to wear the medal, the bars thereto or the ribbon.
Rule 21: Should any person whose award have been annulled at any time wear the Medal, the bars, or the ribbon, that person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be dealt with according to the provisions of the Correctional Services Act, 1998 (Act No. 111 of 1998).
Rule 22: Recipients of the medal shall, upon forfeiture or annulment of the award, surrender their medals, the miniatures thereof and certificates of award to the National Commissioner or designated Official.
Rule 23: No person to whom a medal has been awarded in terms of this Warrant shall pledge, barter, or sell or dispose of such medal other than by way of testamentary bequest.
Rule 24: A recipient shall report the any loss or theft of a medal in writing to the National Commissioner within a period of 30 calendar days.
Rule 25: In accordance with the terms of Rule 1 and 2, the medal may be restored if it is the opinion of the National Commissioner that the recipient is in every way deserving and worthy of the restoration.
Rule 26: Officials who qualifies for the award and issuing of the Medal, bar, and ribbon prior to the date of this Warrant, who were not awarded prior may be considered for the award retrospectively based on the discretion and approval by the National Commissioner. Refer to Rule 9. This is not applicable to the medal for 1, 3 and 5 years for the National Commissioner.
Rule 27: Prospective qualifying recipients should submit a written application for the issuing of the Medal to the National Commissioner or delegated official. Refer to Rule 1, 2 and 9.