Faithful Service Medal (Transkei)

The Faithful Service Medal (Transkei) was a military and police decoration awarded by the Republic of Transkei, a nominally independent bantustan (homeland) created by the government of South Africa during the apartheid era. It recognized long and faithful service in the Transkei Defence Force and the Transkei Police. The medal was instituted after Transkei gained purported independence in 1976 and was awarded until the re-incorporation of Transkei into South Africa in 1994. Specific criteria for award, such as length of service, are not widely available in publicly accessible records. The medal's design and construction typically reflected locally sourced materials and production capabilities of the time. Following the end of apartheid, the medal ceased to be an officially recognized South African award.