The Conspicuous Leadership Star, post-nominal letters CLS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996.

It was established on 16 December 1961 to wage an armed "struggle" against the Nationalist government inside South Africa.

[1][3][4] The Conspicuous Leadership Star, post-nominal letters CLS, was instituted by the President of South Africa in April 1996.

[1][5] The position of the Conspicuous Leadership Star in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged.

[1][7] Conferment of the Conspicuous Leadership Star was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.