[1] The position of the Good Service Medal, Bronze in the official order of precedence was revised three times to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 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 when a new series of military decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003.

Initially all South African military orders, decorations and medals were minted by the South African Mint, but with effect from c. 1980, the manufacturing of all new awards, as well as the further production of older awards, were put out to tender by private enterprises.

Poor quality control and cost cutting by manufacturers resulted in the acceptance and award of a large number of medals which were only 2 millimetres thick, with no raised rim and an undecorated ribbon suspender on the reverse, as depicted.

The obverse is identical to that of the Permanent Force Good Service Medal of 1961 and depicts the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.

[6] The reverse is inscribed "VIR TROUE DIENS" and "FOR GOOD SERVICE" in four lines.

The original medals, produced by the South African Mint, have a raised rim and decorated ribbon suspender on the reverse, similar to those of the obverse.