It can be awarded to all ranks who have distinguished themselves by leadership or meritorious service and devotion to duty.

[1] Guidelines consisting of appropriate phrases which may be useful when writing a citation for the award of the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi - Bronze Protea have been published by the South African Defence Department.

[5] The position of the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi - Bronze Protea in the official military and national orders of precedence is as follows:[6]

The iPhrothiya yeBhronzi - Bronze Protea is a six-pointed star, struck in bronze and displaying a stylised protea, South Africa's national flower, on a blue hexagon in the centre.

The decoration is attached to a plain bronze suspender fixed to the upper point of the star.