It is South Africa's highest existing military decoration for meritorious conduct.

[2][4] The iPhrothiya yeGolide - Golden Protea, post-nominal letters PG, was instituted by the President on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003, to replace the Southern Cross Decoration (SD) and Pro Merito Decoration (PMD).

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

[6] The position of the iPhrothiya yeGolide – Golden Protea in the official military and national orders of precedence is as follows:[7]

The decoration is attached to a plain silver-gilt suspender, affixed to the upper point of the star.