It was coupled to a Meritorious Service Annuity and was awarded in limited numbers, usually upon retirement, to selected warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers of the Permanent Force of the Cape of Good Hope who had completed twenty-one years of meritorious service.

The medal was initially only awarded to sergeants but, on 10 June 1884, eligibility was extended to all soldiers above the rank of Corporal.

Second versions of most of these medals, with the effigy of King Edward VII on the obverse, were introduced after his succession to the throne in 1901.

The medal and annuity were awarded only to selected candidates upon retirement as a reward after long and valuable service, upon recommendation by their commanding officers and selected from a list by the Commander-in-Chief of the Cape Colonial Forces, the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.

[1][2] In the order of wear prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope) ranks on par with the United Kingdom's Meritorious Service Medal.

The medal was struck in silver and is a disk, 36 millimetres in diameter and with a raised rim on both sides.

[2][3] The reverse of both versions have the words "FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE" in three lines, encircled by a laurel wreath and surmounted by the Imperial Crown.