It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service inside South Africa during the "struggle".

[1] Umkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in Zulu, was the para-military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), while the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) was the para-military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress.

[1] The medal could be awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service inside South Africa during the "struggle".

[1][6] The position of the South Africa Service Medal in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.

[1][8][10] Conferment of the South Africa Service Medal was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.