April 1994 Official SANDF order of precedence: Preceded by the Long Service Medal, Silver of the Republic of Venda. Succeeded by the Permanent Force Good Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa. Official national order of precedence: Preceded by the Railways and Harbours Police Medal for Faithful Service of the Republic of South Africa. Succeeded by the Railway Police Good Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa. South African National Defence Force from April 1996 Official SANDF order of precedence: Preceded by the Silver Service Medal of the Azanian People's Liberation Army. Succeeded by the Permanent Force Good Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa. Official national order of precedence: Preceded by the Railways and Harbours Police Medal for Faithful Service of the Republic of South Africa. Succeeded by the Railway Police Good Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa. South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003 Official SANDF order of precedence: Preceded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 20 years of the Republic of South Africa. Succeeded by the Permanent Force Good Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa. Official national order of precedence: Preceded by the Railways and Harbours Police Medal for Faithful Service of the Republic of South Africa. Succeeded by the Railway Police Good Service Medal of the Republic of South Africa. Description Obverse The Union Medal is a medallion with a scalloped edge and a raised rim, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim and struck in silver, depicting the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms encircled with the inscription "UNIE-MEDALJE • UNION MEDAL". The ribbon suspender is decorated with proteas and leaves. Reverse The reverse depicts Queen Elizabeth II's royal cipher, a crown over "E II R", and has a raised rim and decorated ribbon suspender, similar to those of the obverse. The medals and ribbon suspenders were minted separately and soldered together. The medal number was impressed at the bottom on the rim. Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with bands of orange, white and blue repeated, three times, the outer orange and blue bands each 4 millimetres wide and the seven inner bands all approximately 3½ millimetres wide. Orange, white and blue are the colours of the pre-1994 national flag. Clasp The clasp, awarded after thirty years of service, was struck in silver and is wide, with the