 The Republic of Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Transkei Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).On 30 November 1987, Major General Bantu Holomisa, the Chief of the Transkei Defence Force, led a bloodless coup d'état against the Transkei government of Prime Minister Stella Sigcau, suspended the civilian constitution and refused South Africa's repeated demands for a return to civilian rule on the grounds that a civilian government would be a puppet controlled by Pretoria.The Military Rule Medal was instituted by General Holomisa to commemorate the coup d'état.