Complex sentence: The Silver Medal for Merit, post-nominal letters SMM, was instituted by the President in April 1996 and was awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty during The Struggle.
Split into simpler sentences: The Silver Medal for Merit, post-nominal letters SMM, was instituted by the President in April 1996. The decoration could be awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty during The Struggle.