South African Defence Force#Personnel

The SADF was organised to perform a dual mission: to counter possible insurgency in all forms, and to maintain a conventional military arm which could defend the republic's borders, making retaliatory strikes as necessary. As the military expanded during the 1970s, the SADF general staff was organised into six sections—finance, intelligence, logistics, operations, personnel, and planning; uniquely, the South African Medical Service (SAMS) was made co-equal with the South African Army, the South African Navy and the South African Air Force.{{cite web|title=SA Medical Services|url=http://www.sadf.info/TitleMedicalServices.html|website=sadf.info|access-date=22 October 2014}}

During apartheid, armed SADF troops were used in countering terror attacks, often directly supporting the South African Police.{{cite web|last1=Cock|first1=Jacklyn|title=War and Society: the militarisation of SA. Synopsis of book by Jacklyn Cock|url=http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/?inventory_enhanced/U/Collections&c=188928/R/AG1977-A5-45|website=historicalpapers.wits.ac.za|publisher=University of the Witwatersrand|access-date=22 October 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.saha.org.za/udf25/occupation_emergency_and_detention.htm |title=Troops occupy the townships |publisher=SAHA |access-date=2013-02-26}} South African military units were involved in the long-running Mozambican and Angolan civil wars,{{cite web|url=http://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/multimedia.php?id=21 |title=South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid |publisher=Overcomingapartheid.msu.edu |access-date=2013-02-26}} frequently supporting Pretoria's allies, the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO){{cite web|url=http://www.africafiles.org/printableversion.asp?id=3730|title=Africa Files – Printable Version|work=africafiles.org}} and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).{{cite book|last=Fryxell|first=Cole|title=To Be Born a Nation|page=13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/coldwar/interviews/episode-17/botha1.html |title=INTERVIEW WITH PIK BOTHA (20 May 1997) |publisher=Gwu.edu |access-date=2013-02-26}} SADF personnel were also deployed during the related South African Border War.{{cite book|last=Green|first=Sparks|title=Namibia: The Nation After Independence|pages=1–134}}{{cite book |last=McNab |first=Chris|title=20th Century Military Uniforms |date=2002 |edition=2nd |publisher=Grange Books |location=Kent |isbn=1-84013-476-3|page=204}}

The military was mostly composed of white South Africans, who alone were subject to conscription.{{cite journal |journal =InterCulture |volume=5 |issue=3 |date=October 2008 |url=http://dih.fsu.edu/interculture/volume5_3/Baines_Blame,_Shame_or_Reaffirmation.pdf |title=Blame, Shame or Reaffirmation? White Conscripts Reassess the Meaning of the "Border War" in PostApartheid South Africa |first=Gary |last=Baines |access-date=2012-09-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100609211126/http://dih.fsu.edu/interculture/volume5_3/Baines_Blame,_Shame_or_Reaffirmation.pdf |archive-date=9 June 2010 }}{{cite news|author= |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/25/world/south-africa-ends-conscription-of-whites.html |title=South Africa Ends Conscription of Whites — New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1993-08-25 |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{cite web |title=Delmas Treason Trial 1985–1989: UDF Memorandum re Militarisation |url=http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/?inventory_enhanced/U/Collections&c=126890/R/AK2117-J4-24-AAZ17 |website=historicalpapers.wits.ac.za |format=PDF }} The permanent force of the Army was 85% Afrikaans speaking.{{cite web | url=https://www.academia.edu/8380156 | title=Afrikaner style of managemernt | last1=Seegers | first1=Annette }} However, black South Africans were the second largest group, and Asians and Coloured citizens with mixed ancestry were eligible to serve as volunteers, several attaining commissioned rank. From 1971 onwards, several black battalions were raised in the Infantry and Service Corps on a tribal basis, most black soldiers serving in these exclusive tribal battalions, which had black NCOs but white commissioned officers. The first black personnel were accepted into commissioned ranks only from 1986, and then only for serving black soldiers and NCOs. The regular Commission would not be open for Bantus until 1991, and then again they would serve only in black units or Support/Service Support units, to avoid having position of authority over white combat arms personnel. The first black officer to be promoted to lieutenant colonel rank and have command over a battalion sized unit was only appointed in February 1994, by which time the old SADF was already on its deathbed. However, black officer candidates from the various Homeland Forces and from South West Africa/SWATF had been accepted since 1981.{{Cite journal |url=http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/download/457/484 |title=The Role of Non-Whites in the South African Defence Force |first1=C.J. |last1=Nothling |first2=L. |last2=Steyn

|journal=Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies |volume=16 |issue=2 |date=1986 |access-date=26 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114106/http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/download/457/484 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} Units such as the 32 Battalion incorporated many black volunteers, as did the 101 Battalion.{{cite web|last1=Venter|first1=Cobus|title=The Terrible Ones|url=http://flecha.co.uk/|website=flecha.co.uk|access-date=22 October 2014}} Conscription was opposed by organisations such as the End Conscription Campaign, but overall, white morale remained high—as indicated by the few recruits tried for serious disciplinary offences.

File:Para Course Image 5.jpg

{{main|Union Defence Force (South Africa)}}

Before 1957, the Union of South Africa had relied on small standing cadres for defence, expanding during wartime through the use of white conscripts. During the Second World War the Union Defence Force initially fielded only 3,353 full-time soldiers, with another 14,631 active in reserve roles.{{cite web|title=Africa: South Africa|url=http://www.get-publishing.com/id74.html|website=get-publishing.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917133734/http://get-publishing.com/id74.html|archive-date=17 September 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://homepages.force9.net/rothwell/SouthAfrica.htm |title=South Africa |publisher=Homepages.force9.net |access-date=2013-02-26}} These troops were not prepared to fight in Europe proper, as they had hitherto been trained only in basic light infantry tactics and bush warfare. However, Jan Christiaan Smuts proved remarkably resourceful in raising 345,049 men for overseas operations; South African soldiers went on to distinguish themselves as far abroad as Italy and Egypt.{{cite web |url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/world-war-ii-nine |title=World War II: The nine | South African History Online |publisher=Sahistory.org.za |date=1940-06-03 |access-date=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625072511/http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/world-war-ii-nine |archive-date=25 June 2011 }}

After 1957, the new South African Defence Force was faced with a post-war upsurge in African nationalism, and forced to expand its resources accordingly.{{cite book|last=Kaplan|first=Irving|title=South Africa: A Country Study|pages=1–846}} In 1963 its total strength stood at around 25,000 men. By 1977, the United Nations was imposing arms sanctions on the republic due to its controversial policy of racial apartheid.{{Cite web| url=http://www.mpil.de/shared/data/pdf/pdfmpunyb/wood_2.pdf | title=The Interpretation of Security Council Resolutions | author=Michael C. Wood | website=www.mpil.de | access-date=15 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611172122/http://www.mpil.de/shared/data/pdf/pdfmpunyb/wood_2.pdf | archive-date=11 June 2011 | url-status=dead}} South Africa responded by developing a powerful domestic arms industry, capable of producing quality hardware, including jet fighters, drones, guided missiles, armoured cars, multiple rocket launchers, and small arms.{{cite book |editor1-first=Charles C. |editor1-last=Thomas McGhee |editor2-first=N/A |editor2-last=N/A |title=The plot against South Africa |year=1989|edition=2nd |publisher=Varama Publishers |location=Pretoria |isbn=0-620-14537-4}} SADF units fought in the Angolan Civil War during Operation Savannah{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/sabushwarsite/Home/operation-savannah-2 |title=Operation Savannah 1975 – 76 UNDER CONSTRUCTION — A Site about the South African Bushwar / Border War |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{Cite web| url=http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | title=The South African navy during the years of conflict in Southern Africa, 1966-1989 | author=André Wessels | access-date=2014-08-14 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233250/http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/dl/userfiles/Documents/00001/1095_eng.pdf | archive-date=2 December 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nelsonmandela.org/omalley/index.php/site/q/03lv02167/04lv02264/05lv02335/06lv02336/07lv02337.htm |title=An overview of the conflict — TRC — The O'Malley Archives |publisher=Nelsonmandela.org |access-date=2013-02-26}} and were also active alongside Rhodesian Security Forces{{cite magazine|url=http://www.historytoday.com/paul-moorcraft/rhodesias-war-independence |title=Rhodesia's War of Independence |magazine=History Today |access-date=2013-02-26}} during the Rhodesian Bush War.{{cite web|url=http://www.themukiwa.com/rhodesianwar/southafrica.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618001339/http://www.themukiwa.com/rhodesianwar/southafrica.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=18 June 2011 |title=South Africa |publisher=Themukiwa.com |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{cite web|url=http://fromtheold.com/recces |title=The Recces |publisher=FromTheOld |date=2012-12-18 |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.historytoday.com/gary-baines/replaying-cuito-cuanavale |title=Replaying Cuito Cuanavale |magazine=History Today |access-date=2013-02-26}} Although both campaigns were strategically unsuccessful, it was clearly proven that South Africa's military was immeasurably superior in strength and sophistication than all her African neighbours combined. Further enlargement and modernisation of the armed forces continued under former defence minister Pieter Willem Botha, who became state president in 1984.{{cite web |url=http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/sites/default/files/files/downloads/Learners%20book%20Chapter5.pdf |title=Learners books |website=apartheidmuseum.org |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-date=1 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001122323/http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/sites/default/files/files/downloads/Learners%20book%20Chapter5.pdf |url-status=dead }} Shortly after Botha took office, the SADF numbered some 83,400 men (including 53,100 conscripts and 5,400 non-whites): one armoured brigade, one mechanised infantry brigade, four motorised brigades, one parachute brigade, a special reconnaissance regiment, one Marine brigade, twenty artillery regiments, supporting specialist units, a balanced air force, and a navy adequate for coastal protection in all. In addition, numerous auxiliary formations were trained as support units capable of occupying strategic border areas, including the predominantly Angolan 32 Battalion,{{cite web|url=http://flecha.co.uk/|title=New Page 1|work=flecha.co.uk}} Namibia's South West African Territorial Force,{{cite web|url=http://www.rhodesia.nl/swatf.htm |title=Military Chronicle of South West Africa |publisher=Rhodesia.nl |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{cite journal

|title=The Army of Zimbabwe: a role model for Namibia

|last=Bennett

|first=David C.

|date=March 1990

|publisher=United States Army War College

|location=Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

|url=http://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a220626.pdf

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118153519/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a220626.pdf

|url-status=live

|archive-date=18 January 2012

|access-date=19 October 2011

}} and four (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda) Bantustan militaries.{{cite web|url=http://2010.7msport.com/en/customs_5.shtml |title=Exotic South Africa _World Cup 2010 ( South Afraica ) Events Special Subject_7M Sports |publisher=2010.7msport.com |date=2010-01-13 |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{Cite web| title=South Africa, a country study | date=May 1996 | url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/frd/frdcstdy/so/southafricacount00byrn/southafricacount00byrn.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608214428/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/frd/frdcstdy/so/southafricacount00byrn/southafricacount00byrn.pdf | archive-date=2021-06-08}}

File:Former South African Defence Force base in Outapi.JPG, Omusati, Namibia.]]

During Botha's term, the SADF began focusing on taking a more aggressive stance to the ongoing war against communist-supported liberation and anti-Apartheid movements{{Cite web |date=1996-08-22 |title=ANC admits abuses in apartheid war |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/anc-admits-abuses-in-apartheid-war-1311026.html |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=The Independent |language=en}} in South Africa and Namibia (then South West Africa) and targeting neighboring countries that offered them support.{{cite web |url=http://newhistory.co.za/part-4-chapter-14-a-total-onslaught/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606110339/http://newhistory.co.za/Part-4-Chapter-14-A-total-onslaught/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-06-06 |title=A 'total Onslaught' |publisher=New History |access-date=2013-02-26 }} This was partially justified as a new structure intended to turn back a "total onslaught" on the republic from abroad.{{cite web|url=http://www.idsa-india.org/an-jan00-4.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001012044655/http://idsa-india.org/an-jan00-4.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 October 2000|title=Indo-South Africa Defence Cooperation: Potential and Prospects|work=idsa-india.org}} The post-colonial rise of newly independent black governments on the administration's doorstep created a perceived menace to the existing structure, and Pretoria's occupation of Namibia threatened to bring it into direct confrontation with the world community.{{cite web |url=http://newhistory.co.za/Part-4-Chapter-14-A-total-onslaught-In-pursuit-of-settlement-in-South-West-Africa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424020358/http://newhistory.co.za/Part-4-Chapter-14-A-total-onslaught-In-pursuit-of-settlement-in-South-West-Africa/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-24 |title=A 'total Onslaught' In Pursuit of Settlement in South West Africa |publisher=New History |access-date=2013-02-26 }} On the ground, militant guerrilla movements such as the African National Congress (ANC), South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) challenged South Africa with force of arms. In 1984, at least 6,000 such insurgents were being trained and armed by Tanzania, Ethiopia, the Soviet Union, and Warsaw Pact member states.

In general the struggle went badly for South Africa's opponents. Mozambique provided support and shelter to ANC operatives; in retaliation South African units launched massive counterstrikes which the local security forces were in no position to block.{{cite web|url=http://mg.co.za/print/2007-03-15-one-mans-terrorist |title=One man's terrorist ... | News | National | Mail & Guardian |publisher=Mg.co.za |date=2007-03-15 |access-date=2013-02-26}} Military aircraft and special forces units deployed across Zimbabwe,{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/sadf-mounts-raids-anc-targets-neighbouring-states |title=SADF mounts raids on ANC targets in neighbouring states | South African History Online |publisher=Sahistory.org.za |date=1986-05-19 |access-date=2013-02-26}} Botswana,{{cite web|url=http://www.rhodesia.nl/gaberone.htm |title=gaberone |publisher=Rhodesia.nl |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{cite web |url=http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v5/v5i2a3.htm |title=Civil-Military Relations in Botswana's Developmental State |publisher=Africa.ufl.edu |access-date=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021202018/http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v5/v5i2a3.htm |archive-date=21 October 2012 }} Lesotho,{{cite web |url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/south-african-troops-sadf-raid-maseru-effort-kill-suspected-members-african-national-con |title=South African troops (SADF) raid Maseru in an effort to kill suspected members of the African National Congress | South African History Online |publisher=Sahistory.org.za |date=1982-12-09 |access-date=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215030030/http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/south-african-troops-sadf-raid-maseru-effort-kill-suspected-members-african-national-con |archive-date=15 December 2012 }} and Zambia{{cite web|url=http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/Journal%20of%20the%20University%20of%20Zimbabwe/vol12n1/juz012001002.pdf |title=Journal |website=archive.lib.msu.edu}} to attack suspected insurgent bases.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959492,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029173020/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959492,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2010 |title=South Africa Deadly Raid |magazine=Time |date=1985-06-24 |access-date=2013-02-26}} 30,000 South African military personnel were posted on the Namibian border by late 1985, frequently crossing the frontier to battle SWAPO groups operating from southern Angola.{{cite web|url=http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id340.htm |title=54. Apartheid |publisher=Eightiesclub.tripod.com |access-date=2013-02-26}} SWAPO's MPLA allies, with the backing of the Cuban military, were often unable to protect them. These raids demonstrated the SADF's efficiency in combating rural insurgency. Major guerrilla camps were always chief targets, whether on foreign or domestic soil. Consequently, establishing good intelligence and effective assault strategy were commonly reflected in tactical priorities.

The SADF's success eventually compelled SWAPO to withdraw over {{convert|320|km|0}} from the Namibian border, forcing their insurgents to travel great distances across arid bush in order to reach their targets. Many could no longer carry heavy weapons on these treks, occasionally abandoning them as they marched south. Moreover, serious SWAPO losses were already having a negative effect on morale. ANC operations fared little better.{{cite book|last=Louw|first=Eric|title=The Rise, Fall, and Legacy of Apartheid|pages=1–280}} Most high-profile terrorist attacks were foiled or offered negative publicity from a normally sympathetic international stage. While it was clear that popular support was growing and guerrilla skills were being improved upon, affrays on South Africa itself did not seriously disrupt the economy or impact the country's superior military and industrial status.{{cite web|author=Communist Party of South Africa |url=http://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/sections/sacp/1977/way-forward.htm |title=The Way Forward from Soweto. South African Communist Party 1977 |publisher=Marxists.org |access-date=2013-02-26}}

By the fall of apartheid in 1991, the SADF was an uneven reflection of both the strengths and weaknesses of South Africa's white society at large. It employed many personnel with developed technical skills; thus, the military could more easily maintain and operate sophisticated hardware than black African forces drawn from underdeveloped regions. In an unusual contrast with Southern Africa's other white armies, the SADF had a stern sense of bureaucratic hierarchy.{{cite web |author=The Institute for Security Studies |url=http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/asr/SADR4/Williams.html |title=Of Skills and Subordination — South African Defence Review, No 4, 1992 |publisher=Iss.co.za |access-date=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825125528/http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/asr/SADR4/Williams.html |archive-date=25 August 2012 }}{{cite book|last=Roherty|first=James Michael|title=State Security in South Africa: Civil-military Relations Under P.W. Botha |pages=1–209}} Commanders deferred to civilian supervisors and normally could not aspire to political power. The SADF's technical performance had also improved greatly, owing largely to realistic and efficient training procedures. The army in particular was skilled in both counterinsurgency warfare and conventional mechanised operations. In 1984, 11,000 infantrymen were even trained to execute blitzkrieg tactics.{{cite web|url=http://www.jocks.co.za/history.htm |title=Regimental History prepared by James H Mitchell |publisher=Jocks.co.za |access-date=2013-02-26}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allatsea.co.za/army/armyquestions.htm |title=Questions and Answers |publisher=Allatsea.co.za |access-date=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430234237/http://allatsea.co.za/army/armyquestions.htm |archive-date=30 April 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/inventories/inv_pdfo/AK2117/AK2117-I02-37-392-01-jpeg.pdf |title=Inventory |website=historicalpapers.wits.ac.za}} White soldiers were for the most part reasonably motivated; conscripts had a sense of defending their own country rather than some far-off foreign venture. Commissioned officers generally accepted in principle recruits of all colours, placed an emphasis on technical efficiency, and preferred to fight a foreign rather than domestic enemy despite extensive preparation for both.

{{-}}

As apartheid ended in 1994, the SADF was transformed into the SANDF, the South African National Defence Force.

The State President was the Commander-in-Chief of the SADF with:

• Chief of the Defence Force – overall senior command officer
• Chief of the Army
• Chief of the Air Force
• Chief of the Navy
• Chief of the Medical Service (Surgeon General)

Staff Divisions under the Chief of Defence Staff included:

• Personnel
• Intelligence
• Operations
• Logistics
• Finance

Other Support Services commands included:

• Inspector General of the SADF
• Chaplain General of the SADF
• Quartermaster General of the SADF

{{further|List of South African military chiefs}}

• Permanent Forces — full-time active members
• National Servicemen — Initially called up for 1 year national service, later extended to 2 years national service in 1977, with ongoing short term service requirements. Troops were generally fully trained for operational duty within the space of 4–7 months.
• Citizen Forces — Conventional Reserve (Motorised and Mechanised) and other units — fully trained part-time members
• Commando Forces — Light Infantry and Rear Area Defence — fully trained members
• Special Forces — composed of the Reconnaissance Regiments and support personnel
• Voluntary Term Service — created in 1992 to replace the National Service
• Service Volunteers — non-permanent full-time members
• Auxiliary Service — limited duty personnel who did not meet the academic or physical requirements for national service but performed guard, COIN, labour, and driving duties

Prior to amalgamation, the SADF had 585,000 personnel divided as follows:

• Full-time – 45,000
• Volunteer Service – 40,000
• National Service – 5,000
• Plus – 40,000
• Auxiliaries – 16,000
• Civilians – 24,000
• Part-time – 500,000
• Citizen Force – 120,000
• Commando Force – 130,000 (in 200 units)
• Reserves – 180,000

{{main|South Africa and weapons of mass destruction}}

South Africa at one time possessed nuclear weapons, but its stockpile was dismantled during the political transition of the early 1990s.

{{Portal|South Africa}}

• South African military decorations
• Military history of South Africa
• Conscription in South Africa
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• South African National Defence Force
• South African Police
• South West African Territorial Force (SWATF)

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{commons category-inline|South African Defence Force}}

{{SANDF}}

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