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South African National Defence Force
Military of South Africa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The Chief of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of the Defence Department.
The military as it exists today was created in 1994,[5][6] following South Africa's first nonracial election in April of that year and the adoption of a new constitution. It replaced the South African Defence Force and also integrated uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) guerilla forces.
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History
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Integration process
In 1994, the SANDF took over the personnel and equipment from the SADF and integrated forces from the former Bantustan homelands forces,[7]: 5 as well as personnel from the former guerrilla forces of some of the political parties involved in South Africa, such as the African National Congress's Umkhonto we Sizwe, the Pan Africanist Congress's Azanian People's Liberation Army and the Self-Protection Units of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). The Azanian People's Organisation's AZANLA was invited but refused to be integrated and to this day remains the only guerrilla force not integrated into the current force.[5]
As of 2004, the integration process was considered complete, with the retention of personnel, structure, and equipment from the SADF. However, due to integration problems, financial constraints, and other issues, the SANDF faced capability constraints.[citation needed]
The South African Commando System was a civil militia active until 2008, based upon local units from the size of company to battalion.[8] In its final years its role was to support the South African Police Service during internal operations. During such deployments the units came under SAPS control.
1999 re-armament
In 1999, a R30 billion (US$4.8 billion) purchase of weaponry by the South African Government was finalised, which has been subject to allegations of corruption.[9][10] The South African Department of Defence's Strategic Defence Acquisition purchased frigates, submarines, light utility helicopters, lead-in fighter trainer and multirole combat aircraft.[11]
Decline
Systemic public-sector corruption, State capture, (2011/12 to 2017) had a debilitating effect on Denel and consequently the country's defence capability.[12][13][14] In 2014 some 62% of the SANDF's facilities and housing were deemed to be in unacceptable condition, of which 4% were hazardous, another 2% fit to be demolished, and some occupied by squatters. This contributed to low soldier morale and poor discipline.[15] Equipment became largely obsolete due to inadequate maintenance, while renewal stalled with devastating effects on the defence industry. According to the Department of Defence's 2014 Defence Review, the SANDF was "in a critical state of decline".[16] A series of cuts to its capital and operating budgets compromised several capabilities.[17]
In 2017 and 2021 respectively, 83[18] and some 200 to 500 out-of-service military vehicles were destroyed in fires at the Wallmansthal vehicle depot,[19] and a spokesperson was not available to liaise with the press.[20] Notwithstanding, it was reported to parliament in 2022, that technical skills gained from personnel of the Cuban RAF facilitated the preservation and maintenance of over 600,000 infantry weapons.[21] Their mechanical and vehicular skills allowed for the inspection, repair, refurbishment and/or deactivation of vehicles in the special forces and the four arms of service fleets, besides the implementation of stock control and technical support measures, and the rehabilitation of army workshops and work stations.
After submissions to parliament by Armscor, earlier in 2022, a spokesman for the official opposition, the DA, stated that the country's defence capability had been weakened to the extent that it was unprepared for a serious security challenge.[12] The Navy and Air Force were highlighted as easy targets, as only one of the four frigates were serviceable, and none of the submarines, while only 46 of 217 fixed-wing aircraft were serviceable (with all VIP aircraft grounded[22]), and only 27 of 87 helicopters. Budget and hardware constraints also compromised flight training and exercises, besides the retention of experienced pilots and personnel.[13] The defence minister's appointment of an Air Force chief, Wiseman Mbambo, who cannot fly a plane and doesn't have a pilot's licence was also criticized.[23] The SANDF had only 14 infantry battalions consisting of 12,000 soldiers in aggregate, of which five were deployed in peacekeeping and border patrol, leaving only nine to serve as home or rapid response units.[24]
In February 2022 the power supply to its Navy headquarters in Pretoria was disconnected when its municipal taxes were in arrears to the amount of R3.2 million.[25] During the same month Sandu threatened legal action if the dilapidated Air Force headquarters building in Pretoria were not repaired to facilitate acceptable working conditions.[26] In March 2022 the SANDF and Navy were locked out of several office buildings in Pretoria due to rent defaults by the Department of Public Works.[27] 63% of the 2022/23 defence budget was allocated to employee compensation.[24]
In 2022 the SANDF was involved in multiple corruption scandals totaling R2 billion; one of which involved 56 SANDF personnel two of whom were generals all of whom were suspended.[28] An additional 13 SANDF personal from the Logistics, Joint Operations and Special Forces divisions were convicted for corruption in another incident.[28]
Domestic operations
As of 2012[update], the SANDF was involved in several internal operations, including:[29]
- Safeguarding the border (Operation CORONA)
- Disaster relief and assistance (Operation CHARIOT)
- Safety and security (Operation PROSPER)
- Ridding the country of illegal weapons, drug dens, prostitution rings and other illegal activities (Operation FIELA)
In 2021, SANDF forces were deployed in response to the civil unrest following the jailing on corruption charges of former president Jacob Zuma. By 14 July, over 25,000 troops had been deployed, the largest single deployment of the South African National Defence Force since 1994.[30][31]
International operations
The SANDF partakes in UN peacekeeping missions, mostly on the African continent. As part of the SADC standby force, it partakes in peace missions in the DRC and northern Mozambique.[24] It also provides foreign election security when needed.
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Organisation and structure
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Overall command is vested in an officer-designated Chief of the SANDF (CSANDF). Appointed from any of the Arms of Service, they are the only person in the SANDF at the rank of General or Admiral, and are accountable to the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, who heads the Department of Defence.
The structure of the SANDF is depicted below:[32]
In 2010, a Defence Amendment Bill created a permanent National Defence Force Service Commission (NDFSC), a statutory advisory body that reports to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Its primary mandate is to review and make recommendations on the conditions of service, remuneration, career progression, and general welfare of SANDF personnel, both in the Regular and Reserve components.
The Commission plays a key role in ensuring that the interests of military personnel are represented at the highest levels of government and that the SANDF maintains professional standards in line with constitutional and legislative requirements.
Overall command is vested in an officer-designated Chief of the SANDF (CSANDF). Appointed from any of the Arms of Service, they are the only person in the SANDF at the rank of General or Admiral, and are accountable to the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, who heads the Department of Defence.
The SANDF is structured into four main service branches:[33]
- South African Army – the landward defence component and the largest branch of the SANDF. The Army is organised into several divisions and formations, including the Infantry Formation, Armour Formation, Artillery Formation, Air Defence Artillery Formation, Engineer Formation, and Support Formation.
- South African Air Force – responsible for air operations, air defence, transport, and surveillance. The SAAF is organised into several commands, including Combat Aircraft Squadrons, Transport and Maritime Squadrons, Helicopter Squadrons, and the Air Command and Control Centre.
- South African Navy – provides maritime defence, sea transport, and the protection of South Africa's territorial waters. The Navy is structured around Fleet Command, headquartered at Simon’s Town, and includes Frigate, Submarine, Mine Countermeasures, and Support Squadrons. The Navy also maintains the Maritime Reaction Squadron, a versatile amphibious marine-type unit.
- South African Military Health Service – a separate branch responsible for medical support, field hospitals, health logistics, and healthcare for SANDF members and, in emergencies, for civilians. It operates military hospitals, medical battalions, and specialist health institutes.
In addition to these four services, the South African Special Forces Brigade operates as an independent formation under the direct command of the Chief of the SANDF. The Brigade is tasked with strategic reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, and specialised operations, and is regarded as an elite component of the SANDF.
Supporting the services are additional components:
- Defence Intelligence Division – provides military intelligence, counterintelligence, and strategic assessments.
- Joint Operations Division – responsible for planning, coordinating, and commanding operational deployments of the SANDF both domestically and internationally, including peace support missions.
- Logistics Division – manages procurement, supply chains, maintenance, and the sustainment of equipment and infrastructure.
- Training Command – oversees basic training, specialist schools, military academies, and professional development programmes.
The SANDF also relies on the Reserve Force, which supplements the Regular Force during operations. The Reserves provide trained personnel, specialist skills, and additional capacity for peacekeeping, border safeguarding, and disaster relief operations.
Publications and access to records
The SANDF publishes (or provides links) to documents describing its strategy, plans, performance, white papers and related government acts. Under the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000 (PAIA), the SANDF also provides access to current and historical information the SANDF holds and provides a manual[34] with procedures for obtaining access. Some categories of records are "automatically available" that are "available without a person having to request access in terms of the PAIA. These records can be accessed at the Department of Defence Archives and include operational records of the 1st World War, 2nd World War, Korean War, and establishment of the Union Defence Force 1912.
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Service branches
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South African Army
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The South African Army is the landward branch of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), responsible for ground operations, border protection, and support to civil authorities. It consists of around 40,000 active personnel and over 12,000 reservists, organised into a structure of combat, combat support, and service support formations. The Army's primary missions include national defence, regional peacekeeping, disaster relief, and internal security assistance.[35]
The Army's core combat power lies in its infantry formations, which operate across a wide range of environments on the African continent. Light infantry battalions provide agile, mobile forces trained for skirmishes in bush, savannah, and urban terrain. Motorised infantry battalions—the largest component of the force—historically relied on trucks for transport; since the 2000s they have transitioned to mine-resistant armoured personnel carriers (APCs/MRAPs) such as the Mamba and Casspir, which offer greater survivability during patrols and peacekeeping duties. Mechanised infantry battalions employ the Ratel and Badger infantry fighting vehicles, together they operate alongside armour and artillery in combined-arms formations. Specialist formations include Seaborne infantry, which specialise in amphibious operations—providing the South African Army with a limited marine-type function, a capability uncommon in most armies as it is typically associated with Marine Corps. Airborne forces such as Paratrooper infantry conduct parachute operations from tactical airlift aircraft, while Air Assault infantry are trained for helicopter-borne operations in coordination with the South African Air Force.[36]
The Armour Formation represents the Army's heavy strike element, fielding the Olifant main battle tank and Rooikat armoured reconnaissance vehicle. Together with mechanised infantry, they provide mobile, high-intensity combat capabilities suited for conventional operations. Supporting formations include the Artillery Formation, which operates the G5 Leopard towed and G6 Rhino self-propelled howitzers, complemented by the Bateleur and Valkiri multiple rocket launcher systems that provide long-range saturation fire support. The Air Defence Artillery Formation fields Oerlikon GDF radar-guided anti-aircraft autocannons and Starstreak surface-to-air missiles, supported by a range of surveillance and targeting radar systems. In the near future, it is expected to incorporate the locally developed Umkhonto surface-to-air missile defence system, currently under development.[37]
The Engineer Formation provides combat engineering, mobility, demolitions, and field infrastructure support, while the Support Formation ensures logistics, maintenance, and supply services across all operational theatres. Operational control is exercised through 43 South African Brigade, a deployable headquarters for external operations and peace support missions. The Army regularly contributes to regional stability under Operation Corona and various United Nations and African Union missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Mozambique.
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), tasked with securing national airspace, supporting land and naval operations, and providing airlift, reconnaissance, and humanitarian assistance. Established in 1920, it is the second-oldest air force in the world. Today, it comprises around 12,800 active personnel and a reserve of just over 1,000, operating from nine official air force bases and several other air force stations.[38] The most strategically important bases are:
- AFB Waterkloof (Airlift Command and strategic transport hub);
- AFB Makhado (Northern fighter base, home to the Gripen and Hawk fleet);
- AFB Ysterplaat (Naval operations, maritime patrol, and helicopter units);
- AFB Bloemspruit (Helicopter operations, home to the Rooivalk attack helicopter);
- AFB Hoedspruit (Reconnaissance and helicopter operations in the northeast);
- AFB Langebaanweg (Primary flight training school for pilots);
- AFB Overberg (Flight testing and development centre);
- AFB Swartkop (Oldest air base, storage facility, and museum for retired aircraft);
- AFB Durban (Search and rescue and maritime patrol helicopter operations);
The SAAF maintains a compact yet modern combat fleet. Its primary air superiority and multirole capability is provided by 26 JAS 39 Gripen fighters, supported by 24 BAE Hawk Mk.120's, which serve as both lead-in trainers and light strike aircraft. In the early 2000s, these replaced a much larger fleet of nearly 100 Dassault Mirage and Atlas Cheetah multirole fighter-interceptors, reflecting a strategic shift towards a smaller, technologically advanced force focused on readiness and regional stability.[39]
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Rotary-wing assets form a vital element of the SAAF, centred around the AH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter, designed locally for close air support and reconnaissance, and the Atlas Oryx utility helicopter, used for troop transport, medical evacuation, and logistical lift. These are complemented by the AgustaWestland AW109 and the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 for utility and liaison roles. Training aircraft include the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra, used as the basic trainer, and the Hawk Mk.120 for the advanced flight training role, ensuring a steady pipeline of combat-ready pilots.[40]
Strategic and tactical airlift capability is centred on the C-130BZ Hercules, which forms the backbone of the SAAF's transport fleet. These are supported by CASA C-212's for light logistics, Cessna 208 Caravan's for patrol and electronic warfare tasks, and C-47TP Dakota's for maritime patrol and surveillance duties.[41][42] Plans for future airlift modernisation include evaluating newer-generation transport aircraft to eventually replace the ageing Hercules fleet.
Beyond manned aviation, the SAAF is expanding its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) capability with the locally developed Milkor 380 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), designed to enhance reconnaissance and precision-strike capacity.[43] Ground-based air defence and early warning functions are managed jointly with the South African Army, integrating radar systems, surveillance networks, and surface-to-air missile units to maintain situational awareness and national airspace security.
South African Navy
The South African Navy (SA Navy) is the naval warfare branch of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), responsible for defending the nation's territorial waters, safeguarding maritime trade routes, and supporting joint operations and peacekeeping missions along the African coastline. Headquartered at Naval Base Simon's Town near Cape Town, the Navy consists of roughly 7,000 active personnel and several hundred reservists, maintaining a balanced force of surface combatants, submarines, and support vessels.[44]
The Navy's surface combatant fleet is centred on four Valour-class (MEKO A-200SAN) stealth guided-missile frigates, which form the core of the SA Navy's blue-water capability. These multi-role surface combatants are equipped for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare. Planned modernisation programmes include replacing the interim 76 mm naval gun with a larger-calibre main weapon, expanding the vertical launching system (VLS) to accommodate a greater missile payload, and integrating supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles—although these upgrades have been delayed due to budgetary constraints. Complementing the frigates are several River-class mine countermeasure vessels, Warrior-class offshore patrol vessels, and a new generation of Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs) introduced under Project Biro, tasked with coastal security and maritime law enforcement.
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The submarine arm operates three Heroine-class (Type 209/1400MOD) diesel-electric attack submarines, commissioned between 2005 and 2008. These submarines are armed with torpedoes and have an optional anti-ship missile integration, providing the navy with a credible undersea warfare and deterrence capability in the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans. Historically, the SA Navy grew from a small coastal defence force into a regional navy with blue-water ambitions following the acquisition of its frigates and submarines in the early 2000s.
Naval aviation and support elements are operated jointly with the South African Air Force. The Super Lynx 300 Mk.64 naval helicopters are deployed aboard the Valour-class frigates for surface surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and search and rescue missions. Fleet replenishment and logistical support are provided by the SAS Drakensberg, a combat support vessel capable of extended deployments. The SA Navy also operates a growing hydrographic service, modernised through the new Hydrographic Survey Vessel SAS Nelson Mandela, enhancing South Africa's charting and oceanographic capabilities.
The Navy also maintains the Maritime Reaction Squadron (MRS), a versatile marine-like formation established in 2006 to conduct boarding operations, coastal patrols, and limited amphibious tasks in support of peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. The MRS effectively replaced the former South African Marine Corps (SAMC), which was disbanded in 1990 after plans to re-establish a dedicated marine corps were halted due to budget constraints. During the 2000s, the Navy explored Project Millennium, a proposal to acquire a large amphibious assault ship capable of deploying marine forces and helicopters for regional operations. The project gained media attention at the time, with some reports erroneously describing the proposed vessel as a potential "aircraft carrier," though no such plan was ever formally pursued. Ultimately, the project was shelved due to financial limitations; however, a future strategic sealift capability remains noted in the Defence Review, suggesting the project could be revived in the future should the SANDF receive increased funding.[45]
South African Military Health Service
The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) is the dedicated medical branch of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), tasked with providing comprehensive healthcare to military personnel and their dependants during peace, wartime, and operational deployments. Established to ensure the medical readiness of the SANDF, it supports the Army, Air Force, and Navy through preventative care, frontline trauma management, specialised treatment, and rehabilitation. The service comprises around 10,000 active and reserve personnel, operating across a network of military hospitals, field units, and support facilities nationwide.[46]
The SAMHS operates deployable medical units capable of providing frontline trauma care, field hospitals, and medical evacuation by both road and air. These units ensure that SANDF operations—whether combat, peacekeeping, or humanitarian relief—remain medically sustainable even in austere and hostile environments. Key assets include forward surgical teams, mobile intensive care units, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities using SANDF aircraft, such as the Atlas Oryx and AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters.
In addition to traditional medical care, the SAMHS encompasses environmental health, veterinary services, and biological defence research. Its personnel are trained to manage chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, while supporting national crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SAMHS contributed to mass testing, vaccination campaigns, and the rapid establishment of emergency medical facilities.
Through its integrated network of hospitals, field units, and specialist teams, the SAMHS is essential to the SANDF's operational capability. It not only ensures the health and welfare of military personnel at home and abroad but also reinforces South Africa's ability to project humanitarian and peacekeeping missions across the African continent.
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Personnel
- Males (69.4%)
- Females (30.6%)
On 31 March 2019, the demographics of service personnel were as follows:[47]: 165
The gender split in the SANDF as of 31 March 2019 is as follows:[47]
- 51,684 men (69.4%)
- 22,824 women (30.6%)
The target for female recruits increased to 40% in 2010.[48]
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Equipment
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The South African National Defence Force operates a mixture of domestically produced and imported military equipment. A large proportion of its inventory is sourced from South Africa's domestic defence industry, while additional systems are procured mainly from European and American suppliers.
Defence industry
South Africa's defence industry originated in the late 1960s, expanding significantly after the United Nations imposed a mandatory arms embargo on the country in 1963 in response to apartheid. The embargo, which remained in force until 1990, compelled South Africa to establish a self-sufficient and vertically integrated military-industrial base.[49]
Today, the South African defence industry is regarded as the largest and most advanced in Africa and one of the most capable outside of the major Western and Asian powers. It encompasses both state-owned enterprises and private companies and is able to design and manufacture a wide range of systems, including utility and attack helicopters, armoured personnel carriers, main battle tanks, artillery, missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, fixed-wing aircraft, small arms, and naval vessels. The industry also exports to more than 100 countries worldwide, reflecting its significant role in the global arms market.[50]
Beyond conventional systems, the sector played a key role in South Africa's apartheid-era strategic weapons programmes, developing the RSA series of ballistic missiles in cooperation with Israel and contributing to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons research. These programmes were dismantled in the early 1990s, but they remain an important part of the country's defence technology legacy.
It is estimated that around 80% of the South African National Defence Force's (SANDF) current equipment originates from the domestic defence sector, underlining its continued strength and global competitiveness.[51]
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Gallery
A South African soldier with the 9th South African Infantry Battalion.
Rooikat armoured reconnaissance vehicle.
Valour-class frigate Isandlwana (F146).
Badger infantry fighting vehicle.
South African Air Force Saab Gripen over Cape Town.
Ratel infantry fighting vehicles during manoeuvres.
Oryx helicopter cargo-slinging off the SAS Drakensberg.
G6 Rhino self-propelled howitzer.
C-130 Hercules conducting an airdrop demonstration.
BAE Hawks flying over Swartkop Air Force Base.
Rooivalk attack helicopter during an air show.
Paratroops of 44 Parachute Regiment, of the South African Army.
Air Assault Infantry fast-roping from an Oryx helicopter.
The SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102) submarine with HMS Portland (F79).
Female combat troops of South African Contingent in MONUSCO.
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2012 Defence Review
The South African Defence Review 2012 is a policy review process carried out by a panel of experts, chaired by retired politician and former Minister of Defence, Roelf Meyer.
The review was commissioned by Lindiwe Sisulu the then Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, in July 2011. The review was motivated by the need to correct the errors and shortcomings of the previous review. According to defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu, the old report was no longer relevant to South Africa's current situation.[52]
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See also
References
Further reading
External links
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