List of South African military chiefs
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The following is a list of South African military chiefs. From 1958 until the first post-apartheid election in 1994, the present-day South African National Defence Force was known as the South African Defence Force. From 1912 to 1958, the military was known as the Union Defence Force.
In terms of section 202(1) of the South African Constitution, the military command of the Defence Force consists of[1] the Chief of the Defence Force plus the Chiefs of the combat arms (Army, Air Force and Navy) as well as
- the Surgeon-General of the South African Military Health Service;
- the Chief of Joint Operations of the Defence Force;
- the Chief of Defence Intelligence;
- the Chief of Human Resources; and
- the Chief of Logistics.
Head of the Defence Force
The Defence Force consists of the South African Army, South African Air Force, South African Navy, and South African Medical Service (which was renamed South African Military Health Service in 1998). The Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the senior military commander and the chiefs of the four services, in addition to the chiefs of Joint Operations, Defence Intelligence, and Corporate Staff, report to him.[2] As of July 2012 the Chief of the SANDF is Gen. Solly Shoke SBS MMS.
Chief of the Union Defence Force
The Union Defence Force (UDF) consisted initially of land forces. An aviation corps was formed in 1915 and replaced by the South African Air Force in 1920. A naval branch was added in 1922, and the South African Division of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was incorporated into it in 1942.
In 1951, the defence forces were reorganised into three distinct combat services: the South African Army, the South African Air Force, and the South African Navy. The organisation was renamed "South African Defence Force" in 1958.
The UDF had no overall commander for the first nine and a half years. From January 1922, the Chief of the General Staff, previously responsible only for the Defence Headquarters staff, was the executive commander of the UDF. The title was changed to 'Commandant General UDF' in September 1956.
| Name | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|
| Maj Gen Andries Brink DTD DSO | 1 October 1922 | 1 May 1933 |
| Gen Sir Pierre van Ryneveld KBE CB DSO MC | 2 May 1933[3] | 1 May 1949 |
| Lt Gen Leonard Beyers | 2 May 1949 | 15 March 1950 |
| Lt Gen Christiaan du Toit DSO | 16 March 1950 | 22 September 1956 |
| Gen Hendrik Klopper DSO | 23 September 1956 | 24 September 1958 |
| Gen Stephen Melville SSA OBE | 25 September 1958 | 31 October 1958 |
Chief of the SADF
The UDF was renamed 'South African Defence Force' in November 1958.[4] The Commandant General's title was then changed to 'Commandant General SADF'. It was changed to 'Chief of the SADF' in July 1973, after Admiral Hugo Biermann assumed the post the year before. After South Africa's first democratic elections the South African Defence Force became the South African National Defence Force.
| Name | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Stephen Melville SSA OBE | 1 November 1958 | 31 December 1960 |
| Gen Pieter Grobbelaar SSA DSO | 1 January 1961 | 31 December 1965 |
| Gen Rudolph Hiemstra SSA SM | 1 January 1966 | 31 March 1972 |
| Adm Hugo Biermann SSA SD OBE GCIH | 1 April 1972 | 31 August 1976 |
| Gen Magnus Malan SSA SD SM | 1 September 1976 | 6 October 1980 |
| Gen Constand Viljoen SSA SD SOE SM | 7 October 1980 | 30 October 1985 |
| Gen Johannes Geldenhuys SSA SD SOE SM | 1 November 1985 | 31 October 1990 |
| Gen Andreas Liebenberg SSA SD SOE SM MMM | 1 November 1990 | 31 October 1993 |
| Gen Georg Lodewyk Meiring SSAS SD SM MMM | 1 November 1993 | 30 April 1994 |
Chief of the SANDF
The SADF amalgamated with the Azanian People's Liberation Army, Umkhonto we Sizwe, and the homeland defence forces to form the South African National Defence Force in 1994. The SANDF was based on the existing SADF structure of South African Army, South African Air Force, South African Navy, and South African Medical Service (which was renamed South African Military Health Service in 1998).
| Name | Start of Term | End of Term |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Georg Lodewyk Meiring SSA SD SM MMM | 27 April 1994 | 31 May 1998 |
| Gen Siphiwe Nyanda SSA SBS CLS DMG MMS MMM | 1 June 1998 | 31 May 2005 |
| Gen Godfrey Ngwenya SBG DMG MMS | 1 June 2005 | 1 May 2011 |
| Gen Solly Shoke SBS MMS | 2 May 2011 | Incumbent |
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Chief of the Army
The Chief of the South African Army is the professional head of the Army. There was no separate army commander until 1948. The post was called 'Director-General of Land Forces'[5] 1948–51 and 'Army Chief of Staff' 1951–66, and has been 'Chief of the Army since 1966.
| Name | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|
| Brig Christiaan du Toit DSO[6]:92 | 10 November 1948 | 15 March 1950[5] |
| Brig Hendrik Klopper DSO[6]:94 | 16 March 1950 | 30 April 1953 |
| Maj Gen Pieter Grobbelaar SSA DSO[6]:93 | 1 May 1953 | 24 September 1958 |
| Maj Gen Nick Bierman SSA SM CBE[6]:89 | 25 September 1958 | 31 October 1959 |
| Maj Gen Sybrand Engelbrecht SM[6]:92 | 1 November 1959 | 3 March 1963 |
| Maj Gen Petrus Jacobs SSA SM[6]:93 | 4 March 1963 | 31 December 1965 |
| Lt Gen Charles 'Pop' Fraser SSA SM[6]:92 | 1 October 1966 | 30 November 1967 |
| Lt Gen Willem Louw SSA SM[6]:94 | 1 December 1967 | 30 June 1973 |
| Lt Gen Magnus Malan SSA SD SM MP[6]:95 | 1 July 1973 | 31 August 1976 |
| Lt Gen Constand Viljoen SSA SM | 1 September 1976 | 6 October 1980 |
| Lt Gen Johannes Geldenhuys SSAS SD SM[6]:92 | 7 October 1980 | 30 October 1985 |
| Lt Gen Andreas Liebenberg SSAS SD | 1 November 1985 | 28 February 1990 |
| Lt Gen Georg Meiring SSAS SD SM MMM | 1 March 1990 | 31 October 1993 |
| Lt Gen Hattingh Pretorius SD SM MMM | 1 November 1993 | 31 December 1994 |
| Lt Gen Reginald Otto SD SM MMM | 1 January 1995 | 30 June 1998 |
| Lt Gen Gilbert Ramano SSAS SD MMS MMM MMB | 1 July 1998 | 31 May 2004 |
| Lt Gen Solly Shoke SBS MMS | 1 June 2004 | 1 May 2011 |
| Lt Gen Vusumuzi Masondo MMM | 1 October 2011[7] | 31 January 2016 |
| Lt Gen Lindile Yam CLS MMS | 1 February 2016[8] | Incumbent |
Lt Gen Werndly Van der Riet SSA SM MC spent some time acting as Head of the Army.[6]:98
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Chief of the Air Force
The Chief of the South African Air Force is the professional head of the Air Force. The post was called 'Director of Air Services' 1920–33, 'Director of Air & Technical Services' 1937–39, 'Director-General of Air Services' 1939–41, 'Director-General of the Air Force' 1941–51, and 'Air Chief of Staff' 1951–66, and has been 'Chief of the Air Force' since 1966.
| Name | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|
| Col Sir Pierre van Ryneveld KBE DSO MC | 1 February 1920 | 30 September 1937[9] |
| Col Francis Hoare CBE | 1 October 1937 | 31 October 1937 |
| Lt Col Hector Daniel MC AFC | 1 November 1937 | 12 September 1939 |
| Col John Holthouse OBE | 13 September 1939 | 30 September 1940 |
| Maj Gen Christoffel Venter CB DFC | 1 October 1940 | 16 October 1945 |
| Brig Harold Willmott CBE | 17 October 1945 | 10 September 1946 |
| Brig James 'Jimmy' Durrant CB DFC | 1 October 1946 | 30 June 1951 |
| Brig Harold Willmott CBE | 1 July 1951 | 24 August 1954 |
| Brig Stephen Melville OBE | 25 August 1954 | 22 September 1956 |
| Maj Gen Barend Viljoen SSA OBE | 23 September 1956 | 30 April 1965 |
| Lt Gen Henry "Kalfie" Martin SM CBE DFC | 1 May 1965 | 30 November 1967 |
| Lt Gen Jacobus Verster SSA SM | 1 December 1967 | 28 February 1975 |
| Lt Gen Robert 'Bob' Rogers SSA SM DSO DFC | 1 March 1975 | 30 November 1979 |
| Lt Gen Michal Muller SSAS SD | 1 December 1979 | 29 February 1984 |
| Lt Gen Denis Earp SSA SD SM | 1 March 1984 | 30 June 1988 |
| Lt Gen Jan van Loggerenberg SSAS SD SOE | 1 July 1988 | 31 October 1991 |
| Lt Gen James Kriel SSAS SD SM MMM | 1 November 1991 | 30 April 1996 |
| Lt Gen Willem Hechter SSAS SD SM MMM | 1 May 1996 | 29 February 2000[9] |
| Lt Gen Roelf Beukes SD SM MMM | 1 March 2000 | 28 February 2005 |
| Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano SM MMM | 1 March 2005 | 30 September 2012 |
| Lt Gen Fabian Msimang | 1 October 2012 | Incumbent |
Chief of the Navy
The Chief of the South African Navy is the professional head of the Navy. The post was called 'Officer Commanding South African Naval Service' 1922–32, 'Director, Seaward Defence Force' 1940–42, 'Director, South African Naval Forces' 1942–51, 'Naval & Marine Chief of Staff' 1951–55, and 'Naval Chief of Staff' 1955–66, and has been 'Chief of the Navy' since 1966.
| Name | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|
| Cdr Norman Rankin | 1 April 1922 | 3 June 1928 |
| Cdr Robert F.U.P. Fitzgerald | 4 June 1928 | 4 November 1932 |
| Vacant (the Navy disposed of its ships and reduced personnel to a few administrative staff) | 1933 | 1939 |
| R Adm Guy Hallifax | 16 September 1939 | 28 March 1941 |
| Cdre James Dalgleish CBE | 21 March 1941 | 30 November 1946 |
| Cdre Frederick Dean OBE | 1 December 1946 | 30 June 1951 |
| Brig Pieter de Waal CB CBE | 1 July 1951 | 30 November 1952 |
| V Adm Hugo H Biermann SSA OBE | 1 December 1952 | 31 March 1972 |
| V Adm James 'Flam' Johnson SSA SM DSC | 1 April 1972 | 30 September 1977 |
| V Adm J Charl Walters SD SM | 1 October 1977 | 30 January 1980 |
| V Adm Ronald A. Edwards SSAS SM | 1 February 1980 | 30 September 1982 |
| V Adm Andries P "Dries" Putter SSAS | 1 October 1982 | 30 June 1985 |
| V Adm Glen Syndercombe SSAS SD SOE SM | 1 July 1985 | 31 March 1989 |
| V Adm Andries P "Dries" Putter SSAS SD MMM | 1 April 1989 | 30 June 1990 |
| V Adm Lambert J “Woody” Woodburne DVR SD SM | 1 July 1990 | 31 August 1992 |
| V Adm Robert Simpson-Anderson SSAS SD SM MMM | 1 September 1992 | 31 October 2000 |
| V Adm Johan Retief SD SM MMM | 1 November 2000 | 28 February 2005 |
| V Adm Refiloe Johannes Mudimu CLS DMG SM MMS MMM | 1 March 2005 | 31 March 2014[10] |
| V Adm Samuel Hlongwane MMS MMB | 1 April 2014 | Incumbent |
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Surgeon General
The Surgeon General is the Chief of the South African Military Health Service, which was known as the South African Medical Service before 1994.
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| From | Surgeons General | To |
| 1 February 1960 | Maj Gen Eugene Raymond SSA SM | 31 March 1969 |
| 1 April 1969 | Lt Gen Colin Cockcroft SSA SM | 31 October 1977 |
| 1 November 1977 | Lt Gen Nicolaas Nieuwoudt SSA SD SM | 29 February 1988 |
| 1 March 1988 | Lt Gen Daniel Knobel SSAS SD SOE SM MMM KStJ MBC HB PHD | 27 April 1994 |
| From | Surgeons General | To |
| 27 April 1994 | Lt Gen Daniel Knobel SSAS SD SOE SM MMM KStJ MBC HB PHD | 30 November 1997 |
| 1 December 1997 | Lt Gen Davidson Masuku SSAS MMM KStJ | 30 September 2000 |
| 1 October 2000 | Lt Gen Jurinus Janse van Rensburg SD SM MMM KStJ | 31 July 2005 |
| 1 August 2005 | Lt Gen Vejaynand Ramlakan DMG MMS MMB KStJ | 31 March 2013 |
| 1 April 2013 | Lt Gen Aubrey Sedibe DMG MMS MMM KStJ | Incumbent |
Chief of Joint Operations
| Name | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|
| Lt Gen Deon Ferreira PVD SD SM MMM | 1 August 1997 | 31 December 2000 |
| Lt Gen Godfrey Ngwenya MMS | 1 January 2001 | 31 May 2005 |
| Lt Gen Sipho Binda MMS | 1 June 2005 | 14 November 2006 |
| Lt Gen Themba Matanzima CCM SM MMM | 1 September 2007 | 30 September 2011 |
| Lt Gen Derrick Mgwebi SD SM MMM | 1 October 2011[7] | 31 January 2016 |
| Lt Gen Duma Mdutyana MMB | 1 February 2016 | Incumbent |
Chief of Corporate Staff
The Chief of Corporate Staff is responsible for the provision of all staff services for the SANDF.[11]
| Name | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|
| V Adm Martyn Trainor SD SM MMM | 1 October 2000 | 31 January 2004 |
| Lt Gen Themba Matanzima CCM SM MMM | 1 February 2004 | 31 July 2005 |
| Lt Gen Jurinus Janse van Rensburg SD SM MMM KStJ | 1 August 2005 | 30 April 2010 |
| Maj Gen Louis Dlulane MMM (acting) | 1 May 2010 | 30 March 2013[12] |
| Lt Gen Vejaynand Ramlakan DMG MMS MMB KStJ | 1 April 2013[12] | 31 May 2015 |
| Lt Gen Vusumuzi Masondo MMM | 1 February 2016[12] | Incumbent |
References
- ↑ "Chapter 1 : Introductory Provisions 4A. Military Command of Defence Force". Defence Act (Act No. 42 of 2002). Parliament of South Africa. 2002.
- ↑ Defence Act (Act No. 42 of 2002). Parliament of South Africa. 2002.
- ↑ Ellis, Johan (2000). "Oswald Pirow's Five-Year Plan for the Reorganisation of the Union Defence Force, 1933-193". South African Journal of Military Studies 30 (2).
- ↑ http://www.dod.mil.za/documents/acts/defence%20act44of1957.pdf
- 1 2 Lillie, Ashley C. (2012). "The Origin and Development of the South African Army" (Online). Scientia Militaria - South African Journal of Military Studies 12 (2). doi:10.5787/12-2-618. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "LEIERS DEUR DIE JARE (1912-1982)" (Online). Scientia Militaria - South African Journal of Military Studies (in Afrikaans) 12 (2): 89–98. doi:10.5787/12-2-631. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- 1 2 http://www.dod.mil.za/news/news%202011/September2011/springbok.htm
- ↑ "Yam takes over from Masondo as Army Chief". defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Fact file: Chiefs of the SA Air Force". DefenceWeb.co.za. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ↑ Helfrich, Kim. "Hlongwane named new Navy Chief". Defenceweb. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ "Defence Amendment Bill 2002" (PDF). Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "New Chief of Corporate Staff Services for SANDF". defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
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