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, 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.

History Integration process

In 1994, the SANDF took over the personnel and equipment from the SADF and integrated forces from the former Bantustan homelands forces, 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.

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.

The South African Commando System was a civil militia active until 2008, based upon local units from the size of company to battalion. 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.Bright hopes betrayed Mail & Guardian The South African Department of Defence's Strategic Defence Acquisition purchased frigates, submarines, light utility helicopters, lead-in fighter trainer and multirole combat aircraft.

Decline Systemic public-sector corruption, State capture, (2011/12 to 2017) had a debilitating effect on Denel and consequently the country's defence capability. 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. 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". A series of cuts to its capital and operating budgets compromised several capabilities.

In 2017 and 2021 respectively, 83 and some 200 to 500 out-of-service military vehicles were destroyed in fires at the Wallmansthal vehicle depot, and a spokesperson was not available to liaise with the press. 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. 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. 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), and only 27 of 87 helicopters. Budget and hardware constraints also compromised flight training and exercises, besides the retention of experienced pilots and personnel. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. 63% of the 2022/23 defence budget was allocated to employee compensation.

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. An additional 13 SANDF personal from the Logistics, Joint Operations and Special Forces divisions were convicted for corruption in another incident.

Domestic operations

, the SANDF was involved in several internal operations, including: 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.

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. It also provides foreign election security when needed.

Organisation and structure 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:

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:

South African Army

South African Air Force

South African Navy

South African Military Health Service

The Joint Operations Division is responsible for co-ordinating all Joint Operations involving any or all of the four services. The South African Special Forces Brigade is the only organic unit under the direct command of the Joint Operations division. Unlike most other special forces it is not part of the Army or any other branch of the SANDF.

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 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.

Branches

South African Army

The South African Army is the ground forces branch of the SANDF, responsible for national defence, landward operations, border safeguarding, regional peacekeeping missions, disaster relief, and support to civil authorities. It consists of around 40,000 active personnel and more than 12,000 reservists, making it the SANDF's largest branch. The service is headed by the Chief of the South African Army and is organised into several combat, combat support, and service support formations, including:

Infantry Formation (mechanised, motorised, airborne, and light infantry units); Armour Formation (tank and armoured reconnaissance units); Artillery Formation (field artillery and fire support units); Air Defence Artillery Formation (ground-based air defence systems); Engineer Formation (combat engineering and infrastructure support); Intelligence Formation (military intelligence and battlefield surveillance); Support Formation (logistics, maintenance, and combat service support).

The South African Army operates a wide range of military equipment, including main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, and armoured personnel carriers (APCs), alongside artillery systems, air-defence systems, engineering equipment, and logistical support vehicles.

South African Air Force

The South African Air Force (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag, abbreviated SAAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the 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 independent air force in the world after the British Royal Air Force. Commanded by the Chief of the SAAF, the service 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. The principal air force 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 Swartkop (Mobile Deployment Wing, museum, and the oldest air force base); 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 (Test flight and development centre); AFB Durban (Search and rescue and maritime helicopter operations);