24-406: Constand is a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name [ edit ] Constand Viljoen (1933–2020), South African military commander and politician Surname [ edit ] Andrea Constand (born 1973), Canadian basketball player [REDACTED] Name list This page or section lists people that share
48-798: A paratrooper at this time in Bloemfontein . OC Army College, Director of Artillery (on the staff of the Chief of the Army ) and Director Management Services (on the staff of the Chief of Defence Staff ). By 1974, Viljoen had been named the South African Army 's Director of General Operations , subsequently serving as the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the South African Defence Force . He
72-726: A parliament dominated by the ANC. In 2003, it emerged that Viljoen had been a target of the Boeremag paramilitary right-wing group, which considered him a traitor who had underhandedly sold out the Afrikaner people . In 2008 Viljoen, aged 74, put up what was described as a spirited fight against two would-be muggers, who were subsequently arrested. Current Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald announced on 3 April 2020 that Viljoen had died on his farm in Ohrigstad , Mpumalanga . He
96-570: A potential contingency to protect Afrikaner interests. In March 1994, Viljoen led an effort by several thousand Volksfront militia to protect the bantustan president, Lucas Mangope , in Bophuthatswana against a coup d'état . Despite being requested not to participate in the action because of extremist views, militants of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging also advanced into Bophuthatswana, sparking clashes with
120-498: The Battle of Cassinga , a raid carried out against SWAPO insurgents. Despite his rank, Viljoen was present during the battle, offering what was described as a "swashbuckling" front-line leadership, which won him the respect of many fellow soldiers . Viljoen is credited by some with having made overtures which helped lead to white South Africans ' acceptance of universal suffrage and free elections, such as with his famous speech at
144-682: The Broederbond annual assembly in Voortrekkerhoogte , saying of the black South Africans in his army, As hulle kan veg vir Suid-Afrika, kan hulle stem vir Suid-Afrika! ( Afrikaans : "If they can fight for South Africa, then they can vote for South Africa!"). In 1993, Viljoen and fellow retired generals formed the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front), an umbrella body for conservative Afrikaners. However, Viljoen reportedly had strained relationships with
168-660: The National Assembly . As the VF became the strongest party outside Nelson Mandela 's Government of National Unity , as the provisional 1993 Constitution required the participation of all parties over 5% of the vote, Viljoen became the de facto leader of the opposition in South Africa until the NP's departure from government in 1996, although he did not officially hold the position. Although his supporters were at odds with
192-637: The Air Force' 1941–51, and 'Air Chief of Staff' 1951–66, and has been 'Chief of the Air Force' since 1966. 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
216-489: The Army' since 1966. Lieutenant General Werndly van der Riet and Major General Mannetjies de Goede spent some time acting as Chief of the Army. 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
240-1043: The Military Gymnasium in Voortrekkerhoogte for the Permanent Force Cadet Course of which he won the "Best Student" in 1952. He studied at the Military Academy from 1953 and graduated as Best Student in 1955 receiving a degree in military science at the University of Pretoria . He was among others Aide de Camp to Dr EG Jansen, Battery Commander at 4 Field Regiment, Instructor at the School of Artillery and Armour, OC 14 Field Regiment in Bethlehem, OC School of Artillery. Second in Command Orange Free State Command in 1968. Col Viljoen qualified as
264-551: The South African National Defence Force in 1994. The SANDF was based on the existing SADF structure of Army , Air Force , Navy , and Medical Service (which was renamed Military Health Service in 1998). 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' 1948–51 and 'Army Chief of Staff' 1951–66, and has been 'Chief of
SECTION 10
#1732773011646288-535: The South African government recognised him for preventing bloodshed. Viljoen's decision was at least partly influenced by the mediation of his identical twin brother, Abraham Viljoen (Braam), who was an anti-apartheid activist while his brother led the military. In the 1994 general election, the Freedom Front, under the leadership of Viljoen, received 2.2% of the national vote and nine seats in
312-757: 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. The UDF was renamed 'South African Defence Force' in November 1958. The Commandant General's title was then changed to 'Commandant General SADF'. It
336-489: The government and the ANC, Viljoen praised Mandela on the occasion of his retirement from politics in 1999, even ending his Parliamentary speech speaking in Mandela's native language, Xhosa : Go and have yourself a well-earned rest. Go rest in the shadow of a tree at your home . In 2001, Viljoen handed over the leadership of the Freedom Front to Pieter Mulder and retired from politics, citing his frustration working with
360-494: The leaders of other right-wing parties, who considered him too moderate. Immediately prior to the 1994 general elections Viljoen had a force of between 50,000 and 60,000 trained paramilitary personnel at his command, with the ability to seize large sections of the country. The force was assembled in preparation for war with uMkhonto weSizwe , the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), as
384-645: The same given name or the same family name . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constand&oldid=1176357364 " Categories : Given names Surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata All set index articles Constand Viljoen [REDACTED] General Constand Laubscher Viljoen SSA SD SOE SM MMM (28 October 1933 – 3 April 2020)
408-548: The security forces. Immediately after the incident, Viljoen split from the Volksfront and initiated a legitimate election campaign, co-founding and becoming leader of the Freedom Front ( Vryheidsfront ), a new political party representing white conservatives. His decision to take part in the elections is believed to have prevented armed resistance by the far right and on the occasion of his retirement from politics,
432-521: Was 86 and was surrounded by his children. Viljoen died of natural causes. He is survived by his wife Christina Susanna Heckroodt, four sons and a daughter. List of South African military chiefs#Chief of the SADF This article lists the South African military chiefs . From 1958 until the first democratic general election in 1994, the present-day South African National Defence Force
456-588: Was a South African Army officer and politician. He co-founded the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later founded the Freedom Front (which in turn merged into the Freedom Front Plus before the 2004 election ). He is partly credited with having prevented the outbreak of armed violence by disaffected white South Africans prior to post- apartheid general elections . Viljoen matriculated at Standerton High School in 1951. He joined South Africa's pre-republic Union Defence Force at
480-547: Was appointed as Chief of the Army in 1977 and succeeded General Magnus Malan as Chief of the South African Defence Force in 1980. He was awarded the Master Gunner badge (crossed-barrels) in 1984. Viljoen was the senior SADF military officer directing Operation Savannah in 1975. He is also credited with having planned the first major airborne assault in South African military history,
504-658: 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 election , the South African Defence Force (SADF) became the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The SADF amalgamated with the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and the homeland defence forces to form
SECTION 20
#1732773011646528-850: 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
552-752: Was known as the South African Defence Force . From 1912 to 1958, the South African military was known as the Union Defence Force . In terms of section 202(1) of the Constitution of South Africa , the military command of the Defence Force consists of the Chief of the Defence Force plus the Chiefs of the combat arms (Army, Air Force and Navy) as well as The Defence Force consists of the Army , Air Force , Navy , and Medical Service (which
576-524: Was renamed 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. As of June 2021 the Chief of the SANDF is General Rudzani Maphwanya SM , MMM . The Union Defence Force (UDF) consisted initially of land forces. An aviation corps
#645354