33-639: The Permanent Force was an integral part of both the South African Defence Force and the South West Africa Territorial Force which consisted of all the full-time volunteers, volunteers of Auxiliaries and national servicemen . The Defence Act (No. 13) of 1912 established a Union Defence Force (UDF) that included a Permanent Force (or standing army ) of career soldiers, an Active Citizen Force (ACF) of temporary conscripts and volunteers as well as
66-416: A Cadet organization. The Permanent Force forms a part of other British Commonwealth militaries such as Australia. South African Defence Force The South African Defence Force ( SADF ) ( Afrikaans : Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag ) comprised the armed forces of South Africa from 1957 until 1994. Shortly before the state reconstituted itself as a republic in 1961, the former Union Defence Force
99-402: 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 , Namibia's South West African Territorial Force , and four (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda) Bantustan militaries. During Botha's term,
132-617: 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. Units such as the 32 Battalion incorporated many black volunteers, as did the 101 Battalion . Conscription was opposed by organisations such as the End Conscription Campaign , but overall, white morale remained high—as indicated by
165-890: A foreign rather than domestic enemy despite extensive preparation for both. As the Apartheid ended in 1994 , the SADF was transformed inthe SANDF, the South African National Defence Force . The State President was the Commander-in-Chief of the SADF with: Staff Divisions under the Chief of Defence Staff included: Other Support Services commands included: Prior to amalgamation, the SADF had 585,000 personnel divided as follows: South Africa at one time possessed nuclear weapons , but its stockpile
198-494: 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. 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,
231-495: A number of SNCOs (senior non-commissioned officers – sergeants and above), distinguished themselves and were commissioned. At the end of its era in Namibia , the unit had developed into a conventional battle group. Apart from the infantry companies and the recce company, the battalion was strengthened by a battery of 120 mm (4.7 in) mortars, a squadron of Ratel ZT-3 and 90 mm (3.5 in) tank destroyers and
264-568: A quarter of the original 1,000 three-two families at Pomfret, eking out mainly a hand-to-mouth existence. Many members of the unit later helped to found or joined private military companies such as Executive Outcomes and Sandline International , which fought on the side of the Angolan government against UNITA. Executive Outcomes was utilized by the Sierra Leonean government to repel RUF forces between March 1995 and March 1997 during
297-805: A troop of 20 mm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns mounted on Buffel infantry vehicles. Although the main bulk of the battalion was based at Buffalo on the banks of the Okavango River , the HQ was in Rundu , 200 km (120 mi) to the west . After Namibian independence in 1989-1990, the unit was withdrawn to South Africa where it was further used in a counter-insurgency role on South Africa's borders and later also in townships . On 8 April 1992, members of 32 Battalion were involved in an incident in Phola Park, Gauteng where members of
330-496: A unit that was initially known as Bravo Group but later renamed 32 Battalion. Initially, Bravo Group consisted of two infantry companies, a mortar platoon , an anti-tank section and a machine gun platoon, but 32 Battalion was finally expanded to seven infantry companies, a reconnaissance wing, and a support company consisting of 81 mm mortar, anti-tank and machine gun sections. [REDACTED] Unlike other South African Defence Forces (SADF) units, 32 Battalion
363-534: The Angolan Civil War during Operation Savannah and were also active alongside Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War . 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
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#1732771883821396-624: The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale . The battalion consisted of around 700 riflemen and NCOs ( non-commissioned officers ) (mostly Angolan nationals associated with the former FNLA or the Portuguese Army) and mainly South African officers, although commissioned military personnel from countries such as Australia , Rhodesia , Portugal and the United States were active with the battalion, especially in its early stages. As time progressed
429-532: The Sierra Leone Civil War . Some of the participants in the alleged 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt were former members of 32 Battalion. Because they were arrested in Zimbabwe , it is not clear whether any of those arrested had full knowledge of their final destination or the alleged plan to carry out a coup d'état. The battalion was one of the most decorated units during
462-618: The South African Border War , with a total of 13 Honoris Crux medals for bravery awarded to its members, second only to the South African Special Forces Brigade , whose members were awarded 46 Honoris Crux medals during the same period. In the 2006 film Blood Diamond , Leonardo DiCaprio 's Rhodesian character "Danny Archer" was a former member of 32 Battalion. In the 2013 film Elysium , Sharlto Copley 's character "Kruger"
495-793: The South African Police . South African military units were involved in the long-running Mozambican and Angolan civil wars, frequently supporting Pretoria's allies, the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). SADF personnel were also deployed during the related South African Border War . The military was mostly composed of white South Africans , who alone were subject to conscription . The permanent force of
528-577: 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. Military aircraft and special forces units deployed across Zimbabwe , Botswana , Lesotho , and Zambia to attack suspected insurgent bases. 30,000 South African military personnel were posted on
561-1016: The Army was 85% Afrikaans speaking. 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
594-705: The Namibian border by late 1985, frequently crossing the frontier to battle SWAPO groups operating from southern Angola . 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 200 miles from
627-432: 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. Most high-profile terrorist attacks were foiled or offered negative publicity from
660-513: The SADF began focusing on taking a more aggressive stance to the ongoing war against communist-supported liberation and anti- Apartheid movements in South Africa and Namibia (then South West Africa ) and targeting neighboring countries that offered them support. This was partially justified as a new structure intended to turn back a "total onslaught" on the republic from abroad. The post-colonial rise of newly independent black governments on
693-682: 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. 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 ,
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#1732771883821726-460: The armed forces continued under former defence minister Pieter Willem Botha , who became state president in 1984. 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,
759-969: The few recruits tried for serious disciplinary offences. 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. 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. After 1957,
792-498: 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. 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
825-729: 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 . During apartheid , armed SADF troops were used in countering terror attacks, often directly supporting
858-700: The new South African Defence Force was faced with a post-war upsurge in African nationalism , and forced to expand its resources accordingly. 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. 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 . SADF units fought in
891-701: The public were shot and killed. The incident drew widespread criticism, specifically from the African National Congress (ANC) and prompted the Minister of Defence to request an investigation by the Goldstone Commission. As one of the results of the negotiations between the National Party and the ANC, the unit was disbanded in March 1993. After the battalion was disbanded, the remaining members of
924-549: The unit were transferred to other SADF-units such as the Parachute and Mechanised Battalions as well as the Recces . It was also decided to reactivate 2 SAI at Pomfret which enabled about a quarter of the troops to return to Pomfret as members of the new 2 SAI. However, when 2 SAI was moved to Zeerust in 1999, many of them decided to rather stay behind at Pomfret and handed in their resignations. In 2008 there still remained about
957-652: Was disbanded on 26 March 1993. After the victory of the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola ( MPLA ) in the Angolan War of Independence in 1975, many troops of its main rival, the Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola ( National Liberation Front of Angola , FNLA), found refuge in the then South African -controlled South West Africa . From these troops, Colonel Jan Breytenbach together with Commandant Sybie van der Spuy formed
990-400: Was dismantled during the political transition of the early 1990s. 32 Battalion (South Africa) 32 Battalion (sometimes nicknamed Buffalo Battalion , Three-two battalion or Portuguese : Os Terríveis for The Terrible Ones ) was an elite light infantry battalion of the South African Army founded in 1975, composed of black and white commissioned and enlisted personnel. It
1023-493: Was mainly deployed in southern Angola , acting as a buffer between the SADF's regular forces and its enemies. The unit was also used to assist the anti-communist movement of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola ( UNITA ). Although it was mainly used as a counter-insurgency force it was eventually also used as a semi-conventional force, especially during the later phases of the war – particularly at
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1056-481: Was officially succeeded by the SADF, which was established by the Defence Act (No. 44) of 1957. The SADF, in turn, was superseded by the South African National Defence Force in 1994. 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
1089-470: Was skilled in both counterinsurgency warfare and conventional mechanised operations. In 1984, 11,000 infantrymen were even trained to execute blitzkrieg tactics. 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
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