FINANCIAL YEAR	PERSONNEL	%	OPERATING EXPENSES	%	CAPITAL	%	TOTAL (100%)
86/87	2 500 000	20	5 000 000	39	5 200 000	41	12 700 000
87/88	2 500 000	17	4 900 000	34	6 900 000	48	14 300 000
88/89	2 600 000	17	5 600 000	37	6 700 000	45	15 000 000
89/90	2 600 000	16	6 100 000	38	7 200 000	45	15 900 000
90/91	2 700 000	19	5 000 000	35	6 400 000	45	14 100 000
91/92	2 900 000	26	4 300 000	38	4 000 000	36	11 200 000
92/93	2 800 000	27	4 000 000	38	3 600 000	34	10 500 000
93/94	2 900 000	31	3 700 000	40	2 600 000	28	9 300 000

Permanent Force

The Permanent Force comprises of career-orientated men and women of all population groups. A flexible service offering a range of terms of service, varying from short service (2-6 years), medium service (approximately 10 years) and long service (up to the mandatory retirement age of 65 years), has replaced the old system whereby members had to resign if they wished to terminate their service. Depending on their type of service contract, members are entitled to certain privileges similar to those of other civil servants, such as pensions after ten years service, vacational leave, etc. Selection for long service attestation will be made mostly from medium service members.

National Servicemen

These were members of the forces in their initial training period which is a forerunner to further service in the Citizen Force or Commando. Previously approximately 25 000 National Servicemen were called up in two intakes per year. This system is to be replaced in January 1994 by a Voluntary Military Service System, in which recruits will be trained and manpower will be utilised to feed the Part-time Force comprising the Citizen Force and the Commando Force (Commando's). These men are not intended for operational service during their initial training.

The Minister has announced that from 1994 only volunteers will be accepted for this training and the SADF has indicated that it will select 5 200 matriculants from all population groups for training in January of that year. This figure may vary annually. If the numbers of volunteers are not adequate to meet the needs of the SADF, the law makes provision for a ballot amongst male matriculants. Training is provided in conventional and counter-insurgency (COIN) musterings. Provision is made for men to serve in non-military capacity outside of the SADF in the case of those who are balloted and have conscientious objections to serving in the military.

The Citizen Force

These are members of the forces who have completed their initial training and have been allocated to one or other of the Citizen Force units or headquarters where they serve in a part-time capacity.

All the corps and musterings of a modern Defence Force for both conventional and COIN operations are provided in the Citizen Force. There are Citizen Force units in all Arms of Service, namely SA Army, SAAF, SAN and SAMS. They provide the greater manpower requirements for the SADF and have a strength upwards of 120 000 men. Many of these are volunteers for extended Citizen Force duty but from January 1994, a service commitment of 30 days per year for 8 years is required of all men and women who have completed one year of initial full-time training. Thereafter they are placed on the reserve for 16 years, or until 65 years of age.

Some Citizen Force Regiments are more than 100 years old and their traditions live on, in many cases because families (sons or nephews who follow their fathers, uncles and grandfathers) serve in the same regiments, thus greatly strengthening esprit de corps.

The Commando Force (Commando's)

These are members who have completed their initial training and have been allocated to one or other of the more than 200 Commando Units or Group HQs (a Group HQ commands between 3 to 8 Commando Units).

Commando's only provide infantry COIN musterings and specialise in area protection roles, intelligence and home-guard type duties. Members of the Citizen Force who find it impossible to serve away from their farms or one man businesses for 30 days are designated 'area bound' and serve in the Commando's for shorter periods at a time but not exceeding 30 days per year for 16 years. The total strength of the Commando's is approximately 130 000.

Many Commando Units trace their history back to the Boer Republics and have the same tradition of families continuing to serve in the same units.

Voluntary Term Service

This system was introduced in 1992. It was intended as an interim system to act as a bridge during the change-over and to supplement the old National Service system and support the new Voluntary Military Service System. It is a contract system that may be phased out in 1994.

The Service Volunteers

This is an older personnel system now being phased out. It was a contract systems for members rendering prescribed full-time service but not as regular Permanent Force. They do not enjoy the privileges and service conditions of the Permanent Force. The Service Volunteers were composed of volunteer members of all the population groups who were not compelled to do National Service (hence excluding white males), Examples of groups formed under this system are the Indian Volunteers who served at the now disbanded SAS Jalsena, Coloured Volunteers at Eerste River, young ladies serving in George and members of various black battalions. The latter amount to about 16 000 and include most of the members of 21, 111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 121 and 151 Battalions. Some of the members of these battalions are Auxiliary or Permanent Force members.

Auxiliary Service

Auxiliaries were males, of all races, who did not meet the academic or other selection criteria for service in the Permanent Force but who were employed in a lesser capacity. Since its inception the SADF has employed men in uniform to perform certain guard, maintenance and drivers' tasks. Some also saw service as stretcher bearers and medical orderlies as well as COIN infantry. No new appointments are being made in this system.

Women

Female members serve in the SADF under various systems in both the full-time and part-time forces. They are not trained for combatant roles but serve as administrative, medical, logistic, communication and catering staff.

The Reserves

All former members of the Permanent Force and the Citizen Force and certain categories of members of the Commando's are obliged to ensure that their changes of address are noted in the records of the Controlled Reserve. This is a source of manpower available to the SADF in the event of full mobilisation. Members are administered in the reserve on termination of their service in the systems described above for 16 years or until they reach the age of 65 years. Individual members with specialised skills can be called up voluntarily from the Reserve if there is an urgent requirement for their services. The Reserves number about 180 000.

FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME FORCES

Personnel may further be divided into the full-time force and the part-time forces. From January 1994 the full-time force will comprise only volunteers in the Permanent Force of various contracted periods (40 000), the Voluntary Military Service System replacing National Service (5 000 plus), the Service Volunteers, the VTS System, Auxiliaries, (all older systems being phased out, numbering around 16 000 in total) and the Civil Servants employed by the department (24 000).

The full time force is there to run the department from day to day and the uniform members are available for operations at any time in terms of their service contracts. Citizen Force and Commando service augments manpower needs should the level of operations increase. A Citizen Force Brigade can also be called-up for training at the Army Battle school for full-scale conventional type training exercises or deployment.

The exact day-to-day full-time strength of the SADF is difficult to determine at the time of writing because of the phasing out of the older systems. The full-time strength of the force would vary depending on the size of the National Service intakes, the call-up of Citizen Force and Commando, any rationalisation programme, such as the recent retrenchments of over 6 000 full-time members, the run-out or completion of the older type service contracts, and so on.

The Part-time Forces, which are available for call-up, have been estimated to number approximately 500 000 white males made up of the Citizen Force (approximately 120 000) the Commando's (approximately 130 000) and the Reserves (approximately 180 000). To this could also be added pensioners of the Permanent Force, both male and female. Obviously, as members grow older or die, whole yearly intakes move off the strength of the Reserve to be replaced by new intakes, members of which have completed their other specified service. In any general mobilisation, many men could be in essential service posts in commerce and industry, and would therefore be exempted from military service.

EQUIPMENT

However, throughout the history of the SADF, the availability or non-availability of armaments and equipment, not personnel, has always been the limiting factor. During the Second World War, South Africa had more than 334 000 volunteers serving, that number made up of members of both sexes and all racial groups. Given the strengths listed above and including both the full-time and part-time forces, as well as the recall of ex-members, pensioners and new volunteers, but excluding members exempted for essential services, it seems feasible that a fully mobilised strength of 500 000 could be achieved and maintained fairly easily. Such a figure could allow 100 000 men and women designated for service in the SAAF, SAN and SAMS; 100 000 manning headquarters, training units and logistic infra-structure; 100 000 supporting the SAP (something that was also necessary during World War II); and 200 000 available for employment in the SA Army (comprising 8 divisions, each of 25 000, conducting COIN and conventional operations).

At the outbreak of World War II practically no modern equipment was available, though by the end of the War, South Africa had developed a respectable armaments industry producing nearly 6 000 armoured cars, light tanks, some 600 guns and ammunition of all types.

Since 1968 Armscor has assumed the task of meeting the armaments requirements of South Africa and developing armaments for export. Armscor has been so successful that, despite the arms embargo, South Africa was recognised as the tenth ranked among international armaments exporters and developers of sophisticated arms. In recent years, Armscor have displayed its own prototypes of assault helicopters, light turboprop trainer aircraft (consider the Pilatus affair), twin automatic 35mm anti-aircraft guns mounted on the stretched 'Rooikat' Armoured Car chassis, long range anti-tank guided missiles mounted on the 'Ratel' chassis and recently a new main battle tank, etc. All of these systems are now aimed at the export market, as budgetary restrictions have limited demand from the SADF. Only such major products as modern jet fighters and large warships remain beyond the present scope of the local defence industry, mainly because of the expense involved in development and a limited market. The SAAF and SAN, whose equipment requirements can largely only be met by foreign sources and at considerable expense, are hardest hit by this constraint.

ARMS OF SERVICE

Of the Arms of the Service, the SA Army is by far the largest in terms of manpower. It accounts for at least 65 percent of all the full-time force members including nearly all Voluntary Military Servicemen, Contract Volunteers and Auxiliary members as well as up to 80 percent of the part-time forces. The SAAF and SAN, by contrast, are made up almost exclusively of the Permanent Force with some Contract Volunteers and Civilian assistance. Outside of Pretoria the SA Army with its full-time and part-time force units and headquarters visibly represent the structure of the SADF in most areas.

The Army then, is a large, mainly part-time force organisation, operating on a decentralised basis. The SAAF and SAN, in contrast, are largely full-time force organisations (members are long serving) and control of operations are centralised.

The SAAF and SAN are heavily equipment-orientated and experience the most problems in respect of availability and financing of major, new, high tech equipment, usually from foreign sources. The SA Army, by contrast, can have nearly every requirement supplied by the South African defence industry, provided adequate finances exist.

The SAMS support the other three arms which, given the explanation above, means their structure is largely modelled around support of the SA Army. The SAMS is also heavily dependent on their part-time members and, proportionately, it has the most women in service.

THE SA ARMY

The SA Army is made up of a core of full-time force members but its main strength lies in the Citizen Force and Commando Units. The SA Army is organised into a Conventional Force and a Territorial Force serving under an Army HQ, which is situated in Pretoria.

The Conventional Force

The Conventional Force comprises three conventional divisions drawn almost exclusively from the Citizen Force. These are 7, 8 and 9 Divisions with headquarters in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town respectively. These divisions are a balanced mix of all the arms and services required in modern conventional warfare with the accent on long range mobility and great fire-power. These divisions are generally well trained and composed of experienced personnel armed with sophisticated weapons. Not all the units within the three divisions are at full combat personnel and equipment strength.

Each division would have:

Two or more Armoured Car Regiments, some already equipped with the 'Rooikat' armoured car, while others will still have the 'Eland' until these are all replaced. The new long range anti-tank guided missile on the 'Ratel' chassis could also join these regiments.



A Tank Regiment equipped presently with the 'Olifant' tank.



Two Motorised Infantry Battalions presently transported in 'Buffels' but possibly later in a more modern Armoured Mine Protected Vehicle.



Two Mechanised Infantry Battalions equipped with the 'Ratel'.



Three Artillery Regiments equipped with G5 or G6 gun/howitzers, although some may still use the 140mm (5.5 inch) until this is phased out. One regiment is equipped with the 127mm Multiple Rocket Launcher - the 'Bataleur'.



Two Anti-Aircraft Regiments armed at present with a combination of 20mm and 35mm towed artillery but hopefully scheduled to re-equip with the new, highly mobile, double barrel 35mm guns mounted on stretched 'Rooikat' chassis.



An Engineer Regiment.



The necessary supporting service units.

A Parachute Brigade (44 Parachute Bde) with its headquarters in Bloemfontein and made up of a combination of Permanent Force, Volunteer Servicemen and Citizen Force. The brigade is a balanced force of all arms and services where personnel and heavy equipment are air-transportable and air-mobile/air-dropable.

The Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) of Permanent Force and Volunteer Servicemen Units, i.e., a full-time force organisation, allotted as required. This brigade-size force normally has some units in training at Army Battle School, Lohathla, with other units on standby. Its equipment is probably the best that can be provided and would include 'Rooikat', Ratel', G6 guns, etc.

Though conventional force soldiers can sometimes be employed in COIN operations, the force, or any part of it, is intended for intensive conventional operations wherever it is required.

The Territorial Force

The Territorial Force consists of the ten regional Commands (and one Military Area, Walvis Bay - set to be handed over to Namibia in 1994) into which South Africa is divided. These geographical areas follow the basic boundaries of the Economic Development Regions. The Commands are Western Province (HQ in Cape Town); Eastern Province; (HQ in Port Elizabeth); Northern Cape (HQ in Kimberley); Orange Free State (HQ in Bloemfontein); Natal (HQ in Durban); Northern Transvaal (HQ in Pretoria); Witwatersrand (HQ in Johannesburg); Eastern Transvaal (HQ in Nelspruit); Far North (HQ in Pietersburg); and North Western (HQ in Potchefstroom).

The Commander of a Territorial Command exercises authority over all SA Army operations and activities within his command area. Normally he also represents CSADF as the most senior local SADF representative.

Depending on its size, operational requirements, population etc., each Command exercises authority over some or all of the following:

A Commando Force. A number of Commando Groups normally comprising of 3 to 8 Commando Units, organised under the command of a Commando Group HQ.



A number of Citizen Force Units as allocated. (These are Coin Citizen Force units, not part of the Conventional Force)



Allocated Logistic and Support Service Units made up of Permanent Force/Citizen Force/Volunteer Servicemen.



Training Units with combat capability composed largely of National Servicemen for example 4 South African Infantry Battalion, 8 South African Infantry Battalion, etc. These units, though always in a given area during training, are not allocated to Commands for operations.



Operational COIN Units composed mainly of Volunteer Servicemen and Auxiliaries serving a contract period of at least 2 years such as 121, 115 and 21 Battalions, etc.

Chief of the Army

The Chief of the Army exercises command directly over certain specialised formations and units. He is assisted by a staff divided into personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, finance and planning divisions. Formations and units directly under command are made up of both full-time and part-time members and include the following:

Signal Formation



Engineer Formation



Logistics Command



Training Institutions such as the Army College, Army Battle School and the various Corps Schools.



Special Forces Directorate

THE SAAF

The SAAF had a totally different command philosophy and structure to those of the Army. The SAAF was heavily dependent on its full-time force members, particularly its Permanent Force component. This was not only because it operates in a highly technical environment but also because of the need for speedy and concentrated reaction. The SAAF used a system of centralised command and control with Air Force HQ working directly with individual bases, squadrons and sometimes even aircraft.

Recent rationalisation has meant that many types of aircraft have been withdrawn and disposed of. These include the fixed wing types of Shackelton, Buccaneer, Albatross, Kudu, Canberra, Transall (C160), and the rotary wing aircraft, the Super Frelon and Wasp. The Harvard trainers are scheduled for replacement soon by the Pilatus. This extensive disposal of aircraft has also led to a reduction in personnel and the closing of bases. However, the withdrawal of Eastern Block and Cuban forces, advisers and technical personnel from the so-called front line states as well as the continuing disruptive wars in Angola and Mozambique have left the SAAF, even in a reduced state, as the only modern military air force in southern Africa.

The SAAF is backed up by South Africa's strong civilian aviation infra-structure of South Africa (SAA, SAFAIR, COMAIR, Atlas, Radar Network and Air Control, etc.). The SAAF's aircraft inventory (including the Mirage, Cheetah, Impala, C130, Dakota Turbo-Prop, Boeing, Allouette, Oryx (Puma) and Bosbok types, to which can be added the trainer aircraft Harvard/Pilatus) enhancesd the capacity of the SADF to execute airborne operations, mountain and sea rescues, to supply food to refugees, to train foreign pilots and so on, in addition to its main role of military air operations.

The SAAF accounts for approximately 15 percent of all the available full-time defence force personnel (normally fewer than 15 000 men and women). The SAAF does have a Citizen Force element (although it plays a lesser role than in the Army), as well as the Air Commando Squadrons (volunteers piloting their private aircraft in a part-time capacity).

In recent times the SAAF has constructed a new, modern air base at Louis Trichardt. The SAAF do not use geographical commands. The SAAF makes use of two functional commands - Air Force Training Command and Air Logistic Command, both headquartered in Pretoria. All SAAF commands control, units and squadrons as allocated. The SAAF makes direct and considerable use of Atlas and other private companies to assist with maintenance, etc.

The Chief of the SAAF is assisted by a staff organised into personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, financial and planning divisions, and also exercises direct control over certain units, although the main control is of operations (the aircraft and squadrons) from the SAAF Central Command Post.

THE SAN

Like the SAAF, the SAN is heavily dependent on its full-time force members, including many civilian members who play an important role in the Naval Dockyard at Simonstown. The SAN makes up less than 10 percent of the total full-time defence force with fewer than 10 000 members, as well as a limited Citizen Force contingent.

The SAN also uses a system of centralised control, directing the efforts of units, flotillas, bases, squadrons or ships. The Chief of the Navy is assisted by a staff divided into personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, finance and planning divisions.

The operational strength of the SAN is built around the Submarine Flotilla (3 x Daphne class submarines), the Strike Craft Flotilla (8 x Minister class strike craft), the Mine Countermeasures Flotilla and its major seagoing vessels, the replenishment ships SAS Drakensberg and SAS Outeniqua. The most important and largest base is the Naval Dockyard at Simonstown with its special facilities. There are also a number of tugs, the hydrographic survey vessels (SAS Protea - one of the best equipped of this type of vessel in the world), harbour protection launches, etc. When compared to most foreign navies, the SAN is only a coastal force, however, there is a general absence of any modern naval force in Africa.

The capacity of the SAN is enhanced by the maritime infrastructure of South Africa, including civilian capacity for ship building and ship repairs, modern ports and harbours, the ability to monitor maritime movement around the Cape, an extensive fishing and commercial fleet, etc. The Cape remains one of the major choke points in international maritime traffic. Major refits and refurbishing of the SAN's submarines and mine sweepers (wooden hulls have been redecked) have been completed locally. Still, the SAN badly needs new, modern vessels, particularly craft in the corvette or frigate class, with a greater capability than the strike craft to sustain long periods at sea in bad weather.

SAMS

The SADF prides itself on the excellence of its medical support, including all aspects of medical, dental, hygiene, veterinary and welfare care. This is in a tradition which stretches back to the Second World War and such legendary figures as Dr Jack Penn, the reknowned reconstructive surgeon.

The core around which the service is built, are the three modern Military Hospitals (No. 1 in Pretoria, No. 2 in Cape Town and No. 3 in Bloemfontein). The SAMS, like the SA Army, are heavily dependent on its Citizen Force members, whose experience and expertise as medical doctors, specialists, etc., in the civilian medical field ensures modern, up to date skills are at the disposal of SAMS.

The SAMS uses a system of geographical commands similar to the SA Army, except that Northern Cape and OFS form the Central Medical Command and Far North and Northern Transvaal form the Northern Medical Command. Furthermore, the Surgeon General is assisted by a staff divided into Force Application and Force Support Divisions, including the functions of personnel, intelligence, operations, logistics, finance and planning, as well as professional services. There are also a number of training and specialised units (dealing particularly with aviation medicine and maritime medicine).

The SAMS forms part of the country's medical infra-structure, not only because it renders medical support to the SAP and SA Correctional Services and their members' families, but because the SAMS, via the Central Medical Depot, provides the largest share of medical supplies to all military and non-military institutions in the country.

CONCLUSION

The SADF is undergoing dramatic change which is often not completely visible from the outside. It is a large organisation, affecting many other sectors and the armaments industry. It is a complex organisation and the interdependent nature of its constituent parts means that change in one is felt throughout the whole. The SADF is, amongst other things, a major land owner and one of the largest government departments. At present it ranks as the strongest military force in the region.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following titles were used as major reference sources, although they are slightly dated in some cases

H Heitman, South African War Machine, Johannesburg, CNA, 1985.



A de la Rey, South African Defence Force Review, Durban, Walker-Ramus Trading Co, 1989.



A de la Rey, South African Defence Force Review, Durban, Walker-Ramus Trading Co, 1990.



S Stander, Like the Wind, Cape Town, Saayman and Weber (Pty) Ltd, 1985.



A du Toit, South Africa's Fighting Ships, Johannesburg, Ashanti Publishing (Pty) Ltd, 1992.



J Crwys-Williams, A Country at War, 1939-1945, Johannesburg, Ashanti, 1992.