What is the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)?
Q: What is the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)?
A: The SANDF is the military of South Africa, made up of four branches: the South African Army, the South African Navy, the South African Air Force, and the South African Military Health Service.
Q: Who is in charge of political leadership for the SANDF?
A: The Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans, currently headed by Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is in charge of political leadership.
Q: Who is Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF?
A: The Commander-in-Chief of the military is the President of South Africa, currently Cyril Ramaphosa.
Q: When was the Union Defence Force established?
A: The history of the SANDF can be traced back to 1912 with establishment of Union Defence Force (UDF).
Q: What was previously known as Union Defence Force?
A: In 1957, it was renamed to become known as South African Defence Force (SADF).
Q: What conflicts did SADF forces take part in?
A: SADF forces were involved in a guerrilla war against SWAPO and ANC in Namibia as well as Angolan Civil War.
Q: How was SADF combined with other forces to form current version -SANDF ?
A: In 1994 ,the South African Defence Force was combined with Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), several Bantustan defence forces and self protection units from Inkatha Freedom Party to form current version -South African National Defence Force(SANDF).
