South African National Defence Force

Not to be confused with the former South African military, the South African Defence Force (1957–1994).

South African National Defence Force
10 other official names:
  • Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag (Afrikaans)
  • IButho leSewula Afrika lezokuVikela leliZweloke (Southern Ndebele)
  • UMkhosi woKhuselo weSizwe waseMzantsi Afrika (Xhosa)
  • UMbutho Wezokuvikela WaseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
  • Umbutfo Wetekuvikela Wavelonkhe waseNingizimu Afrika (Swazi)
  • Sešole sa Tšhireletšo sa Bosetšhaba sa Afrika Borwa (Northern Sotho)
  • Lebotho la Naha la Tshireletso la Aforika Borwa (Sotho)
  • Sesole sa Tshireletso ya Naga ya Aforika Borwa (Tswana)
  • Vutho ra Rixaka ra Vusirheleli ra Afrika-Dzonga (Tsonga)
  • Tshiimiswa tsha Mmbi ya Vhupileli ya Afurika Tshipembe (Venda)
Emblem of the SANDF
Flag of the SANDF
MottoFor the brave, for the proud
Founded1 July 1912
(112 years, 4 months)
(as Union Defence Force)
Current form1994
Service branches South African Army
 South African Navy
 South African Air Force
South African Military Health Service
HeadquartersPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Websitedod.mil.za
Leadership
Commander-in-chiefPresident Cyril Ramaphosa
Minister of Defence and Military VeteransAngie Motshekga
Chief of the SANDFGeneral Rudzani Maphwanya
Personnel
Military age18–49
ConscriptionNo (abolished in 1994) [1]
Available for
military service		10,354,769 males, age 18–49 (2005),
10,626,550 females, age 18–49 (2005)
Fit for
military service		4,927,757 males, age 18–49 (2005),
4,609,071 females, age 18–49 (2005)
Reaching military
age annually		512,407 males (2005),
506,078 females (2005)
Active personnel71,235 (2021/22)[2][3]: 108 
Reserve personnel29,350 (2020/2021)[4]
Expenditure
BudgetUS$2.8 billion[5]
Percent of GDP0.7% (2023)
Industry
Domestic suppliers
Foreign suppliers
Related articles
History
RanksSouth African military ranks

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander 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,[6][7] 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.

  1. ^ "Country report and updates". 7 March 2024.
  2. ^ Helfrich, Kim (25 October 2021). "SANDF by the numbers". defenceWeb. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  3. ^ Department of Defence. Department of Defence Annual Report FY 2021/22 (PDF). Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. ^ "South Africa: South African National Defence Force". DefenceWeb. 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  5. ^ Martin, Guy (5 May 2021). "SA defence budget falling to only .86% of GDP". defenceWeb. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 200 of 1993 (Section 224)". South African Government. 1993. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  7. ^ L B van Stade (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2008.