South African National Defence Force | |
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10 other official names:
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![]() Emblem of the SANDF | |
![]() Flag of the SANDF | |
Motto | For the brave, for the proud |
Founded | 1 July 1912 (112 years, 1 month) (as Union Defence Force) |
Current form | 1994 |
Service branches | ![]() ![]() ![]() South African Military Health Service |
Headquarters | Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa |
Website | dod.mil.za |
Leadership | |
Commander-in-chief | President Cyril Ramaphosa |
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans | Angie Motshekga |
Chief of the SANDF | General Rudzani Maphwanya |
Personnel | |
Military age | 18–49 |
Conscription | No (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 personnel | 71,235 (2021/22)[2][3]: 108 |
Reserve personnel | 29,350 (2020/2021)[4] |
Expenditure | |
Budget | US$2.8 billion[5] |
Percent of GDP | 0.7% (2023) |
Industry | |
Domestic suppliers | |
Foreign suppliers | |
Related articles | |
History | |
Ranks | South 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.