The Transformation of the South African National Defence Force: A Good Beginning

Abstract

The historic election of Nelson Mandela as president of a new Republic of South Africa in 1994 set in motion wholesale changes in the direction of the state. Among these fundamental changes is the effort to integrate six nonstatutory (former homeland and guerrilla) armies into the unified South African National Defence Force (SANDF). During these unprecedented times, the sheer numbers of national military personnel were significantly increased to integrate and enhance representation of majority black ethnic groups, while many senior white officers were pensioned off. Simultaneously, defense budget reductions greatly reduced monies available for demobilization and buyouts of military members and the desired purchase of modernized military equipment. The impact of these systemic changes, both within the republic and more widely in the southern African region, ignited serious questions on the destiny of the security forces and their future roles and missions. Definitive answers have yet to come. What we do know is that the Pretoria government no longer perceives an external security threat, but confronts internal strife stemming from opposing views on how to achieve racial reconciliation, rampant crime, high unemployment, diminished business confidence, and governmental inability to satisfy rising popular expectations. These factors, if unresolved, can threaten the progress achieved in security force restructuring, which has gone reasonably well.