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Military Reform: Interim Constitution Accord

Implementations

Military Reform – 1993

In the 1970s and 1980s, the apartheid regime had the backing of a 90,000-strong South African Defense Force (SADF), along with support from militias of the homelands, Transkei, Venda, Bophuthatswana, and Ciskei, which totaled 11,000 soldiers. There were about 28,000 guerrillas of the ANC (also know as Umkhonto We Sizwe or MK), and 6,000 guerrillas of the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC). In negotiations, the ANC and PAC sought military integration (MI) and military reform to bolster the ANC-led government’s control over the armed forces. The SADF favored the absorption of the militias into the already established force, led primarily by white officers.¹

The 1993 Accord (Interim Constitution) established the South African National Defense Force (SANDF). The multi-party Transitional Executive Council (TEC) was established and given the challenge of controlling seven armies, regular and irregular, and 11 police forces. The TEC bill provided for seven sub-councils, including the sub-councils on defense and policing.² As part of the reform, the MK and PAC combatants were to be integrated in a new national military.

The South African Defence Force (SADF) and the ANC reached an agreement on the principles of military integration at Simons town in April 1993.³

Stephen F. Burgess, “Fashioning Integrated Security Forces after Conflict,” African Security 1, no. 2 (2008): 77.
“New group to rally mixed army of South Africa’s fighting men,” The Herald (Glasgow), September 9, 1993.
Norma Kriger and Patrick Bond, “Negotiations and the Military in South Africa,” Africa Today 42, no. 1/2, The Military and Democratic Transitions (1st Qtr. -2nd Qtr., 1995), pp. 124-133; also see Hugo van der Merwe and Guy Lamb, “DDR and Transitional Justice in South Africa: Lessons Learned” (2009), accessed June 11, 2010, http://www.ictj.org/en/research/projects/ddr/country-cases/2384.html.

Military Reform – 1994

In April 1994, seven forces were combined into one, constituting the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as laid out in the Interim Constitution of 1993. The reduction of funds allocated to defense rendered the Joint Military Co-ordinating Committee (JMCC) strategic planning process, which had envisaged a SANDF strength of 90 000, unaffordable. Therefore, a demobilization and/or rationalization process also had to established. According to van Stade, “A Personnel Rationalisation Work Group (PRWG) has been instituted in order to oversee the rationalisation process from within the SANDF. The composition of the PRWG includes representatives from all the constituent forces, the Secretary for Defence and memebrs of the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT), and is aimed at ensuring a transparent process within the margins of fair labour practices. This work group has recently instituted a sub-work group to make proposals in respect of psychological and social support to members and their families who will be affected by the rationalisation process in the SANDF. A special Consultation Forum has also been established to negotiate with employee organisations in respect of civilian members that could be affected by the rationalisation process.”¹

The New South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was created in 1994 and designed to reintegrate some 21,000 members of the military wing of the ANC, and 6,000 from the armed wing of the PAC into SANDF.²

The SANDF reported said that almost half of the MK members who reported to the assembly point northeast of Pretoria had to be turned away, as their names had not been on the list provided to them by rebel leaders.³

L. B. van Stade, “Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge,” African Security Review 6, no. 2 (1997), accessed December 6, 2010, http://www.issafrica.org/Pubs/ASR/6No2/VanStade.html.
Keesing’s Record of World Events, Volume 40, October, 1994, South Africa, p. 40215.
“SOUTH AFRICA; Defence Force turns away non-listed MK members,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, June 15, 1994.

Military Reform – 1995

Approximately 10,500 former Umkhonto we Sizwe and Azanian People’s Liberation Army [APLA] troops were integrated into the South African National Defence Force by June 12, 1995. “Two had been commissioned at the rank of lieutenant-general and nine at that of major-general”. In an interview dated February 15, 1995, South African President Mandela stated that the “integration of former guerrillas into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was going “very well.”¹

By May 24, 1995, 11,464 recruits were in a pre-selection phase or had been placed. A total of 11,224 letters of appointment had been issued, of which 10,427 were accepted. According to the statement of General Meiring, 43 percent, or 15,416 of the 34,800 former MK and APLA troops wishing to be integrated, had reported at assembly areas. Of these, 10 had since been arrested for serious crimes. According to a statement, “another 1,535 had joined the South African Police Service, resigned or had been dismissed for absence without leave.”²

On July 11, 1995, members of the ANC Military Wing (MK) who were not assimilated into the SANDF were asked, for the last time, to report to the Wallmannsthal base on July 25, 1995. All former MK members whose name appeared on either the certified or noncertified personnel registered were asked to report.³

“South africa; Mandela says SANDF integration going ‘very well,'” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 16, 1995.
“SOUTH AFRICA; Nearly 10,500 MK and APLA troops appointed to SANDF,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, June 14, 1995.
“SOUTH AFRICA; “Last chance” appeal for former MK members to join SANDF,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 13, 1995.

Military Reform – 1996

“Of the approximately 28,000 originally registered Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) and 6,000 Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla) members, about 16,000 reported for integration and, of these 4,000 chose to demobilize.”¹ According to a news report, approximately 18,000 former MK and APLA members reported to the SANDF force during the 18-month reintegration process, which ended in November 1996.²

“South Africa; Army marches into the future,” Africa News, November 8, 1996.
“SOUTH AFRICA; Nearly 18,000 former guerrillas integrated into army in 18 months,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 10, 1995.