Military Reform – 1994

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Military Reform – 1994

1994

Minimum Implementation Minimal implementation

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

  1. 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.
  2. Keesing’s Record of World Events, Volume 40, October, 1994, South Africa, p. 40215.
  3. “SOUTH AFRICA; Defence Force turns away non-listed MK members,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, June 15, 1994.