The South African Defence Force (SADF)
The South African Defence Force (SADF) comprised the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. White, black, coloured and Indian soldiers served in the South African Defence Force
White South African men were conscripted into military service, apart from those who joined the military as career soldiers (Permanent Force). Black South Africans were the second largest group, and Asians and Coloured citizens with mixed ancestry were eligible to serve as volunteers, several attaining commissioned rank.
It is often overlooked that compulsory military service was not confined to the initial year and then, from 1977 two years of service. The Citizen Force obligation of 10 camps subsequent to the first 2 years also had a huge impact on families and careers.
Many of these soldiers ended up in the “operational area”, some did not come back, some came back with broken bodies, and others came back physically intact but psychologically damaged. Most of them developed resilience which equipped them to deal with life’s challenges. Even those soldiers that never heard a shot fired in anger, had their lives irrevocably changed by their time in uniform. Such is the nature of war.
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him,
but because he loves what is behind him.”
– G.K. CHESTERTON –
Military veterans from the South African Defence Force (SADF) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are military veterans from the statutory forces.
If a military veteran served with a force which was created by statute (a law like the Defence Act, 1957 which created the South African Defence Force) such veteran is known as a military veteran from the statutory forces. The Military Veterans Act, 2011 (No 18 of 2011) came into operation on 1 April 2012 and applies to all South African citizens who rendered military service. In terms of this act two types of military veterans are recognised in South Africa, being any South African citizen who:
- rendered military service to any of the military organisations, statutory and non-statutory, which were involved on all sides of South Africa’s Liberation War from 1960 to 1994;
- served in the Union Defence Force before 1961; or
- became a member of the new South African National Defence Force after 1994
and has completed his or her military training and no longer performs military service, and has not been dishonourably discharged from that military organisation or force.
This means if a soldier served in the South African Defence Force from 1957 to 1994 he or she is recognised as a military veteran from the statutory forces.
What is the CMVO?
The CMVO is the short name for the Council of Military Veterans Organizations. This is in essence a management body for all the recognised military veterans organisations of the South African Defence Force/South African National Defence Force military veterans. It was originally put in place by the former Minister of Defence, General Magnus Malan, in the 1970’s to ensure that the different military veterans organizations coordinate their activities and approach the authorities as a collective body speaking with one voice.
The CMVO is represented by military veterans from the statutory forces, some who were very high-ranking while still in active services, who now make their time available on a volunteer basis to manage the activities of their member organizations, but more importantly, influence and lobby the government to provide benefits to our needy military veterans, including former National Servicemen, Commandos, Citizen Force and PF’s. The CMVO is leading a determined campaign to ensure that Department of Military Veterans makes benefits available to all needy military veterans from the statutory forces too, and to keep this grouping of military veterans relevant. The broader its support base of military veterans as members of the affiliated recognised military veterans organization the greater the influence the CMVO can exert in the corridors of power.
Joining a recognised military veterans organization.
You are encouraged to join any of the recognised military veterans organizations affiliated to the CMVO which are associated with your service in uniform. For instance, if you served in the infantry you may be able to link up with many of your old buddies if you join the SA Infantry Association. Your participation also helps create a network for the other military veterans in your area. It can also help spread the news about the new dispensation created for all South African military veterans in terms of the Military Veterans Act, 2011.
Your involvement as a former national serviceman can bring fresh ideas and energy to these recognised military veterans organizations. Through this commitment you can also expand the representation and influence of the military veterans from the statutory forces within the structures, especially SANMVA, that were put in place put for all military veterans in our country in terms of the Military Veterans Act, 2011.