SANDF appoints new top brass

2003-08-15 18:56

Pretoria - The SA National Defence Force on Friday announced 17 new general and flag officer appointments that included five promotions and 12 swaps.

SANDF chief General Siphiwe Nyanda in a statement said Air Force Brigadier General JM Nyembe was promoted Major General and appointed Chief Director Force Development and Support at the SA Air Force's (SAAF) Air Command.

Navy Rear Admiral Junior Grade (RAJG) P Schoultz was promoted full Rear Admiral (R Adm) and was appointed Chief Director Maritime Warfare at the Navy Office.

Air Force Brigadier General MM Mangethe was also promoted Major General and appointed Chief Director Force preparation at Air Command.

Air Force Brigadier General MK Mokoena was also promoted Major General and appointed Chief of the Service Corps. His promotion would, however, only come into effect after the retirement of the incumbent, Major General ZW Nqose.

The sole new admiral minted by Nyanda was naval Captain Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala who will be promoted to Rear Admiral Junior Grade and the post of Director Fleet Human Resources at Fleet Command, Simon's Town.

Swaps included Major General FJ Labuschagne giving up his post of Chief Director Force Preparation for that of General Officer Commanding (GOC) Air Command and Major General Carlo Gagiano, the current Chief Director Operational Development at the Joint Operations Division exchanging his job for that as Chief Director Air Policy and Planning at the Air Office.

Gagiano's job would, in turn, go to Major General MP Janse van Rensburg, the current GOC Air Command.

A slew of Rear Admiral Junior Grades and brigadier generals would also swap titles.

A SANDF spokesperson said no new posts had been created and the officers were being posted to existing positions.

The military was criticised last year or having too many generals and admirals relative to its size.

At the time the SANDF had "around" 206 generals and admirals of various grades compared to a strength of 60 000 - a ratio of 1:291.

Critics compared this to the German Bundeswehr's one general for every 1 684 troops and the American military's ratio of 1:2 428.

This, reports said, made the SANDF one of the most top-heavy defence forces in the world.

The effective running of the defence department was also compromised, as there were too many generals involved in decision-making processes, Schmidt said.

- SAPA