title: South African Military Academy
text: # South African Military Academy
  
  The South African Military Academy is based on similar principles to that of the military academy system of the United States (United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy United States Air Force Academy). The academy is a military unit of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) housing the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch. It provides officers of all the arms of service an opportunity to earn a BMil or more advanced degrees. See Military science § University studies.
  
  ## History
  
  The academy was established on 1 April 1950 under the auspices of the University of Pretoria and the South African Military College (now the South African Army College) in Voortrekkerhoogte (now Thaba Tswane), with the goal of elevating students to a BA (Mil) or BSc (Mil) degree to meet the intellectual challenges of modern war.
  
  In 1954 the newly elected National Party Minister of Defence, Frans Erasmus, wanting to establish the military academy as a separate, independent, all-service institution decided to relocate the academy to Saldanha, his political $constituency.^{:21}$ In Pretoria it had catered for army and air force students only. The military academy was organisationally divorced from the South African Army College on 1 February 1956. Its headquarters temporarily shifted to Stellenbosch, while suitable accommodation was built at Saldanha starting in $1956.^{:21}$ The headquarters of the military academy moved to Saldanha in December 1957 and in February 1958 the first students, second and third-years, reported at $Saldanha.^{:21}$ It became the Faculty of Military Science of the University of Stellenbosch in 1961, who now awarded a B Mil degree to successful $students.^{:21}$
  
  The South African Defence Force's increasing involvement in the Border War from the mid-1970s produced an increased demand for junior officers, with the result that the Defence Force decided that junior officers should be "task qualified" within their respective services before becoming eligible for admission to the military academy. The degree course at the military academy was thus excluded from the development cycle of junior officers from 1976; admittance to the academy then became an option for those who wished to obtain a university degree.
  
  ## Organization and administration
  
  ### Faculty
  
  There are 48 members of the Faculty of Military Science who form an integrated group of military and civilian lecturers. Brig Gen A.J. De Castro is the commandant of the military academy, and the dean of the faculty is Samuel Tshehla.
  
  ### Campus
  
  It is situated on the West Coast in the town of Saldanha, set against the scenic slopes of Malgaskop, overlooking Saldanha $Bay.^{:20}$
  
  ## Academics
  
  ### Programs
  
  A three-year bachelor's degree in military science (B. Mil) is awarded to students upon graduation in December. The B. Mil is the generic title for the degree which may be undertaken in two different fields, these being natural science (equivalent to Bsc) and social sciences (equivalent to BA). Traditionally, natural science has been considered the premiere degree due to its highly quantitative nature of its course contents (i.e. mathematics, physics). After graduation, they rejoin their arm of service to serve as officers. Postgraduate qualifications at master's and doctoral level are also offered. After the launch of the PhD programme at the Faculty Military Science, two of the first graduates of this programme were Dr Evert Kleyhans and Capt (SAN) Dr A.P. Putter - both graduating with PhDs in Military Science (December 2018). Both Dr Kleynhans (specializing in Military History) and Capt (SAN) Dr Dries Putter (specializing in Counterintelligence) are now lecturers at the FMS.
  
  ### Students
  
  About 300 men and women represent the four arms of service.
  
  ## Commandants
  
  Until 1967 the dean of the faculty also served as commanding officer of the academy. In 1967 these roles were split, allowing a professional lecturer to act as dean and a military officer to act as commanding $officer.^{:341}$
  
  | Number | Start of term | End of term | Name | Branch |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1st | 1 January $1956^{:169}$ | 1967 | Col Pieter J.G. "Vlakkies" de $Vos^{:194}^{:165}$ | South African Army |
  | 2nd | 1968 | 11 December $1971^{:328}$ | Brig Magnus Malan $SM^{:77}^{:343}$ | South African Army |
  | 3rd | 11 December $1971^{:328}$ | Jan 1974 | Brig Johan D. $Potgieter^{:343}SM$ | South African Army |
  | 4th | 1974 | 21 January $1977^{:412}$ | Brig J.P.B. van $Loggerenberg^{:337}$ $SM^{:349}$ | South African Air Force |
  | 5th | 21 January 1977 | 1980 | Brig Alex $Potgieter^{:416}$ | South African Army |
  | 6th | 24 January $1980^{:416}$ | 25 January 1983 | Brig F. Shylock $Mulder^{:439&403}$ SM | South African Army |
  | 7th | 25 January $1983^{:465}$ | 19 January $1987^{:416}$ | Brig S. Willie J. $Kotze^{:453}$ | South African Army |
  | 8th | 19 January 1987 | 29 January 1990 | Cdre Robert Simpson-Anderson SD SM MMM | South African Navy |
  | 9th | 29 January $1990^{:416}$ | – | Brig Fred E. Du $Toit^{:495}$ | South African Air Force |
  | 13th | – | 1996 | Brig Pieter O. $Verbeek^{:189(Footnote30)&204}$ SM MMM | South African Army |
  | 14th | 1996 | 1999 | Rear Adm (JG) Pieter $Potgieter^{:204}^{:ix}$ SM MMM | South African Navy |
  | 15th | 2000 | 2003 | Brig Gen L. Solly $Mollo^{:321}^{:244}$ MMS MMM | South African Army |
  | 16th | Jan 2004 | 2006 | Brig Gen Tawana Z. $Manyama^{:319}$ | South African Air Force |
  | 17th | 2006 | 2009 | Rear Adm (JG) Derek Christian MMM | South African Navy |
  | 18th | 2009 | 2011 | Brig Gen Lindile Yam CLS MMS | South African Army |
  | 19th | 2011 | date | Brig Gen Lawrence Mbatha | South African Army |
  | 20th | 2017 | 2021 | Brig Gen G B Pharo | South African Army |
  | 21st | 2021 | date | Brig Gen A J de Castro | South African Air Force |
  
  ## Annual awards
  
  ### Sword of Honour
  
  Citation for awards over period 1953-2008
  
  * 1953: I. Lemmer
  * 1954: P. C. Smith
  * 1955: C. L. Viljoen
  * 1956: M. B. Anderson
  * 1957: T. H. Smith
  * 1958: W.J. Wolmarans
  * 1959: B. J. Vorster (Later Later as Brigadier, a Secretary of Personnel Division Staff Council)
  * 1960: J. R. F. Irvine
  * 1961: D. S. Hamman (Later Maj Gen D.S. Smith )
  * 1962: J. G. Coetzee (Later Maj Gen J.G. du P. Coetzee)
  * 1963: P. D. Steyn (Later Lieutenant General Pierre Steyn)
  * 1964: G. L. Serfontein
  * 1965: N. S. L. Steenkamp
  * 1966: G. J. C. Marais
  * 1967: P. De Villiers
  * 1968: L. A. Visagie
  * 1969: W. J. Le Crerar
  * 1970: P. Richardson
  * 1971: T. Fonternel
  * 1972: R. J. Strydom
  * 1973: B. A. L. Clegg
  * 1974: J. P. Nel
  * 1975: P. Schöultz (Later Rear Admiral Phillip Schoultz SD SM MMM)
  * 1976: L. Rudman (Later Maj Gen Les Rudman PVD SD SM MMM LOM (USA))
  * 1977: J. C. Johnson
  * 1978: M. C. Durrant
  * 1979: C. J. Visagie
  * 1980: C. C. Scheepers
  * 1981: J. H. Leibbrandt
  * 1982: H. J. Rheeders
  * 1983: J. Olivier
  * 1984: P. J. Introna
  * 1985: M. R. Malan
  * 1986: W. J. Herbst
  * 1987: D. J. Stegmann
  * 1988: C. Van Ryneveld
  * 1989: J. H. Burger
  * 1990: K. Wiesner
  * 1991: G. K. Arndt
  * 1992: L. Olivier
  * 1993: A. M. Booysen
  * 1994: B. Eckert
  * 1995: J. A. Swart
  * 1996: J. F. Laubscher
  * 1997: M. Engelbrecht
  * 1998: G. J. Pienaar
  * 1999: L. B. Riley
  * 2000: M. Riley
  * 2001: M. J. De Jager
  * 2002: P. C. G. S. Jordaan
  * 2003: H. A. Visser
  * 2004: J. A. Boucher
  * 2005: M. C. Kgosana
  * 2006: G. W. Mills
  * 2007: C. Manganyi
  * 2008: N. Wallace
  
  ### Best Student – Army
  
  Citation for awards over period 1957-2008
  
  * 1957: P. J. Conradie
  * 1958: B. Redelinghuis
  * 1959: D. J. Mortimer (Later Chief of Army Staff Logistics)
  * 1960: W. J. Badenhorst (Later Inspector General SADF)
  * 1961: M. S. Verster
  * 1962: J. G. Coetzee (Later Chief of Army Staff Personnel)
  * 1963: J. M. Van Rooyen
  * 1964: R. T. Deyzel
  * 1965: N. S. L. Steenkamp
  * 1966: G. N. Opperman
  * 1967: P. De Villiers
  * 1968: A. J. Van Niekerk
  * 1969: W. J. Le Crerar
  * 1970: P. Richardson
  * 1971: T. E. Fonternel
  * 1972: R. J. Strydom
  * 1973: J. Jooste (Later Chief Director Force Structures)
  * 1974: J. P. Nel
  * 1975: G. Liebenberg
  * 1976: L. Rudman (Later Maj Gen Les Rudman PVD SD SM MMM LOM (USA))
  * 1977: A. K. Calmeyer
  * 1978: M. C. Durrant
  * 1979: D. J. Putter
  * 1980: C. C. Scheepers
  * 1981: J. H. Leibbrandt
  * 1982: H. J. Rheeders
  * 1983: J. Olivier
  * 1984: P. J. Introna
  * 1985: M. R. Malan
  * 1986: W. J. Herbst
  * 1987: A. N. Walters
  * 1988: J. C. G. Terblanche
  * 1989: J. H. Burger
  * 1990: K. J. Stanz
  * 1991: J. W. A. Cheminais
  * 1992: N. Vertue
  * 1993: A. M. Booysen
  * 1994: P. B. Jansen
  * 1995: C. F. Claassens
  * 1996: A. Pretorius
  * 1997: D. J. De Villiers
  * 1998: G. J. Pienaar
  * 1999: L. B. Riley
  * 2000: J. Tempelhoff
  * 2001: M. J. De Jager
  * 2002: H. Dalton
  * 2003: J. D. Quma
  * 2004: J. A. Boucher
  * 2005: M. C.Kgosana
  * 2006: G. W. Mills
  * 2007: A. Van Der Merwe
  * 2008: N. Wallace
  
  ### Best Student – Airforce
  
  Citation for awards over period 1957-2005
  
  * 1957: J. P. B. Van Loggerenberg
  * 1958: I. J. Van Der Merwe
  * 1959: B. J. Vorster
  * 1960: A. G. W. Coetzee
  * 1961: J. Kriel (Later Maj Gen Julius Kriel not to be confused with Lt Gen James Kriel)
  * 1962: P. J. Van Rensburg
  * 1963: P. D. Steyn
  * 1964: G. L. Serfontein
  * 1965: J. W. Van Niekerk
  * 1966: M. A. De Vries
  * 1967: J. A. Zimmerman
  * 1968: L. N. Le Roux
  * 1969: D. W. K. Lynch (Later Brig Des Lynch)
  * 1970: I. C. Van Der Vyver
  * 1971: P. B. Willcock
  * 1972: R. C. Warncke
  * 1973: E. F. C. Duminy
  * 1974: G. L. Bornman
  * 1975: Not Awarded
  * 1976: K. O. Badenhorst
  * 1977: J. C. Van Niekerk
  * 1978: G. K. B. Barron
  * 1979: C. J. Visagie
  * 1980: S. F. Steyn
  * 1981: D. W. Fouche
  * 1982: J. Arnold
  * 1983: J. F. Erasmus
  * 1984: E. J. Ferreira
  * 1985: J. H. Erasmus
  * 1986: S. J. Naude
  * 1987: D. J. Stegman
  * 1988: C. Van Ryneveld
  * 1989: D. J. De Beer
  * 1990: L. De W. Fourie
  * 1991: G. K. Arndt
  * 1992: J. C. J. Butler (Later Chief Director Force Preparation SAAF)
  * 1993: A. J. Du Preez
  * 1994: B. Eckert
  * 1995: J. A. Swart
  * 1996: J. F. Laubscher
  * 1997: M. Engelbrecht
  * 1998: L. S. Mnyandu
  * 1999: A. E. J. Putter
  * 2000: M. Riley
  * 2001: J. D. Jordaan
  * 2002: P. C. G. S. Jordaan
  * 2003: H. A. Visser
  * 2004: K. Nobaza
  * 2005: R. C. Haggard
  
  ### Best Student – Navy
  
  Citation for awards over period 1957-2008
  
  * 1957: J. A. De Kock
  * 1958: W. R. Joubert (Later Commodore)
  * 1959: C. Grobbelaar
  * 1960: R. Eberlein
  * 1961: W. J. De Lange
  * 1962: P. G. Odendaal
  * 1963: H. P. Brink
  * 1964: J. A. Joubert
  * 1965: H. J. M. Trainor
  * 1966: G. J. C. Marais
  * 1967: J. F. Retief
  * 1968: L. A. Visagie
  * 1969: B. D. Law
  * 1970: S. K. Stead (Later Later R Adm (JG) Steven Stead)
  * 1971: F. E. Koetje
  * 1972: P. S. Van Dyk
  * 1973: P. C. Crathorne
  * 1974: J. E. Louw
  * 1975: P. Schoultz
  * 1976: N. F. Snyman
  * 1977: J. C. Johnson
  * 1978: Not awarded
  * 1979: A. M. Corbin
  * 1980: R. W. Higgs
  * 1981: S. H. Norval
  * 1982: J. C. Visser
  * 1983: M. R. M. Dendale
  * 1984: C. H. Wright
  * 1985: A. S. Claydon-Fink
  * 1986: J. Hougaard
  * 1987: H. Fischer
  * 1988: J. Brawley
  * 1989: P. A. Schoeman
  * 1990: K. Wiesner
  * 1991: M. S. Blaine
  * 1992: L. Olivier
  * 1993: K. Naidoo (Later R Adm (JG) Kasaval Naidoo)
  * 1994: A. Parsadh
  * 1995: M. De Beer
  * 1996: Not awarded
  * 1997: L. Du Plooy
  * 1998: C. G. Maritz
  * 1999: G. R. Walker
  * 2000: T. C. Matthews
  * 2001: C. Slingerland
  * 2002: T. Long
  * 2003: J. A. Kotze
  * 2004: L. Van Zyl
  * 2005: H. E. X. Novoa
  * 2006: D. D. M. Dywili
  * 2007: C. Manganyi
  * 2008: C. Y.Ruiters
  