The following officers have commanded the statutory armed forces of the Republic of South Africa:
SA National Defence Force (1994 – present)
Chief of the SANDF
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GEN Godfrey Nhlanhla Ngwenya June 1, 2005 – present
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GEN Siphiwe Nyanda June 1, 1998 – May 31, 2005
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GEN Georg Lodewyk Meiring November 1, 1993 – May 31, 1998
SA Defence Force (1957-1994)
Chief of the SADF
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GEN Georg Lodewyk Meiring November 1, 1993 – April 30, 1994
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GEN Andreas J “Kat” Liebenberg November 1, 1990 – October 31, 1993
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GEN Johannes J “Jannie” Geldenhuys November 1, 1985 – October 31, 1990
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GEN Constand Viljoen* October 7, 1980 – October 30, 1985
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GEN Magnus Andre de M Malan September 1, 1976 – October 6, 1980
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ADM Hugo H Biermann April 1, 1972 – August 31, 1976
Commandant General of the SADF
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GEN Rudolph C Hiemstra January 1, 1966 – March 31, 1972
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GEN Pieter H Grobbelaar January 1, 1961 – December 30, 1965
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CMDT GEN Stephen A Melville September 25, 1958 – December 31, 1960
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CMDT GEN Hendrik B Klopper September 23, 1956 – September 24, 1958
Union Defence Force (1912-1957)
Chief of the South African General Staff
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LTG Christiaan L de Wet du Toit March 16, 1950 – September 22, 1956
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LTG Leonard Beyers May 2, 1949 – March 15, 1950
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LTG Sir HA “Pierre” van Ryneveld May 2, 1933 – May 1, 1949
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MG Andries JE Brink October 1, 1922 – May 1, 1933
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BG JJ Collyer October 14, 1914 – September 20, 1922
Inspector General of the Union Defence Forces
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BG Sir HT “Tim” Lukin July 1, 1912 – October 13, 1914
Commandant General of the Active Citizen Force
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BG Christiaan F Beyers July 1, 1912 – October 13, 1914