Hlatshwayo is new Joint Ops Chief

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Major General Barney Hlatshwayo has been named Chief: Joint Operations Division of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).

He is currently deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he is senior liaison with the government and there is currently no indication of when he will return to South Africa to take up the senior Joint Operations position. According to the SANDF Appointments Bulletin he assumed the position on January 1.

It is currently filled, in an acting capacity, by Rear Admiral Derek Christian. He moved into the post when the former Chief, Lieutenant General Duma Mdutyana, died last year. Christian will retire from active service at the end of March.

Among others, Hlatshwayo has been Chief Operations Director for the SANDF and has also been active in exploring avenues where simulation training can be profitably employed in the national defence force.

The SANDF Corporate Communications Directorate indicated it will make available a CV of the new Joint Ops Chief.

In the only other lieutenant general appointment to be made by SANDF Chief, General Solly Shoke, Major General JS Mbuli is promoted to the three star rank and will become SANDF Logistics Chief on July 1 this year. He takes over the position from Lieutenant General Morris Moadira who is retiring.

Other appointments at Joint Operations include Lieutenant Colonel BF Vilakazi to colonel as SSO land (doctrinal development); Lieutenant Colonel KR Arons to colonel as Officer Commanding Joint Tactical HQ; Colonel BL Eckersley as SSO Strategic Planning; Colonel X Gcam-Gcam as SSO Conventional Operations; Colonel B Mkula as SSO Training; Colonel R Potgieter as SSO Air (Ops Capabilities; Colonel SL Sangweni as OC KZN Tactical HQ; Lieutenant Colonel CS Mabotja to colonel as OC Free State Tactical HQ; Lieutenant Colonel BJ Mabaso to colonel as SSO Peace Support Operations UN; Lieutenant Colonel MN Ntshingila to colonel as SSO Deployment; Lieutenant colonel NP Arendse to colonel as SSO Logistics and Lieutenant Colonel EM Laubscher to colonel as SSO Air (doctrinal development).
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