Comparative military ranks of apartheid states in southern Africa
Rank comparison charts of armies/land forces of apartheid states and territories in Southern Africa.
This chart includes of the nominally independent Bantustans,[a][b][c][d] apartheid South Africa,[1] and South West Africa.[1] These states were all under the control of the apartheid regime of South Africa,[2] with the defence forces of the Bantustans being made of units that were nominally independent of the SADF, but were selected and trained by the SADF, and who placed former South African and Rhodesian military officers in senior positions within the defence forces.[3] The South West Africa Territorial Force was an auxiliary arm of the SADF and formed the armed forces of South West Africa from 1977 to 1989.[4]
Armies[]
- Officers
Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bophuthatswana Army[5] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major general Generaal-majoor |
Brigadier Brigadier |
Colonel Kolonel |
Commandant Kommandant |
Major Majoor |
Captain Kaptein |
Lieutenant Luitenant |
2nd lieutenant Tweede luitenant |
Officer candidate Kandidaat offisier
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ciskei Army[6] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Army (1961–1994)[7] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Generaal[note 1] |
Lieutenant general Luitenant generaal |
Major general Generaal-majoor[note 2] |
Brigadier Brigadier |
Colonel Kolonel |
Chief Commandant Hoofkommandant[note 3] |
Commandant Kommandant |
Major Majoor |
Captain Kaptein |
Lieutenant Luitenant[note 4] |
Second lieutenant Tweede luitenant[note 5] |
Officer candidate Kandidaat offisier
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
South West African Army[7] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer candidate
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transkei Army[8][6] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Venda Ground Forces[6] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brigadier | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
- Other ranks
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bophuthatswana Army[5] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrant officer class 1 |
Warrant officer class 2 |
Staff sergeant |
Sergeant |
Corporal |
Lance corporal |
Private
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ciskei Army[6] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Army (1961–1994)[7] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant Major of the Army Sersant-Majoor van die Leer |
Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I |
Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II |
Staff sergeant Staf-Sersant |
Sergeant Sersant |
Corporal Korporaal |
Lance corporal Onderkorporaal |
Private Soldaat
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South West African Army[7] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Formation warrant officer | Warrant officer class 1 | Warrant officer class 2 | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transkei Army[8][6] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Venda Ground Forces[6] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Lance corporal | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted |
Air forces[]
- Officers
Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bophuthatswana Air Force[5] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brigadier Brigadier |
Colonel Kolonel |
Commandant Kommandant |
Major Majoor |
Captain Kaptein |
Lieutenant Luitenant |
Second lieutenant Tweede luitenant |
Officer candidate Kandidaat offisier
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Air Force (1961–1994) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General Generaal |
Lieutenant general Luitenant generaal |
Major general Generaal-majoor |
Brigadier Brigadier |
Colonel Kolonel |
Commandant Kommandant |
Major Majoor |
Captain Kaptein |
Lieutenant Luitenant |
2nd lieutenant Tweede luitenant
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
- Other ranks
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bophuthatswana Air Force[5] |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant Major of the Air Force Sersant-Majoor van die Lugmag |
Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klass I |
Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klass II |
Staff sergeant Staf-Sersant |
Sergeant Sersant |
Corporal Korporaal |
Lance corporal Onderkorporaal |
Private Soldaat
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African Air Force (1961–1994) |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergeant Major of the SA Air Force Sersant-Majoor van die SA Lugmag |
Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I |
Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II |
Flight sergeant Vlug-Sersant |
Sergeant Sersant[note 6] |
Corporal Korporaal[note 7] |
Lance corporal Onderkorporaal[note 8] |
Aircraftman Vliegtuigman[note 9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted |
See also[]
- South African military ranks
- Military ranks of Namibia
- Military ranks of Zimbabwe
- Military ranks of Rhodesia
Notes[]
- ^ The Transkei was granted "independence" by the Status of Transkei Act 100 of 1976 with effect from 26 October 1976.
- ^ The Status of Bophuthatswana Act 89 of 1977 granted Bophuthatswana "independence" with effect from 6 December 1977.
- ^ Venda was granted "independence" by the Status of Venda Act 107 of 1979 with effect from 13 September 1979.
- ^ The Status of Ciskei Act 110 of 1981 granted Ciskei "independence" with effect from 4 December 1981.
- ^ Called Commandant general (Kommandant-generaal) from 1956 to 1968
- ^ Called Combat general (Bestry generaal) from 1960 to 1968
- ^ Only in the Commandos from 1968 to 1970
- ^ Called Field cornet (Veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
- ^ Called Assistant field cornet (Assistent veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
- ^ Called Air sergeant (Lugsersant) from 1960 to 1968
- ^ Called Air corporal (Lugkorporaal) from 1960 to 1968
- ^ Called Leading air mechanic (Leiend lugwerktuigkundige) until 1970
- ^ Called Air mechanic (Lugwerktuigkundige) from 1920 to 1970
Called Private (Soldaat) from 1970 to 1982
References[]
- ^ a b Radburn, Arthur (1990). "South African Army Ranks and Insignia". South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 2.
- ^ "The Homelands". South African History Online. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ Timothy J. Stapleton (9 April 2010). A Military History of South Africa: From the Dutch-Khoi Wars to the End of Apartheid. Praeger Security International. ISBN 978-0313365898.
- ^ Duignan, Peter. Politics and Government in African States 1960–1985. pp. 345–377.
- ^ a b c d "Bophuthatswana Defence Force". Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Cilliers, Jakkie (1993). "An Overview of the Armed Forces of the TBVC Countries". South African Defence Review (13). Archived from the original on 24 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d Radburn, A. (22 February 2012). "SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY RANKS AND INSIGNIA". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 1–4. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Transkeian Defence Force Badges of Rank". Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- "Band of Brothers – 101 Romeo Mikes". The Observation Post. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- Vumile Ngcula. "Pretoria's men in Ciskei". Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- Transkei Special Forces Captain Rank insignia
- Transkei Special Forces 1st Lieutenant Rank insignia
- Bophuthatswana Arm Brassard
- Bophuthatswana and Transkei Rank insignia
- Ciskei Corporal insignia
- Ciskei Lance Corporal insignia
- Transkei General's Tunic
- Transkei Staff Sergeant
- Transkei rank star in circlet
- Ciskei WO2 rank in metal
- Ciskei WO2 rank in cloth
- Bophuthatswana Special Forces Soldiers of various ranks
- Sergeant and Major of 32 Battalion of the South African Army
- Transkei Officers
- South West Africa Territorial Force rank chart
- Transkeian Defence Force rank chart
External links[]
Categories:
- Military ranks by country
- Military ranks of South Africa
- History of South Africa
- South Africa and the Commonwealth of Nations