Gerhard Kamffer | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |  South Africa |
| Service/ |  South African Army |
| Years of service | 1973 –2023 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | South African Border War |
| Other work | Businessman |
Brigadier General Gerhard Kamffer is a Reserve general officer in the South African Army.
Kamffer started his military career with national service in 1973 where he served as a platoon commander at 4 SAI, based at Middelburg in what is today Mpumalanga. [1]
He was Officer Commanding of the now disbanded Heidelberg Commando for nine years and in 1998 was appointed SSO Commandos at South African Army Headquarters with the substantive rank of Colonel. [1]
He successfully completed the Senior Command and Staff Duties course at the South African Army College. In 2005 he was promoted to Brigadier General and the following year he successfully completed the Executive National Security programme at Defence College. [1]
On the 17th February 2021, he was transferred from the post of Director: Army Reserves to the post of Director: Project KOBA-TLALA. [1] [2]
This project was created as a result of an initiative by Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula [2] as an attempt to use the Reserve Force to assist in rural development. [2] Project KOBA-TLALA had the further objectives of upskilling reserve force soldiers and providing them with gainful employment while they were not serving on active duty. [2] One of the notable outcomes of the project has seen some members achieving SAQA accredited training [2] [3] As the project developed, it was proposed that it would be converted into a "Production Brigade" [4] and becoming self-sustaining, reducing the burden on the Defence Force budget. [4] [5] : 38
Gen Kamffer was responsible for managing the project to rename the Reserve Force units which had been identified as needing it. [6]
General Kamffer serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Scientia Militaria– the South African Journal of Military Studies. [7]
The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. The Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army, who is subordinate to the Chief of the SANDF.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of the Defence Department.
The South African National Defence Force's rank system is largely based on the British system, with the Air Force sharing the Army rank titles. Rank titles changed over time as did the insignia.
General Pieter Grobbelaar, was a South African military commander. He served as Army Chief of Staff from 1953 to 1958, and Commandant General of the South African Defence Force from 1961 to 1965.
The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army.
The South African Army Artillery Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army artillery units. It draws much of its history from the South African Artillery, established in 1934 but with roots that reach back to 1921. The formation consists of both regular and reserve units. There is a separate South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation that directs army anti-aircraft warfare units.
The General Botha Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. The Regiment was named after General Louis Botha, the first prime minister of South Africa.
The South African Army Armour Formation provides an Armour capability to the South African Army. The Formation came into being as part of a restructure. South African Armour Corps units previously under the command of various different brigades and other formations were all grouped under one formation. All armour is assigned to the SA Army Armour Formation under the charge of a General Officer Commanding.
Natal Command was a Command of the South African Army. It was headquartered in Durban, South Africa. By the 1980s, it was responsible for the security of the region, forming the primary level of command for military operations in support of the Police. It also provided logistic, administrative and service support to units and formations operating in its area of responsibility.
6 Medical Battalion Group is a Medical Battalion in the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS). SAMHS is the fourth Arm of Service of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Brigadier-General Renier (Cojack) Coetzee was a General Officer in the South African Army from the recces.
Benoni Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
Graaff-Reinet Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
Standerton Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
The State President's Guard was the previous name of the National Ceremonial Guard, a guard unit for the South African State President and guard of honour at ceremonial occasions.
111 Battalion was a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
Heidelberg Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
In 2019 the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) renamed 52 of its 66 army's Reserve Force units. The changes were made to include more indigenous African references in the unit names, which had previously had a colonial and apartheid-era influence. The SANDF's Name Review Steering Committee led the process in consultation with the units, past members and communities. Name suggestions came from the units, with the army's director of reserves, Brigadier General Gerhard Kamffer providing a list of suggestions. Of the renamed units 26 took names relating to indigenous African military history and 25 took names relating to the apartheid and colonial era. Units were initially given three years to transition their insignia to the new names; this was later extended to 31 April 2023. One unit scheduled to change its name, the Cape Town Highlanders, is thought to have been granted permission to abandon the move in 2022.
The South African Military Health Service Mobile Military Health Formation is the SANDF military special operations health capability. The formation operates two regular force medical battalions, with 7 Medical Battalion Group providing support to the South African Special Forces Brigade and 8 Medical Battalion Group focusing on airborne operations. Three reserve units, 1 Medical Battalion Group, 3 Medical Battalion Group and 6 Medical Battalion Group fall under the command of the formation.
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