Gerrit Opperman

Major General Gerrit Nicolaas Opperman SD SM MMM
Nickname(s)	Gert
Born	(1945-07-27) 27 July 1945 (age 79) Johannesburg
Allegiance	South Africa
Service / branch	South African Army
Years of service	c. 1966 –August 1996 [1]
Rank	Major General
Commands	OC Northern Transvaal Command OC Sector 70 (Eastern Caprivi)
Awards

Major General Gerrit Nicolaas Opperman (Gert) SD SM MMM SAStC was a General Officer in the South African Army.

Early life

General Gert Opperman was born on 27 July 1945 in Johannesburg. ^[2]

Career

He served as spokesman for the Malan family on the death of Magnus Malan. ^[3]

Courses

• Escuala de Defensa National (Joint Warfare qualification) Completed 1975 ^[2]
• Escuela de Estado Mayor (Command and Staff qualification) Completed 1975 ^[2]

Posts held

Gen Opperman has held the following posts: ^[2]

• 2005 –present: Chief Executive Officer – The Research Trust
• 2003 –present: Managing Director – VTM Projects (Pty) Ltd, Pretoria
• 2003 –present: Executive Trustee – Voortrekker Monument Trust, Pretoria
• 2003 –present: Council Member – Voortrekker Museum
• 2002 –present: Chief Executive Officer – Heritage Foundation
• 1998 –2000: Member – Gert Opperman Consulting cc
• 1996 –1998: Managing Director – Guards Division, Coin Security Group
• 1994 –1996: Chief Director – Corporate Communication, SANDF
• 1988 –1993: OC Northern Transvaal Command, SANDF
• 1987 –2000: Executive Chairman/Convenor, Club Gerbera
• 1983 –1988: Military Secretary – DOD

Awards

Maj Gen Opperman has received the following awards during his career:

Medals and decorations

• International Orders
• Southern Cross Decoration (SD)
• Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM)
• Pro Patria Medal
• Southern Africa Medal
• General Service Medal (South Africa)
• Unitas (Unity) Medal
• Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years))
• Order of Military Merit (Grand Officer II) ( Brazil )
• Chilean Star of Military Merit

References

1. "Major General Gert Opperman to visit Australia as SAMVOA Guest of Honour". SAMVOA. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
2. "Gert Opperman - Who's Who SA" . Retrieved 26 January 2015.
3. "Obituary: Former defence minister Magnus Malan". The Witness. SAPA. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2015.

Military offices
Unknown	OC Northern Transvaal Command 1988–1993	Succeeded by Hennie Schultz
Unknown	Chief Director – Corporate Communication, SANDF 1994–1996	Succeeded by Andrew Masondo
Unknown	Military Secretary – DOD 1983–1988	Succeeded by Roelf Beukes