| National Peacekeeping Force | |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 1993 |
| Disbanded | June 1994 |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Gabriel Ramushwana |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | R385.5 million (1994) (equivalent to R1.97 billionor US$149.03 million in 2018) [1] [2] : 29 |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of South Africa |
The National Peacekeeping Force (NPKF) was a short-lived South African peacekeeping force created in the run-up to the first democratic elections in 1994. Its purpose was to address the various security concerns and maintain peace during this transitional period.
In 1992, the Goldstone Commission observed that there was mistrust amongst populace of the existing Apartheid-era security forces. On 2 June 1993, the Technical Committee on Violence of the Multiparty Negotiating Process recommended "the establishment of an independent peacekeeping force with a multi-party composition to function as the primary peacekeeping force for the elections". In August 1993, a provision for a national peacekeeping force had been incorporated into a draft Transitional Executive Council bill. The bill was enacted by the Tricameral Parliament in September 1993 but was not in effect until November 1993. [3] : 13–15 In February 1994, the TEC requested from the Commonwealth assistance in training the NPKF; the Commonwealth Peacekeeping Assistance Group consisted of 33 members from 7 countries tasked with advising and training the NPKF. [2] : 14
The National Peacekeeping Force was formed by merging personnel from the SADF, uMkhonto we Sizwe, the various bantustan security forces and the SAP. The SAP was initially excluded from the planning process due to its Internal Stability Unit's conduct within townships. Allegations against the Internal Stability Unit is one of the reasons that prompted the formation of a peacekeeping force. [2]
Participants in the NPKF included:
Initially, a figure between 2000 and 30 000 personnel had been proposed. But due to the short time constraint and limited accommodation 3 743 personnel in 3 battalions were inducted on 24 January 1994. On 19 February 1993, a further 1 200 recruits were the last personnel to be inducted; for a total of 4 943. [2] : 10 On 25 March 1994, a plan to add an additional 5000 was scrapped.
SAP members amounted to 197. [2] : 10
In March 1993, Nelson Mandela proposed a peacekeeping force be placed under UN supervision with possibly a foreign commander. Two candidates, Brigadier George Kruys from the SADF and Brigadier Derek Mgwebi from the Transkei Defence Force were shortlisted. As neither candidate had adequate support and a foreign commander was ruled out, the Transitional Executive Council (TEC) named Brigadier Gabriel Ramushwana as commander on 8 February 1994. [2] : 18 This was met with objections as Ramushwana had in April 1990 overthrown the democratically elected government of President Frank Ravele and established a military government. [2] : 12–13
The NPKF was charged with keeping the peace in volatile areas. Lawyers for Human Rights suggested the NPKF be deployed during the 1994 Bophuthatswana crisis. But on 12 March 1994, Lucas Mangope was deposed and the TEC deployed the NPKF to the East Rand. [2] : 29
On 2 June 1994, the NPKF was officially disbanded. [2] : 29
On 18 April 1994, nine days before the elections, the NPKF shot and killed two children and Ken Oosterbroek, a photojournalist covering a clash between peacekeepers, the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party in Thokoza. [4] [2] : 24
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Gabriel Ramushwana was a head of state of the Bantustan of Venda.
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The South African Police (SAP) was the national police force and law enforcement agency in South Africa from 1913 to 1994; it was the de facto police force in the territory of South West Africa (Namibia) from 1939 to 1981. After South Africa's transition to majority rule in 1994, the SAP was reorganised into the South African Police Service (SAPS).
General Siphiwe Nyanda is a former South African military commander and politician. He was a member of uMkhonto we Sizwe and served as Chief of the South African National Defence Force from 1998 to 2005, Minister of Communications from 2009 to 2010 and was appointment as a board member of Denel in May 2018.
General Solly Zacharia Shoke, is a South African military commander. He joined uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress, in the 1970s, and served as a field commander fighting against the South African government in the 1980s. He transferred to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) when MK was incorporated into it in 1994, and served as Chief of the South African National Defence Force 2011 to 30 May 2021.
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The De Wet Medal is a military long service medal which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force, for ten years of efficient service and good conduct.
The Unitas Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 4 November 1994. It was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of all seven constituent military forces from 27 April 1994 to 10 May 1994, to commemorate their amalgamation into the South African National Defence Force. It was also awarded to personnel of the British Military Advisory and Training Team which served in South Africa at the time.
The Decoration for Merit in Gold, post-nominal letters DMG, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of uMkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty.
Tryphina Mboxela Jokweni was a female operative of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), an armed military wing of the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC is currently the governing party in South Africa. Mrs Tryphina Mboxela Jokweni was popularly known as Mboxela in the neighbourhood. She died of illness at her house at Umlazi Township in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province at the age of 77 in 2002. Mboxela was the mother of three children.
The Venda Defence Force (VDF) was established in September 1982 from the 112 Battalion of the South African Defence Force and the military branch of the Venda National Force which itself had been formed when the Venda homeland became independent from South Africa in September 1979.
The Bophuthatswana Defence Force was established on 6 December 1977 from trainees of the South African Defence Force. It was the defence force of the Republic of Bophuthatswana, a nominally independent bantustan during the Apartheid era of South Africa.
The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was established during March 1981, from the 141 Battalion of the South African Defence Force (SADF). It was the defence force of the Republic of Transkei, a nominally independent bantustan during the Apartheid era of South Africa.
On 8 October 1993, Mzwandile Mfeya, Sandiso Yose, twins Samora and Sadat Mpendulo and Thando Mtembu were shot dead in a South African Defence Force (SADF) raid on an alleged base of the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the Pan Africanist Congress' military wing, at the Mpendulo family home in the Northcrest suburb of Mthatha. The house belonged to a PAC member Sigqibo Mpendulo, the father of Samora and Sadat. According to PAC and police sources in the Transkei, the five victims were killed in their beds. The raid was authorised by President F. W. de Klerk.
The Chief of the South African National Defence Force is the most senior South African military officer and the professional Head of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The Chief is appointed by the President of South Africa.
General Rudzani Maphwanya is a South African military commander who served as Chief of Joint Operations from 2019 till May 2021. He was appointed Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on 1 June 2021.
