South African Defence Force facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South African Defence Force |
|
|---|---|
| Established | 1957 |
| Disbanded | 1994 |
| Parts | South African Army South African Navy South African Air Force South African Medical Service |
| Headquarters | Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa |
| Serving soldiers | |
| Conscription | (white males) 17-65 years of age |
| Active employees/soldiers | (1986) 82,400 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $3,092 billion USD |
| Percent of GDP | 4.1 |
| Industry | |
| Suppliers from inland |  ARMSCOR |
| Suppliers from foreign countries |
 Belgium France Israel Rhodesia Switzerland United Kingdom United States |
| See also | |
| History | South African Border War Namibian War of Independence Rhodesian Bush War Angolan Civil War Mozambican Civil War Soweto uprising Bophuthatswana coup d'état |
The South African Defence Force (SADF) was the military of South Africa from 1957 to 1994. It took over from the Union Defence Force (UDF) in 1957. Later, in 1994, the SADF was replaced by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The SADF had four main parts, called branches. These were the South African Army, the South African Navy, the South African Air Force, and the South African Medical Service.
During its time, the SADF required white South African men to join the military. This was called conscription. However, black, Indian, and Coloured South Africans could choose to join the SADF as volunteers.
Inside South Africa, the SADF was used to control groups that were against the government's apartheid policies. It often worked with the South African Police. The SADF also took part in several wars outside the country.
One of these was the Angolan Civil War, where they supported a group called the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). The SADF was also involved in the South African Border War and the war for Namibian independence.
Nuclear Weapons and South Africa
South Africa was the only country in Africa to have nuclear weapons. These powerful weapons were later destroyed by the South African government. This happened when the country was changing to a new, more democratic system. South Africa has not built any nuclear weapons since that time.
How the SADF Changed
In 1994, South Africa became a country with a multiracial democracy. This meant people of all races could vote and have equal rights. Because of this big change, the SADF was combined with other military groups.
These groups included the defence forces from areas that were once called "independent homelands." It also included armed groups from political parties like the ANC's Umkhonto we Sizwe and the PAC's Azanian People's Liberation Army. The self-protection units of the Inkatha Freedom Party also joined.
All these different groups came together to form a new military. This new military is known today as the South African National Defence Force.
Images for kids
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SADF paratroops in training.
See also
In Spanish: Fuerza de Defensa de Sudáfrica para niños
