The Changing Face of South Africa's Military Forces

The Changing Face of South Africas Military looks at a military that was tested during a twenty year conflict against querilla forces, terrorist groups and also conventional armies, and draws a line through its emerging in a new political environment to its future as the military pillar of South Africa in its role as Southern Africas leading nation. South Africas transfer to majority rule in 1994 had some far reaching results and influences, not only in the political sector, but also in the transformation of the nations military. In order to reflect the spirit of consolidation, the Military of the previous Government, the Military of the Homelands and the Armies of the Liberation Movements integrated to form the South African National Defense Force. The process however did not stop at integration, but went on to reflect the new approach of the politician to the military, civilian control over the military and the transformation to a rainbow force. In the dissemination of the transformation which include the process of reflecting the demographics of the South African society, the paper deals with the difference between equal opportunities and confirmative action and the role it is playing in the new SANDFs manning process.