Comparative military ranks of apartheid states in southern Africa

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Rank comparison charts of armies/land forces of apartheid states and territories in Southern Africa.

Contents

This chart includes the military rank insignia of the nominally independent Bantustans, [note 1] apartheid South Africa, [1] and South West Africa. [1] These states were all under the control of the apartheid regime of South Africa, [2] with the defence forces of the Bantustans being made of units that were nominally independent of the SADF, but were selected and trained by the SADF, and who placed former South African and Rhodesian military officers in senior positions within the defence forces. [3] The South West Africa Territorial Force was an auxiliary arm of the SADF and formed the armed forces of South West Africa from 1977 to 1989. [4]

Armies

Officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Flag of Bophuthatswana Army.svg Bophuthatswana Army [5]
Blank.svg BDF Brigadier Rank.jpg BDF Colonel Rank.jpg BDF Lt Colonel Rank.jpg BDF Major Rank.jpg BDF Captain rank.jpg BDF 1st Lieutenant Rank.jpg BDF 2nd Lieutenant Rank.jpg BOP Rank Candidate Officer.jpg
Major general
Generaal-majoor
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant
2nd lieutenant
Tweede luitenant
Officer candidate
Kandidaat offisier
Flag of Ciskei.svg Ciskei Army [6]
Blank.svg Ciskei Defence Force Brigadier.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Colonel.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Lt Colonel.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Major Rank.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Captain rank.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Lieutenant Rank.jpg Ciskei Defence Force 2nd Lieutenant Rank.jpg
Lieutenant general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Flag of the South African Army (1973-1994).svg South African Army
(1961–1994) [7]
South Africa-Army-OF-9-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-8-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-7-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-6-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-5-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-4b-1968.svg South Africa-Army-OF-4-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-3-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-2-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-1b-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-1a-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OF-(D)-1961.svg
General
Generaal [note 2]
Lieutenant General
Luitenant-Generaal
Major General
Generaal-Majoor [note 3]
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Chief Commandant
Hoofkommandant [note 4]
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant [note 5]
Second Lieutenant
Tweede Luitenant [note 6]
Officer Candidate
Kandidaatoffisier
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg South West African Army [7]
South West Africa-Army-OF-8.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-7.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-5.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-4.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-3.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-2.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-1b.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-1a.svg South West Africa-Army-OF-(D).svg
Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Officer candidate
Flag of Transkei Defence Force Army.png Transkei Army [8] [6]
Transkei-Army-OF-9.svg Transkei-Army-OF-8.svg Transkei-Army-OF-7.svg Transkei-Army-OF-6.svg Transkei-Army-OF-5.svg Transkei-Army-OF-4.svg Transkei-Army-OF-3.svg Transkei-Army-OF-2.svg Transkei-Army-OF-1b.svg Transkei-Army-OF-1a.svg
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Flag of the Venda Defence Force.svg Venda Ground Forces [6]
Venda-Army-OF-6.svg Venda-Army-OF-5.svg Venda-Army-OF-4.svg Venda-Army-OF-3.svg Venda-Army-OF-2.svg Venda-Army-OF-1b.svg Venda-Army-OF-1a.svg
Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Other ranks
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of Bophuthatswana Army.svg Bophuthatswana Army [5]
BDF Rank Warrant Officer class 1.jpg BDF Rank Warrant Officer class 2.jpg BDF Rank Staff Sergeant Brassard.jpg BDF Rank Sergeant Brassard.jpg BDF Rank Corporal Brassard.jpg BDF Rank L Corporal Brassard.jpg No insignia
Warrant officer class 1
Warrant officer class 2
Staff sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal
Lance corporal
Private
Flag of Ciskei.svg Ciskei Army [6]
Ciskei Defence Force Warrant Officer Class 1 badge.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Warrant Officer Class 2 badge.jpg Blank.svg Ciskei Defence Force Sergeant badge.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Corporal badge.jpg Ciskei Defence Force Lance Corporal badge.jpg No insignia
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
Flag of the South African Army (1973-1994).svg South African Army
(1961–1994) [7]
Sersant-Majoor van die Leer (SADF).gif South Africa-Army-OR-9-1961.svg South Africa-Army-OR-8-1961 01.svg South Africa-Army-OR-7-1961.svg SAA-OR-6.svg SAA-OR-4.svg SAA-OR-3.svg No insignia
Sergeant Major of the Army
Sersant-Majoor van die Leër
Warrant officer class 1
Adjudant-Offisier Klas I
Warrant officer class 2
Adjudant-Offisier Klas II
Staff sergeant
Stafsersant
Sergeant
Sersant
Corporal
Korporaal
Lance corporal
Onderkorporaal
Private
Soldaat
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg South West African Army [7]
SWATF Warrant Officer Chief Formation.jpg SWATF Warrant officer Class 1 RSM.jpg SWATF Warrant Officer Class 2.jpg South West Africa-Army-OR-7.svg South West Africa-Army-OR-6.svg South West Africa-Army-OR-4.svg South West Africa-Army-OR-3.svg No insignia
Formation warrant officer Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
Flag of Transkei Defence Force Army.png Transkei Army [8] [6]
TDF Rank Warrant Officer class 1.jpg TDF Rank Warrant Officer Class 2.jpg Transkei-Army-OR-7.svg SAA-OR-6.svg SAA-OR-4.svg SAA-OR-3.svg No insignia
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
Flag of the Venda Defence Force.svg Venda Ground Forces [6]
Venda Defence Force Warrant Officer Class 1.jpg VDF Warrant Officer class 2 rank.jpg Venda Defence Force Staff Sergeant.jpg India-Army-OR-6.svg India-Army-OR-4.svg India-Army-OR-3.svg No insignia
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted

Air forces

Officers
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Flag of Bophuthatswana (1972-1994).svg Bophuthatswana Air Force [5]
Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant
Second lieutenant
Tweede luitenant
Officer candidate
Kandidaat offisier
Air Force Ensign of South Africa (1982-1994).svg South African Air Force
(1961–1994)
South Africa-Air Force-OF-9-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-8-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-7-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-6-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-5-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-4-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-3-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-2-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-1b-1961.svg South Africa-Air Force-OF-1a-1961.svg
General
Generaal
Lieutenant General
Luitenant-Generaal
Major General
Generaal-Majoor
Brigadier
Brigadier
Colonel
Kolonel
Commandant
Kommandant
Major
Majoor
Captain
Kaptein
Lieutenant
Luitenant
Second Lieutenant
Tweede Luitenant
Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officersOfficer cadet
Other ranks
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Flag of Bophuthatswana (1972-1994).svg Bophuthatswana Air Force [5]
Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg Blank.svg No insignia
Sergeant Major of the Air Force
Sersant-Majoor van die Lugmag
Warrant officer class 1
Adjudant-Offisier Klass I
Warrant officer class 2
Adjudant-Offisier Klass II
Staff sergeant
Staf-Sersant
Sergeant
Sersant
Corporal
Korporaal
Lance corporal
Onderkorporaal
Private
Soldaat
Air Force Ensign of South Africa (1982-1994).svg South African Air Force
(1961–1994)
South African Army OR-9 (1951-2002).gif South African Army OR-8 (1951-2002).gif South African Air Force OR-6 (1994-2002).gif South African Air Force OR-4 (1994-2002).gif South African Air Force OR-3 (1994-2002).gif No insignia
Sergeant Major of the SA Air Force
Sersant-Majoor van die SA Lugmag
Warrant Officer class 1
Adjudant-Offisier Klas I
Warrant Officer class 2
Adjudant-Offisier Klas II
Flight sergeant
Vlugsersant
Sergeant
Sersant [note 7]
Corporal
Korporaal [note 8]
Lance corporal
Onderkorporaal [note 9]
Aircraftman
Vliegtuigman [note 10]
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted

See also

Notes

      • The Transkei was granted "independence" by the Status of Transkei Act 100 of 1976 with effect from 26 October 1976.
      • The Status of Bophuthatswana Act 89 of 1977 granted Bophuthatswana "independence" with effect from 6 December 1977.
      • Venda was granted "independence" by the Status of Venda Act 107 of 1979 with effect from 13 September 1979.
      • The Status of Ciskei Act 110 of 1981 granted Ciskei "independence" with effect from 4 December 1981.
    1. Called Commandant general (Kommandant-generaal) from 1956 to 1968
    2. Called Combat general (Bestry generaal) from 1960 to 1968
    3. Only in the Commandos from 1968 to 1970
    4. Called Field cornet (Veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
    5. Called Assistant field cornet (Assistent veldkornet) from 1960 to 1968
    6. Called Air Sergeant (Lugsersant) from 1960 to 1968
    7. Called Air Corporal (Lugkorporaal) from 1960 to 1968
    8. Called Leading air mechanic (Leiend Lugwerktuigkundige) until 1970
    9. Called Air mechanic (Lugwerktuigkundige) from 1920 to 1970
      Called Private (Soldaat) from 1970 to 1982

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    References

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    3. Stapleton, Timothy J. (9 April 2010). A Military History of South Africa: From the Dutch-Khoi Wars to the End of Apartheid. Praeger Security International. ISBN   978-0313365898.
    4. Duignan, Peter. Politics and Government in African States 1960–1985. pp. 345–377.
    5. 1 2 3 4 "Bophuthatswana Defence Force" . Retrieved 2 March 2021.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cilliers, Jakkie (1993). "An Overview of the Armed Forces of the TBVC Countries". South African Defence Review (13). Archived from the original on 24 June 2016.
    7. 1 2 3 4 Radburn, A. (22 February 2012). "SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY RANKS AND INSIGNIA". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (2): 1–4. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
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    Examples