's Military Establishment

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Alternative title Notes and Documents - United Nations Centre Against ApartheidNo. 25/72 Author/Creator United Nations Centre against ; Ahmad, Barakat Publisher Department of Political and Security Council Affairs Date 1972-12-00 Resource type Reports Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) South Africa, Southern Africa (region) Coverage (temporal) 1972 Source Northwestern University Libraries Description Documents military expansion of South Africa since the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960. Expantionist efforts constitute a serious menace not only to the oppressed people of South Africa but to the independent African States and to international peace. Format extent 22 page(s) (length/size)

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http://www.aluka.org UNIT ON APARTHEID

UNIT ON APARTHEID DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND SECURITY COUNCIL AFFAIRS No. 25/72 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS* December 1972 SOUTH AFRICA'S ILITARY ESTABLISKEIr by Dr. Barakat Ahmad (India) Lm 1 973 Af r Ca- an a "The enormous emansion of the military forces and the military equipment of South Africa since the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, as documented in this paper, constitutes a serious menace not only to the oppressed people of South Africa but to the independent African States and to international peace. "That the racist r~gime of South Africa has been able to obtain large quantities of sophisticated military equipment from other countries, despite its defiance of the international community and despite the arms embargo instituted by the Security Council in 1963, is a source of gravest concern. The governments and companies which supply the arms to the South African r~gime bear a heavy responsibility for the drift to disaster in South Africa. "It is imperative that governments and organizations must take urgent and effective steps to secure the full implementation of the arms embargo against the South African r~gime." H.E. Edwin Ogebe Ogbu (Nigeria) Chairman Special Committee on Apartheid 72-26616 *All material in these notes and documents may be freely reprinted. Acknowledgement, together with a copy of the publication containing the reprint, would be appreciated,

INTRODUCTION The South African Government began a rapid build-up of its military forces in 1960, the year in which several African States achieved independence and in which the Sharpeville massacre aroused world concern over 9ptGhid. In the White Paper on Defence and Armament Production, tabled in Parliament in 1969, the South African Government claimed that "in view of the ever-increasing threats from the outside, it decided in 1960 to modernize and expand a practically obsolete Defence Force". 1y It may be noted, however, that in 1960, the opposition to aprtheoid in South Africa remained non-violent and there had been no evidence of an external threat to South Africa. The South African Government accelerated the military build-up after the establishment of the Organization of African Unity at the Summit Conference of Independent African States at Addis Ababa in May 1965. The Minister of Defence said in Parliament on 28 May 1965: "...In the light of the threats which are now being made against our country at Addis Ababa, the question of ensuring that adequate training is given to our Defence Forces is even more important now .. .I trust the time is not far off when we shall train every young man for military service. It cannot be done at present as yet, but we are working in that direction. We are increasing the number every year. We want to train every young man whether he has flat feet or not." 2/ The African States had, in fact, made no threats but had declared that the cause of the oppressed people of South Africa was the cause of all the African peoples. Another justification for the military build-up - in the context of the flight of foreign capital after the Sharpeville massacre and the resultant economic problems - was indicated by Dr. T.E. Donges, then Minister of Finance, in his budget statement in March 1965. He said that inasmuch as 48 per cent of the defence expenditure would be spent in South Africa, it would stimulate the 1! Cape Times, 3 June 1969. The South African Foundation explained in 1968: "In 1960, when African States in increasing numbers were receiving independence from their former colonial rulers, and when Liberia and Ethiopia first introduced the case on to the International Court at The Hague, a military appreciation was made of a possible threat to South Africa's peaceful existence and safety as a result of the unsettled world political conditions. It was decided then what the strength and structure of the South African Defence Force should be and what equipment needed to be acquired. The result of this enquiry was that whereas the republic in 1960-61 spent only 45.8 million rand on Defence, by 1964-65 this figure had risen to 210 million rand." Background to South African and World News, Johannesburg, November 1968 - _Has )_28 M'ay 1963, cos67-6784 economy, while bolstering the confidence of investors and prospective immigrants. Peace would be ensured, he said, by "taking certain steps, as if one were preparing for war, so that the economy can be stimulated." 3' As pressures increased for the isolation of the South African Government because of its akzartheid policy, the military build-up began to be seen in another context. It was felt that South Africa would become a more attractive ally to the '!estern Powers if it was militarily stronger. As Die Burer, the Nationalist newspaper, commented on 20 April 1967 after the announcement of the purchase of three submarines: "Our military power helps decisively to determine our role in international politics, not only for a hypothetical future, but for the present. An ally is sought to the extent in which he is worth having; it is the strongest whose friendship is sought. V4 The build-up of the military forces of South Africa cannot be regarded as intended for the national self-defence of the country as generally understood, insofar as the South African Government is concerned mainly with the so-called "white nation". The following exchange in the South African Parliament in August 1970 is illustrative of its policy: "Mr. R.M. CADMAN: May I put a question? Under the Government's policy, are the and the Asiatics part of the South African nation or not? "The MINISTER: No. The Government has never adopted the attitude that there is a nation of 20 million people in this country. This Government has always adopted the attitude that there is a white nation, a Coloured population, an Indian group and a number of black nations in this country... "LUe say that under our system we shall allor only white officers to be in charge of white soldiers. The fighting capacity of our Defence Force will consist mainly of whites. 7e say that we are training a Coloured Corps for auxiliary services, as well as for certain services in Defence Force units, but they will remain under white control... "Ve regard the Indians on the same basis as the Coloured Corps. Then the hon. the Leader of the Opposition asked me whether I would commission them. I then said: 'Yes, over their own people, when they are ripe for it.' As far as the Bantu are concerned, we say that we shall employ them only in certain auxiliary services as labourers. But we shall not employ them within the context of the South African Defence Force in any fighting capacity. Very well, our point of view is clear now." 5/ 3j South African Digest, , 11 April 1963 Q Quoted in Cape Times, 21 April 1967 _j House of Assembly Debates (Hansard), 31 August 1970, cols.2940-2941

I. EXPENDITURE ON DEFENCE The South African budget estimates for defence have increased sharply since 1960, the year of the Sharpeville massacre. The estimates of expenditure since 1960-61 are as follows: 6/ Estimate of expenditure Year for defence (in millions of rands) 1960-1961 44 1961-1962 72 1962-1963 120 1963-1964 122 1964-1965 233 1965-1966 229 1966-1967 256 1967-1968 266 1968-1969 254 1969-1970 272 1970-1971 257 1971-1972 316 1972-1973 344 The recent increases contradict Government statements in 1966 and 1970 that there would be no further substantial increases in the defence budget. 1hile half of the expenditure in 1960-1961 was for salaries, wages and allowances, this item accounted for less than a quarter of the expenditure in recent years. In 1971-1972, over one-third of the budget, 108,261,000 rand, was allocated for procurement of armanents and 50.7 million rand for "Defence Special Equipment Account" for the purchase of arms abroad. 7]' The 1)hite Paper on Defence, submitted to Parliament on 25 April 1969, announced a five-year plan for the expenditure of 1,647 million rand ($2,306 million). It reported that since 1960, 660,325,000 rand ($924,455,000) had been spent on armanents, of which 254 million rand ($356 million) constituted expenditure on aircraft. The total assets of the Defence Force were estimated at 2,000 million rand ($2,800 million). 6 Estimates of ' the Expenditure, 1960-1961 to 1972-1973 7' Ibid.

II. STRENGTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCE The South African Government has often indicated its desire to train every able- bodied (white) young man and to be able to put 250,000 men in the field at short notice. Between 1960 and 1971, the Permanent Force (standing army) personnel increased by 65 per cent, the Citizen Force (conscripts and volunteers) increased sixfold, and the Commando establishment (territorial army) rose by about 18 per cent. 81/ The Defence Force of South Africa now has a normal strength of about 44,000 and a possible strength of over 150,COO when fully mobilized. 9/ Significantly, the Defence Force now has 23 generals, as against a total of 15 during the Second Uorld War when South Africa had 400,000 men under arms. i0/ 8/ NATO's Fifteen Nation , August-September 1969 9/ The normal strength of the Army, and Air Force is as follows: Citizen Force under Permanent Force trakninagtanyone time Commandos Army 10,000 22,300 58,000 Navy 2,250 1,250 Air Force 5,000 3,000 Source: Richard Booth. The Armed Forces of the African States, 1970, (Ins itute of Strategic Studies, London), page 21 Another 45,000 members of the Citizen Force not on active duty may be mobilized within two days. To this might be added the Police Force of over 30,000 (about half white) and a Police Reserve of 19,COO (mostly white). The Milita!r_Balance, 1972-1973, (Institute of Strategic Studies, London, 1972) gives the following figures: Regular Reserves Total Army 10,000 80,000 90,000 Navy 2,300 9,000 11,300 Air Force 5,000 3,000 8,000 Commandos - - 75,000 10' The South African Financial Gazette, Johannesburg, 30 March 1972. Earlier, in July 1970, the Minister of Defence told Parliament in reply to a question, that the number of the highest posts in the Defence Force was as follovc Generals 1 -Generals 8 Major-Generals 15 Brigadiers 83 House of Assembly Pebates (Hansard), 24 July 1970, col.358

-5 A spokesman of the Defence Force explained the large number of generals as required by the increased number of departments, and added: "Most important of all, it must not be forgotten that this is not a normal peace-time army... "For all practical purposes.. .you have an armed service here on permanent standby." l/ The Defence Force is composed entirely of whites, except for the small Coloured Corps and labourers. All white males between the ages of 16 and 25 are liable to compulsory peace-time military training. 12' All white males between the ages of 17 and 65 are liable to military service in tiem of war. The Defence Force consists of the following: (a) Permanent Force; (b) Citizen Force; (c) Commandos; and (d) Coloured Corps. A. Permanent Force The Permanent Force, or the professional officers and men of the Army, Navy and Air Force, provides the cadres for the administration of all the units of the Defence Force. Its strength is kept relatively low. This accounts for the relatively low expenditure on salaries in the defence budget. The strength of the Permanent Force has increased since 1960-1961 as follows: L31 Officers Other ranks 1960-1961 1,275 7,744 1961-1962 l,421 9,036 1962-1963 1,903 10,797 1963-1964 2,079 11,699 1964-1965 2,271 12,655 1965-1966 2,539 15,598 1966-1967 2,593 13,542 1967-1968 2,625 14,009 1968-1969 2,832 14,226 1969-1970 3,261 14,661 South African Financial Gazette, Johannesburg, coi.358 L2/ BjyProclamation R . 363 of 29 December 1967, peace-time military service was made compulsory for all aliens between the ages of 16 and 25, who had been living in South Africa for five years or more, unless they declared that they did not intend to become citizens. i3_ Estimates of the Expenditure, 1960-1970

During this period - 1960-1961 to 1969-1970 - the strength of the Army increased from 2,743 to 7,412; the Air Force from 3,146 to 5,992; and the Navy from 1,832 to 3,224. 14, In addition, the defence establishment included in 1969-1970, 370 in CommonS3ervices, 302 in the Medical and Nursing Services, 1,447 in Auxiliary Services, 2,383 administrative and clerical personnel and 8,997 non-white labourers. 15' The labourers are mainly Africans and Coloured people. 161 The Army, consisting of the Permanent Force and the Citizen Force, comprises more than fifty major units, including over forty infantry battalions. TheArea Handbook for the Republic of South Africa noted: "Several of these units were trained and organized as parachute battalions. The entire army Was decentralized and located in the vicinity of major urban centres throughout the country. A number of the army's combat units Were fast-striking shock elements known as Mobile atches, equipped with tanks, rocket launchers, and anti-tank: weapons. A ner combat group formed in 1966 to provide further coordinated mobility and firepower ias known as the Joint Combat Forces. An elite unit, this task force was manned by some of the army's best trained troops, equipped with the most modern weapons available, and assured of adequate air support. The army claimed the ability to airlift 500 men of the task force to any spot in -the country within ninety minutes. "In 1969 the South African Defence Force embarked on concentrated training of its army forces for unconventional warfare. Five special anti-terrorist training camps were established at strategic sites for training in camouflage, tracking and ambush drill. Trainees were instructed in counter-measures against current guerilla tactics." 17/ 14/ Ibid. L5," Ibid., 1969-1970 16/ In reply to a question in Parliament, the Minister of Defence disclosed on 22 Ilarch 1968, that 6,017 Africans, 3,070 Coloured people and one Indian were then employed by his Department as civilians. The Africans were employed as labourers, cooks, head boys, and boss boys. The Coloured people were employed as artisans, operators, launch drivers, armament assistants, dockyard assistants, dockyard seamen, cupola attendants, dockyard messengers, skilled dockyard labourers and dockyard labourers. The Indian was employed as a labourer. House of Assembly Debates (Hansard), 22 MIarch 1968, cols.2657-2658 17,' Area Handbook for the Republic of South Africa (American University, Washin-ton, .'., -1971), p. . . . .

B. Citizen Force The Citizen Force is organized into Army, Air Force and Navy units. Before 1961, members of the Force underwent a three-month continuous training in the first year and a three-week training in the second, third and fourth years. Under the Defence Amendment Act of 1961, L/ the period of training was increased to nine months in the first year and three months in the following years. Legislation was introduced in 1967 abolishing the ballot system and introducing compulsory military training for all medically fit young male citizens from the age of seventeen, except those who joined the Permanent Force, the Police or Prisons Department. Training was extended to a series of nine periods - twelve months during the first period, twenty-six during each of three periods, and twelve days during each of five periods. According to the white Paper on Defence, published in June 1964, the strength of the Citizen Force increased from 2,000 in 1961 to 16,527 in 1964. By instituting compulsory military training in 1967, the number of Citizen Force trainees was increased to about 22,500 in 1968. The total Citizen Force available - that is, personnel who have received training - was estimated in 1972 to be about 80,000. 19' Commandant-General Hiemstra said on 15 March 1967 that the aim was to be able, in about ten years, to mobilize 100,000 men for that Force in a very short time. LO/ C. Commandos The Commando unit, essentially a paramilitary force, comprises volunteers and able-bodied citizens who were not previously members of the Permanent Force or the Citizen Force or the reserve unit of either. They are trained in the use of weapons and in combat operations along the same lines as the Citizen Force, and are subject to call for service at any time. There are three types of infantry units in the Commandos - rural, urban and industrial. Under the Defence Amendment Act of 1972, 21! they are liable to serve for a period of ten years - for up to 12 months in the first year and nineteen days in each of the nine subsequent years. (Before 1967, they were required by law to serve only for four consecutive years.) The 1972 Amendment Act also empowers military authorities to transfer members of the Commandos to the Citizen Force or vice versa. 18. Act No.12 of 1961 19. The Military Balance, 1972-75, (Institute of Strategic Studies, London, 1972), P.39 20/ Cape Times, 16 March 1967 21_J Act No.66 of 1972

The strength of the Commandos increased from 48,281 officers and men in 1960 to about 60,000 in 1965. _22j' About 10,000 are trained each year. The Air Commandos, established in 1964, comprise units made up of private pilots and airplanes commissioned in times of emergency or war. Its role is to provide air support, mainly of a non-offensive nature. The volunteers are to assist ground commandos with reconnaissance, communications, movement of supplies, evacuation of casualties, and so on. The establishment of twelve squadrons was aathorized in 1964. The Air Commandos now have about 240 pilots and aircraft. The mission of the Commandos seems essentially to support the Police in the maintenance of internal security. Members of the Commandos receive intensive training in tactics. D. Coloured Corps The Coloured Corps was established in April 1963, for administrative jobs such as drivers, guards, stretcher bearers, cooks, clerks and storemen. It is an integral part of the Armed Forces units. The training of its members in the use of weapons is limited to "the handling of single-shot small arms for self-defence and the protection of Government property." 23/ 2" The Minister of Defence told Parliament in reply to questions in May 1965 that 2,461 officers and 45,112 other ranks were enrolled in the Commandos. The reserve of officers was as follows: Reserve of Permanent Citizen Force Officers Force Reserve Reserve Army 7,938 152 546 Air Force 4,362 102 115 Navy 891 24 23 House of Assembly Debates (Hansard), 21 May 1965, cols.6457-6458 23' Statement by the Minister of Defence, Mr. J.J. Fouche. House of Assen§1hly Debates (Hansard), 19 February 1963, cols.1576-1577. The Minister of Defence told Parliament, in reply to a question in April 1965: "Members of the Coloured Corps are only trained in the handling of the .303 inch rifle for self-defence and the guarding of Government property which may be entrusted to them. During recuit training 140 rounds per man are fired and thereafter 70 rounds per trained man per year. Members are not trained as instructors on the weapon." House of Assembly Debates (Hansard), 30 April 1965, col.5096

The establishment of the Coloured Corps, in a departure from earlier National Party policy, 24, was accompanied by an amendment to the 1957 Defence Act to preclude a non-white officer from arresting a white soldier or exercising authority over him. 25 Though the members of the Coloured Corps are regarded as members of the Permanent Force, they receive less pay than whites. They can go up to officer second class. 26j/ The South African Navy is increasingly making use of Coloured personnel because of the shortage of trained manpower. In April 1965, it took on Coloured recruits on a permanent basis. They receive basic training at the South African Coloured Corps Training Centre at Eerste River and then go to Simonstown for further training. Under white officers, they may completely man smaller vessels like mineswreepers. The Navy was reported to be particularly interested in drivers and chefs. It was reported in February 1972 that there were 264 Coloured seamen in the Navy. Of the crew of 97 of the hydrographic vessel, SAS Natal, 41 seamen, who were to be among the ship's company of 122, were sent to Glasgow for training to man a new hydrographic survey ship, SAS Protea, which was being built there. Coloured crews are also employed on the boom defence vessel SAS Somerset. It was planned to employ them on the fleet replenishment vessel, SAS Tafelberg. 27/ H.H. Biermann, new Commandant-General of the Defence Force, said in April 1972 that the question of putting more non-whites into service in defence was being closely studied, especially in the Navy. o4/ The Cape Corps, a Coloured unit, had contributed significantly to the South African war effort in the Second VTorld 1Tar, but was abolished by the National Party Government. Only a Cape Corps Auxiliary Service was maintained. 25/ This amendment gave the following new definition of the term "superior officer", insofar as it applies to the South African military discipline code: " 'Superior officer', in relation to a person subject to this Code, means any officer, or non-commissioned officer subject to this Code who holds a higher rank than such person, or who holds the same or an equivalent rank but is in a position of authority over such person: Provided that no person subject to this Code who is not a white person... shall be deemed to be the superior officer of a white person subject to this Code: Provided further that a white person subject to this Code who, irrespective of his rank, is appointed in authority over any person subject to this Code who is not a white person as so defined, shall be deemed to be the superior officer of such lastmentioned person." 26/ The Star, Johannesburg, 8 February 1972 rn71 11md.

-10- "As far as the Navy is concerned, we have employed them for a long time... "The Coloured people are natural seamen and it is only right that we make use of their services. They serve in our survey vessels and can reach the rank of warrant officer. "I can see no reason why in the future, Coloured officers, cannot command our mine-sweepers and seaward defence vessels." African corps, he said, already did guard duty in the other services and it was inevitable that more would be employed. &S/ The Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff announced in August and October 1972 that a voluntary military service system, comparable to that for white National Servicemen, would be instituted for the Coloured people. A South African Cape Corps Service Battalion would be created and would provide military training to Coloured youths for a period of twelve months. The trainees could later join the Permanent Force. 291/ E. Submarine branch The submarine branch of the South African Navy was formed about 1969. It has 170 qualified submariners trained in France, as well as about 100 other specialists. Training of submarines at the Simonstown base began after the acquisition of submarines. About 30 men were being trained in 1972. 30/ F. Other 1. Bureau for State Securitv (BOSS) A Bureau for State Security was established, 31/ under the direct authority of the Prime Minister, in 1970, for the collection and coordination of intelligence. It is financed by a "security services special account" _2/ which is beyond the scrutiny of Parliament. The appropriation was 3,515,000 rand (,%.,921,000) in 1971-72 and 5,500,000 rand ($7,700,000) in 1972-73. 28// Ibid., 1 April 1972 _29 South African Digest, Pretoria, 4 August and 20 October 1972. 0,'The Johannesburg,12June 1972 31/ The Bureau was set up under the Public Service Amendment Act, No.86 of 1969. Further information on the operation of the Bureau was contained in several sections of the General Law Amendment Act, No.101 of 1969 12j' Security Services Special Account Act, No.81 of 1969

-ll- 2. Police support It may be noted that members of the Police Force are also used for military purposes. Contingents of South African Police have been in service in since 1967. The Police have a regular strength of 32,700 and about 19,000 reservists. About 4,000 are reported to have received "anti-terrorist" training. Police equipment includes 80 Saracen armoured vehicles on loan from the Army, and 430 patrol trucks. 32' It was reported in March 1972 that a contingent of non-white policemen mostly Africans, and a number of Coloured and Indian people - had been sent to the Caprivi Strip for border duty. Members of this contingent had received intensive training fof four months in guerrilla warfare. They were the first non-white policemen to carry automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Most of them were constables, but the group included several sergeants. The senior officers Were white. 3/ 5. Civil defence In 1966, through the establishment of the Emergency Planning Board, the Government created machinery for protecting the civilian population in times of national disaster such as war or sabotage and revolt. The Directorate of Emergency Planning was set up in the Minister of Justice and regional controllers in the thirteen so-called "target areas" in the Repblic, responsible for the protection of strategic industries and trades and for training people in specialized tasks. Every able-bodied man and woman from the age of seventeen to sixty-five who has not had military training and who does not fall under specified categories of public service, was made liable under the Civil Defence Act 55Z/ to be called up for compulsory training in such tasks as fire fighting. The Minister of Justice, it was laid doim, may provide for the "continuation of..government" if necessary. 56/ The Directorate of Civil Defence was abolished on 1 April 1968 and a Department of Civil Defence was established under the direction of the Chief of the Army within the Defence Force. 553. Richard Booth, The Armed'zorces of African States (Institute of Strategic Studies, London, 1970), p.21 34/ RandDaily Mail, Johannesburg, 31 March 1972; ThRe Star, Johannesburg, 30 March 1972 351 Act No.39 of 1966 i.6i' Despite appeals by the Government, these were reported to be few volunteers for civil defence training. Cape Times, 20 January 1968

-12- 4. Cadet training Military training is compulsory at some white schools and colleges for pupils aged 12 to 17. The number of school cadets was about 1CO,000 in 1967. 3' 5. Training of women In 1971, the Government began semi-military training of women volunteers (Women had served in auxiliary units during the Second ,Torld War, but these units Were demobilized at the end of the war.) A civil defence college was opened at George, in the Cape Province in April 1971, rith a capacity of 120 trainees. The establishment of colleges at other centres was also envisaged. The training at the college includes self-defence, shooting, nursing, fire- prevention, first aid, ambulance and telecommunications work. It is organized by the Department of Civil Defence. Members of the Defence Force and Police assist in the training. 7,' 1969 State of South Africa Yearbook, (Johannesburg, 1971), p.50

-13- III. MILITARY EQUIPMENT 1_8/ The hite Paper on Defence, submitted to Parliament in April 1969, stated that the assets and equipment of the Defence Force amounted to 2,000 million rand ($2,800)million). It disclosed that the amounts expended on the purchase of main military equipment from 1960-61 had totalled 660,525,000 rand ($924,455,000) as follows: auipmEnt Aircraft Ships Armour Anti-aircraft guns Rockets and guided missiles Radio, radar, sonar and navigational equipment Ammunition Vehicles Total Value in rand 254,628,000 54,737.,000 26,528,000 21,601,000 18,316,000 102,075,000 114,564,000 67,876,000 66o,325,000 The White Paper indicated that during the next five years, the maritime defence programme would be expanded considerably by the purchase of fast coastal patrol craft; the acquisition of light reconnaissance patrol aircraft to police coastal waters; and possible provision for guided missiles on naval vessels. The plans also included provision for greater mobility of the armed forces by the acquisition of more transport helicopters and the decentralization of army vehicles. 28/ Unless otherwise indicated, the material for this section is taken from the following sources: The Ililitary Balance 1972-1979 op. cit.; Jane's Fighting Ships, 1972-1973 (London, 19F2; 'Jane'Is All the World's Aircrat 17-1972 (London, 17) The Military Strengths ns outhrn fr,-(Central Africa Research, No.5, London, 968); anWd Richard Booth, The Armed Forces of the African States, 1970 (Institute of Strategic Studies, Loncn, 197). .

-14- .A. Arm!y e4ipment Army equipment includes the following: 100 Centurion Mark 5 tanks About 100 Sherman and Comet medium tanks About 500 AIL-60, AML-90 and Staghound armoured cars and Ferret scout cars 250 Saracen armoured personnel carriers Panhard armoured cars (manufactured in South Africa) About 50 light observation planes of the aerial reconnaissance squadron Bofor and Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns 5.5-inch medium Howitzers and 17-pound gun Howitzers F.N. 7.62 automatic rifles (a late model of the standard NATO automatic rifle manufactured in South Africa) Green Archer and Fledermans' radar equipment Surface-to-air missile system (developed in cooperation with France) The Ilinister of Defence, Mr. P.T. Botha, announced on 26 February 1972 that the Commandos would soon use a new semi-automatic rifle, known as the R3, manufactured in South Africa. 39/ B. Navy equipment The Navy has over thirty ships which include the following: (a) Two refitted : and Jan van Riebeeck, carrying _asp naval helicopters purchased from the in 1963 401 39/ The Star, Johannesburg, 28 February 1972 4./ South Africa purchased 10 Wasp helicopters in 1963 and ordered seven more in February 1971 at a cost of about £Z840,ooo. On 26 November 1971, one helicopter crashed during a test flight killing four members of the . The other nine were then grounded on the manufacturers advice. The Star, Johannesburg, 22 December 1971 and 7 February 1972. The helicopters ordered in 1971 are expected to be delivered in 1973.

-15- (b) Six anti-submarine : President Kruger; President Steyn; President Pretorius; Vrvstaat; Transvaal<; and Good Hope (primarily a training -ves'sel) (c) Three Daphne-type sub- Maria van Riebeeck; ; : J ohanna, 'van der Merwe 4_l (d) Tuo hydrographic survey ships: Natal and Protea 42/ (e) One escort mineswreeper: Pietermaritzburg (f) Ten coastal (g) Five seaward defence boats (h) One seaward defence launch (i) One boom defence vessel (j) Two harbour tugs (k) Three air-sea rescue launches (1) One tanker: Tafelber (12,000 tons) Press reports in February 1972 indicated that South Africa had signed an agreement for the construction of six of the 1,250-ton Joao Continho class in Portugal. The corvettes wrould be equipped with guided missiles and electronic submarine detection equipment which would be obtained from other countries. C. Air Force equipment The Air Force has about 500 aircraft including the following: (a) One squadron with 21 Sabre F-86 Mark 6 (b) About 40 Mirage aircraft. Sixteen _irage III-CZ super4ij In April 1967, the South African Government signed an agreement for the purchase of the three submarines in France at a cost of about 8 million rand ($11 million) each. They were built at Nantes in the Dubigeon-Normandie shipyard and were delivered between 1970 and 1971. They carry 12 torpedoes each and have a radius of 3,000 miles. About 170 officers and ratings of the South African Navy were provided with extensive training on land and in the submarines at Toulon, France. 42/ SAS Protea, a 2,750-ton Hecla class vessel built by the Yarrows of Glasgow at a cost of over R5 million (7 million), was commuissioned in May 1972. It is to replace the SAS Natal, which was acquired during 'Torld JTar II. sonic jet strike fighter-bombers (equipped with AS-20 air-to-surface missiles and Sidewinders) were purchases from France in 1963, and two squadrons of Mira III-EZ interceptor fighters were delivered in 1965-1966; they are equipped with R530 air-to-air missiles. South Africa has also purchases four Mirage III-RZ jets (special reconnaissance models fitted with cameras in the nose) from Avions Harcel Dassault, manufacturers of the Mirage. (c) One squadron of nine Canberra B-12 light bombers (purchased from the United Kingdom in 1963) (d) About 40 Vampire FB-5 aircraft (e) Seven Avron Shackleton maritime bomber reconnaissance aircraft (f) One squadron of 15 Blaclburn Buccaneer Mark 50 low-level naval strike bombers. (Sixteen wre purchased from the United Kingdom in 1964 and were delivered by August 1966 but one crashed on the way to South Africa) 43j (g) Nine Nord Transall C-160 troop-carriers (delivered from Francein 1970) . (h) Seven Lockheed Hercules C-130-B transport aircraft (purchased from the United States in 1961) and fortyfour C-47 aircraft (i) Tuenty-five Cessna 185 Skywagon jet reconnaissance aircraft (purchased from the United States in 1962) (j) Three MytX r 205 fitted with Hawker Siddeley 125 engines (purchased from France in concurrence with the United Kingdom in 1965) (k) One Viscount and 4 Skyaster transport aircraft 114hj (1) Several Albatross light reconnaissance aircraft 43±J The 16 Buccaneers had been ordered before the United Kingdom announced the arms embargo in November 1964, at a cost of Z25 million. Daily Telegraph, London, reported on 19 November 1964: "The Buccaneers for South Africa have many expensive innovations, including special rocket engines for assisting quick take-offs from small fields. All were to be equipped with French armaments. "Mainly these are guided rockets of heavy calibre, particularly designed for the destruction of ships, submarines and large buildings." 1. / Five used skymasters were purchased from the South African Ainrays in 1965. South African Airays, FitYjearsof Flioght, (Johannesburg, 1970), p.109 -16-

-17- (m) Four Hawker Siddeley HS 125 aircraft (executive jets) l'-5 / (n) Cactus surface-to-air missiles (on order from France) The Citizen Force operates six to eight squadrons of training aircraft, with about 100 Harvards each capable of carrying eight 19-lb fragmentation bombs. Approximately 150 Harvards are in storage. Macchi 326 jet trainers, known in South Africa as the Impala trainer, are to replace the Harvards as basic trainers. They are built locally with British Bristol Vip.r jet engines, reportedly imported from Italy where they are manufacturered under licence by the Piaggio aircraft concern. South Africa is reported to have 75 Mjacchi jet trainers and over 200 Impala aircraft are reported to be under production. 46 Air Force equipment also included about one hundred helicopters of the following types: (a) Sixteen SA 3210 Super-Frelon helicopters (purchased from France in 1966) (b) Sixty Alouette II and III helicopters (c) Sixteen Puma helicopters 4.7/ (d) Four .Sikorskya S-51 and five Sikorsky S-55 helicopters Missiles On 2 May 1969, the South African Minister of Defence, Mr. P.7. Botha, announced in Parliament that an all-weather surface-to-air missile system against low-flying aircraft, knoum as Cactus, had been developed jointly by South Africa and France with joint funding by the two Governments. 45,' Three of the four Hawker Siddeley liercurius, jets, acquired in 1970-1971, crashed in a fly-past at Cape Town on 28 May 1971. The Minister of Defence told Parliament that the aircraft cost 694,959 to 049,749 rand each. They were used to transport Iiinisters, Members of Parliament, important foreign visitors and others. House of Assembly Debates (Hansard), 21 iarch 1972, cols.618-619 Three Hawker Siddeley HS 125 aircraft Vere ordered in 1971 to replace those which had crashed. 46' It is also reported that nine Piaggio 166 aircraft are in the process of delivery. Air Pictorial, February 1970 4i/ The troop-carrying Puma aircraft are jointly manufactured by France and the United Kingdom. British press reported that the initial sale of Puma was approved by the Labour Government, following requests from -"rance. Sirne then more PulIas had been ordered by South Africa. DailyT D mess.. London, 23 February 1971

-18- Participants in the project wrere the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; Compagnie Electronique Thomas Houton and Hotchkiss Brandt, a French company responsible for ground equipment; and Engins Ilatra, a French company responsible for the development and manufacture of the missile, including rockets. The total cost of development was estimated at 20 million rand ($28 million). 48/ The system was tested in the Bordeaux area of France on 9 June 1969. The South African Defence i inister, 1-r. P.W. Botha, disclosed soon after that the first battery of the missiles would be delivered to South Africa in 1971, and that negotiations would take place with Thomas Houton regarding manufacture in South Africa. Although gactus had been developed in association with the French Government, he said, South Africa had control of the missile. "We took the lead in developing them and we laid down the specifications," he added. 4/' The Minister of Defence also told the House of Assembly on 2 May 1969 that a radar-guided air-to-air projectile, Matra, developed by South African engineers and scientists who had been trained abroad, had been tested in South Africa. He added that it was nearing the production stage. On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the South African Air Force in 1970, it was reported that newsmen had been shown a classified air-to-ground weapon. 5P/ Civilian aircraft Reference may be made to civilian aircraft as they are liable to be commandeered in case of an emergency. The South African Airways has a large fleet of such aircraft, acquired mainly from the United States and the United Kingdom. A large number of aircraft are also privately owned by companies and individuals. It is estimated that South Africa's existing civil aircraft fleet numbrrs about 2,000 and is growing at about 10 per cent a year. Aircraft such as Hawker Siddeley HS 125 and the Lear Jet are reported to be becoming increasingly popular among South African businessmen. 51/ According to press reports, Bell, Sikorsky, Cessna and Hughes helicopters from the United States and Alouettes from France are sold and hired in South Afr: 4' T he Star, Johannesburg, 13 November 1969. The missile is known as Crotale (rattlesnake) in France. 9// The Star, weekly airmail edition, Johaneesburg, 14 June 1969. Press reports indicated that the missile would be manufactured in South Africa by the Fuchs company and that it could be transported in the Transall aircraft purchased in France. Interavia, July 1969 50 Cape Times, 51 January 1970. This was possibly the missile with which the iirages are equipped. 51, South African Digest, Pretoria, 20 August 1971

-19- IV. MILITARY BASES AND INSTALLATIONS A. Air defence network A radar network in the Transvaal provides an early-warning system in case of an aerial attack on South Africa's northern frontiers by hostile aircraft. It can also guide interceptor fighters to the attackers. The network consists of a control centre and computers which are linked by radio telephone, telex and telemetric communications systems to satellite radar stations around the country's borders. The network was erected by the Marconi Company of Great Britain and handed over to the Defence Department in November 1965. Seventy-five per cent of this equipment was reported to have been manufactured by South African industries. The Minister of Defence told Parliament that the initial cost of the installation, including equipment, technical and operational buildings and domestic facilities was 12,091,816 rand ($16,928,542.4). 2/ The second phase of the project - an underground air defence headquarters at Devon, eastern Transvaal - was built at a cost of 6.5 million rand ( ;9.1 million) and was completed in January 1972. 53, B. Navy installations The most important naval base is at Simonstown. It was transferred to South Africa by the United Kingdom in the 1950s and has been greatly expanded in recent years. A new operational headquarters for the Maritime Command has been built nearby at Westlake, Cape Town. The Minister of Defence announced that two sub- headquarters would be set up at 17alvis Bay and . 54/ In April 1969, when construction of the Westlake project was inaugurated, it was disclosed that it would contain the most up-to-date radio communications equipment, enabling the Command to keep in immediate contact with aircraft, 12// House of Assembly Debates (Hansard), 21 May 1965, col.6465. The Minister also stated that peacetime establishment at the installation was 131. It was not the intention to man the system in normal times for 24 hours per day. Upon mobilization Citizen Force personnel and reservists would be posted to the system to complete the full-time complement for full operational functioning. Ibid. 53/ The Star, Johannesburg, 21 January 1972 5_j The Star, Johannesburg, 24 April 1969; South African Digest, Pretoria, 2 May 1969

-20- ships and submarines from South Africa to the Indian Ocean and as far south as Antarctica. The installation, which cost 12 million rand ($16.8 million), 55, is due to go into operation on 8 March 1973, according to an announcement by the Minister of Defence. 56/ A Decca radio navigator system covering the coastline from to Natal has also been established at Touw.rsriver, near Simonstown. An official statement, on the occasion of the opening of the Touwsriver Control Station in. June 1971, said that the system would be of great value to the South African Air Force and civilian aircraft flying in-the coastal areas. The statement went on to say that the system would also be of great assistance to the Navy, the fishing industry and to ships of all nations using the Cape Sea route,-. 57/ Following the purchase of three submarines from France, a submarine base (SAS Drommedaris) has been built at Simonstowm. The base includes a synchro-lift dock to handle submarines and smaller surface ships. 58' A second naval base has been reactivated and expanded at Salisbury Island Durban. There is also a smaller naval base at , on the coast of Namnibia. The Minister of Defence, Mr. P.W. Botha, announced on 2 September 1969 that a naval base would be built at Saldanha Bay on the west coast. 59" C. _Airfields The Air Force has the following strategic airfields: (a) Nelspruit, in the northeast Transvaal, which opened in 1966 for the use of border patrols; (b) Dunnottar, in the Transvaal, which serves as the headquarters for 40 Air Squadron and a basic training centre for Harvards; 55j About 50 per cent of the contract, representing local content, was awarded to Fuchs Electronics (Pty) Limited _6,/ Th.e.Star, Johannesburg, weekly airmail edition, 18 November 1972 57/ Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg, 12 June 1971 S58w In March 1969, the South African Defence Minister, Mr. P.1T. Botha, said in France that the marine-lift would enable South Africa to offer repair and maintenence services to submarines from France and other friendly countries. The Star, Johannesburg, 18 March 1969 The 1969 1.hite Paper on Defence stated that the tidal basin and submarine base at Simonstown would involve an expenditure of 14.4 million rand ( ')20. 2 million) 5.9,' Cape Times, 3 September 1969

-21- (c) Langebaan, near Cape Town, uhich is the Central Flying School of South Africa; (d) Langebaanweg, near Saldanha, in the Cape Province, which was originally built for a maritime reconnaissance unit and has since been expanded; (e) Mpacha, in Namibia's Caprivi Strip, fifteen miles from Zambia's borders; (f) Pietersburg, situated in the northern Transvaal, near the Rhodesian border. It was reported in December 1966 that South Africa had opened a large base equipped with a full complement of Sabre jets and three super-sensitive radar units to enable operations in all kinds of weather. In addition, many commercial airfields can be converted for military purposes. 60/ 60,' "During the 1960s the Government's programme of commercial airfield construction added ten new airports, all of which could accommodate military aircraft if necessary." Area Handbook for the Republic of South Africa, (American University, Uashington, D.C.,-197 ), p-76