In: African sociological review: bi-annual publication of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) = Revue africaine de sociologie, Band 7, Heft 1
In: African sociological review: bi-annual publication of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) = Revue africaine de sociologie, Band 6, Heft 2
In: African sociological review: bi-annual publication of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) = Revue africaine de sociologie, Band 5, Heft 2
This paper explores the problems & prospects of change within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), following South Africa's transition to democracy. It commences with a short overview of the role played by the SANDF's predecessor, the South African Defence Force, in the run-up to the transition. This is followed by a look at the homeland & liberation armies, & a more detailed assessment of the process by which the various armed groupings were integrated into a reconstituted defense force. Thereafter, a range of current issues, from internal staffing policies, to procurement, to potential external roles is explored. It is concluded that while the formal integration of armies has been completed, with some progress being made in terms of internal transformation & in defining a new role, much remains to be done if the SANDF is to become genuinely representative of the realities & needs of the new South Africa. 4 Tables. Adapted from the source document.