Faculty of Humanities School of Social Sciences 9003886p mashikel@social.wits.ac.za / Using in-depth interviews with key informants, participant observation, an analysis of documentary and archival sources, and a survey of a national sample of 395 former APLA and MK soldiers, this study analyses the process of demobilisation in South Africa between 1994 and 2004. The key questions are: why and how was the demobilisation process conducted and what were its consequences? Demobilisation is a shorthand term for the multi-staged process of converting a soldier to a civilian. This encompasses the release of soldiers from a statutory force or guerrilla group and their reintegration into civilian society. Reintegration is defined as “the process of facilitating the ex-soldiers’ transition to civilian life” (Clark, 1995: 50). In South Africa, demobilisation was envisaged as the last phase in the process of forming the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The Interim Constitution (Act No. 200 of 1993) made provision for three phases in the formation of the SANDF. First was the integration of various armed forces. This was followed by a process of consolidation, which included the completion of bridging training by former members of the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA) and uMKhonto we Sizwe (MK). The final phase was the reduction of the size of the integrated SANDF, known as rationalisation. However, the concept held the same meaning as demobilisation. The thesis of this study is that the reduction of the size of the SANDF (known as rationalisation) was necessary for two reasons. First was the perceived and real improvement in the national and regional security environment. Second was the perceived economic and development impact of the reduction of defence expenditure. These were informed by the broadened concept of security, which was popularised by non-governmental organisations such as the Military Research Group. However, while rationalisation was postponed and anticipated as the final phase in the process of forming the SANDF, the presence of military “misfits” among former APLA and MK soldiers (the aged, the sick and those who lacked the necessary educational qualifications) led to the introduction of a process of excluding these categories from the process of integration. The process became known as demobilisation and was introduced without adequate planning. It differed from the anticipated rationalisation process which was meant to apply to all members of the integrated SANDF. Various factors pointed to the lack of adequate planning. First, demobilisation was introduced before the finalisation of the relevant legislation, and consequently the process was halted in 1995. Second, the demobilisation of former APLA and MK soldiers was not accompanied by effective reintegration programmes. The reintegration programme that was assembled consisted of a once-off demobilisation gratuity, a voluntary two-week counselling programme and an option to join the Service Corps for an eighteen-month vocational training programme. Third, while the Service Corps was part of the reintegration programme, it was not operational when demobilisation began. When it became operational, it was ineffective as an institution to provide for the re-skilling of demobilised former APLA and MK soldiers. The lack of adequate planning for the demobilisation and reintegration of former APLA and MK soldiers has hindered their full social and economic reintegration into civilian society. Following an analysis of the socio-economic needs of a national sample of 395 former APLA and MK soldiers, it is argued that they have not achieved economic reintegration in the sense of achieving a productive livelihood. Furthermore, it is argued that while respondents have achieved social reintegration some of them continue to see themselves as a distinct group different from other members of the society. Thus, demobilised soldiers may threaten the consolidation of democracy in South Africa and destabilise the region. The proliferation of light weapons throughout the region following the end of armed conflict and the lack of effective disarmament in South Africa increases the potential not only for violent crime but also for serious political and social disruptions.

Abstract: This article concentrates on the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as a South African public sector department, its acceptance of the Batho Pele principles and the implementation of various organisational performance improvement programmes. However, despite accepting the principles and the programmes, it is uncertain whether the SANDF institutionalised them in order to effect continuous performance improvement.

Abstract: This article concentrates on the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as a South African public sector department, its acceptance of the Batho Pele principles and the implementation of various organisational performance improvement programmes. However, despite accepting the principles and the programmes, it is uncertain whether the SANDF institutionalised them in order to effect continuous performance improvement.

Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / Job satisfaction and organisational commitment are two of the most researched organisational behaviour constructs. It is generally agreed that low levels of satisfaction or commitment may result in employees voluntarily ceasing the employee-organisation relationship which results in organisations loosing professional and skilled individuals, which is a potentially crippling factor within any organisation, particularly Governmental Departments who relying on specialist and highly trained and skilled employees. The current study examined the organisational commitment, the level of job satisfaction and the relationship between satisfaction and commitment of fully functionally qualified permanent contract male and female officers on salary Grade C2 to Grade C6, extending across all occupational divisions and classes, namely operational, personnel, logistics, engineering and technical. The sampling technique used was a quantitative non-probability convenience sampling design with the sample consisting of 62 commissioned officers. The majority of the respondents were African with the sample being more representative of males than females. The majority of the respondents were married and between the age of 22 to 29 having at least a 3 year degree or diploma and from the operational occupational class. The respondent’s levels of satisfaction were measured by means of the Job Descriptive Index Questionnaire which measured the five job facets, namely pay, promotion, supervision, co-workers and the nature of work. The study found that respondents were moderately satisfied with their promotion opportunities, followed by the pay they receive. They were however, less satisfied with the supervision they receive, their co-workers and the work itself. Affective, continuance and normative commitment was assessed by means of the Organizational Commitment Scale. The findings of the study found that the respondents had below average levels of organisational commitment across all three components as well as overall commitment. Furthermore, results derived from the research indicated that there was a statistically significant and strong positive correlation between organisational commitment and job satisfaction. Additionally, the results of the study regarding differences between selected demographic variables and the core dependent and independent variable found that there was no statistically significant difference for organisational commitment or job satisfaction scores between males and females and tenure. There was however a statistically significant difference in organisational commitment and job satisfaction for different occupational classes.

Magister Educationis - MEd / The Constitution provides that the primary object of the SANDF is to defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity and its people, in accordance with the Constitution and the principles of international law regulating the use of force. In this thesis I argue that an action research theory that finds its home in educational institutions like the schools of the industrialised countries of the North, cannot simplistically be applied to the set-up of the educational institutions of the developing countries of the Southern hemisphere, more so in a military context like that of the SANDF which is different from schools. Secondly, an action research theory that developed in the German-speaking countries and in some post-World War American institutions, cannot simply be applied to post-apartheid South African institutions like the SANDF, without first evaluating the nature of the transformation process of South African institutions from the yoke of an apartheid ethos and orientation into the institutions that are suited for meeting the needs of all South Africans. Thirdly, I argue for a need to share knowledge, skills, experience and expertise on the basis of equality between the institutions in the North and the South. On the one hand, this includes military and non-military institutions, and between and within the different sectors of the rapidly changing public service in South Africa, on the other. The main question at stake is: How to help soldiers in the new dispensation in South Africa develop a critical awareness of why they do certain things and why they view themselves and the world around them the way they do? In other words, When will the ways of thinking and acting in the SANDF contribute not only to the improvement of soldiers' interaction with each other, but also to the betterment of a quality of service that the Defence Force is responsible for delivering to the rest of the Country's citizens and to South Africa's neighbouring countries?

While it has become the United Nations (UN) responsibility to peacekeep the world’s most conflict ridden countries, so too has their impact on the physical environment increased. Large numbers of personnel require equally vast amount of logistical requirements and equipment for the sustainment of operations. Base camps are the focal points from which operations are managed in the field. The ability of peacekeeping base camps to handle their solid waste, both on-site and off-site in low capacity environments, has gained greater attention as environmental concerns have increased globally. Interviews conducted with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) (acting as a current Troop Contributing Country (TCC) to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) determined the problems facing appropriate solid waste collection, treatment and disposal methods utilized in and outside peacekeeping base camps and their specific limitations. It was found that there was inefficient monitoring and follow up processes involved with solid waste contracting providers; that there is a need for the inclusion of focused solutions during the operational planning stages; and, there is a deficiency in placed responsibility both from within a TCC and between the UN as to how and whom should manage the solid waste emanating from within base camps. This MA dissertation achieved the understanding that there must be greater focus placed on the delineation of responsibility for the management of solid waste within base camps in the documents that initially structure operations between TCCs, the UN and host nations, thereby limiting the impact on the physical environment from peacekeeping to the furthest extent possible. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MA / Unrestricted

Since the democratic changes in South Africa in 1994, there have been great expectations of the role that South Africa can play in promoting peace and stability in Africa. South Africa cannot prosper in isolation on a continent which is not at peace with itself. It is in the country‘s national interest to play a role in the prevention of conflict. During my deployment to the Antarctic and in Africa, I asked why some people are better able to cope with deployment and isolation than others. Deployed chaplains provided spiritual, emotional and pastoral support. In their efforts to provide care, they are supported by Social Workers, Healthcare Professionals and Psychologists. For the purpose of this research, they are all referred to as Professional Caregivers. Under the term Caregivers I understand professionally trained people focusing on caring for other people as part of their work. “How do caregivers cope with deployment?” was the question answered by my Co-researchers. In obtaining this data the narrative research paradigm was used. Within the context of Peacekeeping Missions, aspects ranging from military discipline, alcohol misuse, how soldiers cope with the deployment stages, the role of Social Constructionism and how we create our own reality, is considered. Narrative research strives to listen to people‘s stories of how they explain their own understanding of how they coped with deployment. The aim of narrative research is not to bring about change, but to understand their stories. I was interested in learning about the caregivers‘ personal experiences through their own stories. These stories would be documented as part of personal interviews as shared by the caregivers in looking back at their deployment experiences. The term Co-researchers were used in the research process to explain the role and inputs made by the caregivers who shared their stories of coping. The role of faith combined with the knowledge gained from interdisciplinary inputs in coping with deployment is addressed. Caregivers expressed their opinions regarding the lack of support from management as well as possible solutions. Alternative interpretations and outcomes were made by the Co-researchers to explain how they were able to cope. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNNS,) of which the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the United States is the most widely used, is increasingly being used by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for navigation and positional data. However, the SANDF can only use civilian type GPS receivers, which make use of the Standard Positioning Serves (SPS) and not the encrypted Precise Positioning Service (PPS), which is only available to the United States military forces and its allies. The aim of this work is to understand the influences that impact on the use of a GPS and specifically the capabilities of civilian type GPS receivers. The first objective will be to propose and motivate the use of a standardised reference frame that can be used by the SANDF for positional data in general and for GPS measurements specifically. In this regard it is proposed that the SANDF standardises on the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) as the standard ellipsoid and also use it as a universal horizontal datum for mapping projects. For survey tasks WGS 84 can be used in combination with a selected International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) epoch for reference stations. The International GNNS Service (IGS) stations can be used as such reference stations; the geometric distribution can be improved as the African Reference Frame (AFREF) add more stations to the existing IGS network. In the absence of a common vertical datum it is suggested that the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM 2008) be used. Secondly, the use of GPS for positional data should be aligned with the required positional accuracy requirements and standards of the SANDF. In this regard it is suggested that international positional accuracy standards are accepted and implemented to ensure interoperability. The third objective is to describe and understand how to mitigate influences that impact on the reliability of GPS. This is specifically important with the use of low accuracy civilian type GPS receivers for navigation and the collection of ground control for mapping projects. The fourth objective will be to establish with practical field trials the effect of these influences on GPS measurements and device appropriate data collection strategies. One serious impact is the susceptibility of civilian GPS receivers to jamming. This is addressed but not sufficiently to formulate policy and would require further investigation. There is a worldwide drive to make GPS reliable for safety of life applications such as air and rail transport which also benefits its use for military applications. It is therefore important for the SANDF users to know and understand these influences on GPS in order to optimise its use for operations. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

Background: The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) like other Defence Forces of the world, conducts medical classification on their members. This medical classification has, as one of the components, an Oral Health Fitness (OHF) classification which is done according to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standards. The aim of the Oral Health Fitness classification is to standardize dental readiness, assess oral health, prioritize dental care, minimize the number of dental emergencies (DE), and emphasize the importance of good oral health to all active duty and reserve forces. Medical classification is conducted by the South African Military Health Services (SAMHS). Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the dental emergency outcomes of the Oral Health Fitness classification of the SAMHS in Area Military Health Unit Gauteng (AMHU GT), South Africa Objectives: To determine dental emergency rate for the SAMHS, analyse the dental emergencies and to make recommendations regarding dental emergencies to the SAMHS Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective record analyses of members of the SANDF that received an OHF classification of 1 and 2 in AMHU GT in 2009. The AMHU GT members were followed up for a year to determine if they developed dental emergencies. Data analysis included frequency tables, chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The dental emergency rate for AMHU Gauteng was 307/1000 per year. The type of dental emergencies were: 58.5% dental restorations, 13% extractions and related complications, 4.3% crown and bridge, 3.9% emergency root canals, 9.9% recementations, 3.6% denture related problems while other emergencies were 6.8%. Patients were more likely to experience a dental emergency if they were white, female, of OHF 2 classification and older than fifty years of age. Conversely they were least likely to experience a dental emergency if they were black, male, of OHF 1 classification and in the age group 31-40. Conclusion: The dental emergency rate of 307/1000 per year for the SANDF is high compared to military health units from other countries and it was influenced by race, age and gender. The types of dental emergencies were mainly preventable. / Dissertation (MChD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Community Dentistry / Unrestricted

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The continued and ever growing involvement of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to complex peacekeeping operations over the African continent has opened a platform in the academic field to better sharpen the SANDF’s performance and contribution to achieve peace in Africa. Previous deployments to various African countries has tested the SANDF’s level of preparedness. Although the organisation gives effort to train its forces to reach the desired level of combat readiness, the nature of the operations to which soldiers partake in has proven to be more demanding. This study was driven by the need to explore and provide a broader perspective of what constitute combat readiness. Utilising the SANDF, the study aimed to explore the relationship between the soldier’s relationship with the spouse (RWS) and the soldier’s relationship with the unit (RWU), and hardiness as a possible mediator variable to combat readiness (CR). Previous research and theories were explored to provide a theoretical background for the study variables. A non-experimental controlled inquiry was used to test the hypothesised relationship among the variables. A sample of 363 participants (across ranks, gender and race) was randomly selected from South African Infantry Battalion Group mobilising for a deployment to Sudan. Hypothesised relationships among the independent variables, mediator variable and dependent variable was determined using the correlational analysis (Spearman correlation). Partial Least Squares (PLS) – measurement and structural model was used to test the study model for combat readiness. The results showed significant correlations between the soldier’s RWS and CR. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between soldier’s RWU and CR. Partial mediation was explained by the path coefficients from RWU>hardiness>CR. No full mediating effect was found. The results also showed insignificant correlations between soldiers RWS and hardiness (rather than between soldier’s RWS and CR. These results were in support to previous research and proved to add insight to future research on CR. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaarbaar nie.