Defence, the Arms Trade and Mercenaries

Abstract

One of the top priorities faced by the new Mandela government in 1994 was to rearrange the country’s defence establishment. The South African Defence Force (SADF) was one of the two instruments, (the South African Police was the other) employed by the former government to maintain white supremacy and keep apartheid in place. Almost by definition the white personnel of the SADF had believed in the apartheid system and many of its officers were understandably viewed with deep suspicion by the ANC. The new government had to proceed cautiously; it could not risk a revolt by the armed forces before it had obtained proper control. What is remarkable with hindsight is just how smoothly the government was able to carry through the process of integration.