In 2013, 40% of the new recruits were women. The Department of Defence wants to increase this figure to 50%. The racial profiles also changed significantly, with former MK supporters making up the majority of the African women in the SANDF in 1994.

However a disproportionate number of white women hold senior ranks, but this has been attributed to the fact that they served the former SADF since the early 1970s.

Whereas prior to 1994 women were only permitted to serve in support roles, they may now be trained and serve in all ranks.

However according to the SANDF’s chief director of transformation and management and former MK’s sniper – Brigadier-General Thandi Mohale: ‘Only five of 52 current major-generals are women, and the numbers are similar in other high-ranking posts. There are no female lieutenant-generals, only 35% of the brigadier-generals are women and out of 940 colonels, 158 are women.’

Women officers, who were previously excluded from studying at the Military Academy, now comprise almost a third of the student body and in 1999 the predominantly male student body elected the first female to the prestigious position of student captain. The first female and coloured students were respectively admitted to the Military Academy in 1978 and 1979.

Female fighters on the front lines

According to Lieutenant Colonel NO Mkhwanazi: ‘When military women were asked whether they would go into frontline combat if given the chance, most black African women (75%) and coloured women (58%) said they would compared to 34% of whites. […] What is apparent is that white women’s views are similar to western trends in that they want the choice to serve in combat roles, while African women appear more prepared to serve in the frontline.’ (Survey conducted by the SANDF’s Equal Opportunities Chief Directorate (EOCD) in February/March 2013 among all military personnel)

‘A lot of women with high metric results who could do medicine or industrial psychology, even to honours level, instead choose to join the military,’ Brigadier-General Thandi Mohale explained. ‘They want to prove women can also do it. Many love adventure and the opportunities available in the army.’

Nowadays, evidence shows that women are as capable as their male colleagues. Furthermore, the SANDF has the highest number of women in Africa within its ranks. Photo: Guy Martin/defenceweb.co.za

Thus, even if patriotism is one of the motivating factors for people to join the SANDF, Mohale also said that women were increasingly attracted to the military because they saw themselves as equal to their male counterparts.

Nowadays, evidence shows that women are as capable as their male colleagues. Furthermore, the SANDF has the highest number of women in Africa within its ranks.

The 2014 South African Defence Review solemnly declares that: ‘The future soldier will be a skilled, healthy, fit and highly disciplined military imbued with a high level of morale and sense of duty. The Defence Force will be an equitable, broadly representative and gender-aligned national asset.’

Transformation & gender mainstreaming

As a young army in a newly democratic country, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) seeks to overcome gender inequality, as well as racial disparity, within its ranks.

Alongside, Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan and Nigeria, South Africa has pledged to pilot the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which pioneers the support of a gender perspective in peace operations, as well as the deployment of more women in peacekeeping roles. According to Lt Col Theresa Moletsane, ‘The involvement of women in peacekeeping is therefore invaluable and has advantages that a mission consisting only of men does not have. Female peacekeepers are seen as more approachable and less threatening than male peacekeepers.’

It is hoped that the UN resolution will encourage more women to participate in military decision making, which in turn will increase their capacity to influence policy around gender transformation.