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Johannes Geldenhuys

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General

Johannes Geldenhuys

SSA SD SOE SM MMM
Johannes Jacobus Geldenhuys
Born(1935-02-05)5 February 1935
Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa
Died10 September 2018(2018-09-10) (aged 83)
George, Western Cape, South Africa
AllegianceSouth Africa
Service / branchSouth African Army
Years of service1954–1990
RankGeneral
CommandsChief of the South African Defence Force (1985–90)
Chief of the Army (1980–85)
South West Africa Territorial Force (1980)
South West Africa Command (1977–80)
Battles / warsSouth African Border War
AwardsStar of South Africa SSAG Southern Cross Decoration SD South African Police Star for Outstanding Service SOE Southern Cross Medal SM Military Merit Medal MMM Pro Patria Medal ' Southern Africa Medal ' General Service Medal (South Africa) ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Permanent Force Good Service Medal ' Order of Prince Henry GCIH Order Military Merit ' Unknown award ' Order of the Cloud and Banner ORB Military Merit ' Order of Military Merit '

General Johannes Jacobus (Jannie) Geldenhuys SSA SD SOE SM MMM (5 February 1935 – 10 September 2018)[1] was a South African military commander who served as Chief of the South African Defence Force from 1985 to 1990.[2][3]

Early life

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Geldenhuys was born in Kroonstad on 5 February 1935.[2] He would later matriculate from Hoërskool Voortrekker in Bethlehem, Orange Free State.[4]: 1 

Military career

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He joined the army on 4 January 1954 as a candidate officer.[5]: 19  Geldenhuys obtained a BMil from the University of Pretoria in 1956 before joining 1 Special Service Battalion.[6]: 77 [5]: 19  In 1965, he was based at the South African Embassy in Luanda, Angola as a Vice-Consul, a position he held until 1968.[5]: 19  He was appointed as Army Chief of Staff Intelligence and then Army Chief of Staff Operations.[5]: 19  He went on to high command in the South African Army, serving as commander of South West Africa Command from 1977 until 1980, when he was briefly appointed as General Officer Commanding the South West African Territorial Force. Later in 1980, he became Chief of the Army. Geldenhuys was promoted to general and assumed the position of Chief of the South African Defence Force on 31 October 1985. In this role, he took part in negotiations that brought the Border War to an end in 1989, after 23 years of fighting.[3]

The post-Apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that when Geldenhuys and General Ian Gleeson were informed that the SADF and Security Branch had assassinated Dr Fabian Ribeiro and his wife Florence Ribeiro on 1 December 1986 they failed to pass this information onto the Attorney-General or the police. The commission concluded that they both "acted in an obstructive way for which they are legally responsible". As part of the Commission's hearings it was alleged that Geldenhuys had also authorised the use of SADF special forces personnel to support the Security Branch's operations within South Africa; he denied having done so.[7]

In 2023, Geldenhuys was named as an accomplice to the torture and murder of anti-apartheid activist Abdullah Haron.[8]

Death

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Geldenhuys died on 10 September 2018 due to the effects of Alzheimer's disease.[4]: 1 [5]: 18  He was survived by his wife Marié, daughters Anna-Marié and Lollie, and son Bruwer. Another son, Martin, predeceased him.[4]: 1 

Medals and decorations

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Notes

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  1. ^ Portuguese: Grã-Cruz - The star bears the Portuguese inscription Talant de bien faire

References

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  1. ^ Kolberg, Kristy (10 September 2018). "RETIRED DEFENCE FORCE LEADER DIES". George Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "5 February 1935: General Jannie Geldenhuys is born". SA History.org. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Senior (High Office) Officers / Offisiere". SADF Info. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  4. ^ a b c van der Walt, Sarel (11 September 2018). "Geldenhuys se vredesrol geloof". Beeld (in Afrikaans).
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j van der Walt, Sarel (15 September 2018). "Nag, my generaal". Beeld (in Afrikaans).
  6. ^ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452–1992. Germiston: Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
  7. ^ Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1998). "Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report. Volume Two" (PDF). Pretoria: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. pp. 266–267.
  8. ^ Cruywagen, Vincent (9 October 2023). "Imam Abdullah Haron's family finally hears truth about his death in detention". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 10 October 2024.

Further reading

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Military offices
Preceded by Chief of the South African Defence Force
1985–1990 		Succeeded by
Chief of the Army
1980–1985
Preceded by GOC South West Africa Territorial Force
1977–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Officer Commanding South West Africa Command
1973–1974 		Succeeded by
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