Rudzani Maphwanya

General

Rudzani Maphwanya

SM MMM
General; Rudzani Maphwanya; SM MMM
Born	23 November 1960 (age 63)
Allegiance	South Africa
Service / branch	South African Army; uMkhonto we Sizwe
Years of service	1978–present
Rank	General
Unit	Special Forces Brigade
Commands	Chief of the South African National Defence Force; Chief Joint Operations; GOC Infantry Formation (2016–2019); GOC Special Forces Brigade (2006–2015);
Awards
Spouse(s)	Masindi Mulayo Maphwanya

General Rudzani Maphwanya SM MMM (born 23 November 1960)^[1] is a South African military commander who served as Chief of Joint Operations from 2019 till May 2021. He was appointed Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on 1 June 2021.^[2]

Military career

Maphwanya served in the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in Angola and integrated into the SANDF in 1994. He served as SO1 Operations, SSO Operations Special Forces Brigade, CoS Special Forces Brigade, GOC SA Army Infantry Formation, Chief Joint Operations Division. He was appointed as the SANDF Chief of Joint Operations on 1 November 2019.^[3]

Awards and decorations

Medals

Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
Military Merit Medal (MMM)
South Africa Service Medal (Umkonto we Sizwe)
Tshumelo Ikatelaho (General Service Medal)
Unitas (Unity) Medal
Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) (30 Year Clasp)
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
Service Medal (Bronze) (Umkonto we Sizwe)
Order of Military Merit (Grand Officer - Grande-Oficial) (Brazil)

Military Qualifications

SA Special Forces Operator's Badge
(Qualification)

Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Dagger enclosed with a laurel wreath

^[a]

Paratrooper Basic
(Qualification)

Basic, Static Line Black on Thatch beige, Embossed Small Black wings

Academic Qualifications

1993 (1993): Junior Command and Staff Course at the Zimbabwe Staff College
1994 (1994): Bachelor of Commerce Degree at the University of the North
2000 (2000): Senior Command and Staff Course at the Kenyan Staff College
2003 (2003): Certificate in Total Quality Management at the University of South Africa (UNISA)
2004 (2004): Executive National Security Programme at the South African National Defence College
2005 (2005): Strategic Management Programme at the University of Pretoria
2012 (2012): Post Graduate Diploma in Security Management at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
2015 (2015): Master of Management degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)

Notes

^ This was an Honorary award based on his posting

References

^ ^a ^b "CV of General Rudzani Maphwanya". DefenceWeb. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
^ Seleka, Ntwaagae (14 April 2021). "Ramaphosa announces Lt-General Rudzani Maphwanya as incoming SANDF Chief". News24. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
^ "New chiefs of SA Army, Joint Operations, SAMHS announced". Defence Web. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

Military offices
Preceded by Solly Shoke	Chief of the SANDF 2021–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Barney Hlatswayo	Chief of Joint Operations 2019–2021	Succeeded by Siphiwe Sangweni
Preceded by Lindile Yam	GOC Infantry Formation 2016–2019	Succeeded by Njabulo Dube
Preceded by Krubert Nel	GOC Special Forces 2006–2015	Succeeded by Steve Maloma
Preceded by Renier Coetzee	Chief of Staff Special Forces 2003–2006	Succeeded by unknown

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[4] This was an Honorary award based on his posting

[DWebCV-1] "CV of General Rudzani Maphwanya". DefenceWeb. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.

[N24200414-2] Seleka, Ntwaagae (14 April 2021). "Ramaphosa announces Lt-General Rudzani Maphwanya as incoming SANDF Chief". News24. Retrieved 15 April 2021.

[DWeb20191011-3] "New chiefs of SA Army, Joint Operations, SAMHS announced". Defence Web. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[a]

v t e Chiefs of the South African military
List of South African military chiefs
Chief of the UDF 1912 – 1957	Andries Brink Pierre van Ryneveld Leonard Beyers Christiaan du Toit Hendrik Klopper Stephen Melville
Commandant General of the SADF 1958 – 1973	Stephen Melville Pieter Grobbelaar Rudolph Hiemstra Hugo Biermann
Chief of the SADF 1973 – 1994	Hugo Biermann Magnus Malan Constand Viljoen Johannes Geldenhuys Andreas Liebenberg Georg Lodewyk Meiring
Chief of the SANDF 1994 – present	Georg Lodewyk Meiring Siphiwe Nyanda Godfrey Ngwenya Solly Shoke Rudzani Maphwanya

v t e Senior officials in the South African Department of Defence
Civilian officials	Minister of Defence and Military Veterans: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Deputy Minister: Kebby Maphatsoe Secretary for Defence: Sam Makhudu Gulube
Military chiefs	Chief of the SANDF: Solly Shoke Chief of Joint Operations: Rudzani Maphwanya Chief of the Army: Lawrence Mbatha Chief of the Navy: Monde Lobese Chief of the Air Force: Wiseman Mbambo Surgeon-General: Ntshavheni Maphaha