Rationalization: An ambivalent process in the South African Army

Abstract

Since the termination of the twenty-three year Border War between South West Africa/Namibia and Angola in April 1989, and the demise of apartheid rule in 1992, far-reaching changes have been made to the former South African defence system. During 1990 officers involved in the war had to be reintegrated into the organizational structure of the South African Army (SA Army), a subsystem of the former South African Defence Force (SADF). This took place in accordance with United Nations Resolution 435, which set out the restriction of bases and eventual withdrawal and disarmament of South African and South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) forces (Sass 1995:125).