Ciskei Defence Force

Ciskei Defence Force
Founded	1981
Disbanded	April 1994
Service branches	1st and 2nd Battalion; Air wing
Headquarters	Jong'umsobomvu, outside King Williams Town
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Brigadier General Oupa Gqozo
Manpower
Military age	18-49
Deployed personnel	2000 (1993)
Expenditures
Budget	R99 910 000 (1993)
Related articles
History	Military history of South Africa

The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) was established during March 1981 from the 141 Battalion of the South African Defence Force (SADF). It was the defence force of Ciskei, a bantustan that was controlled by the apartheid regime of South Africa. The CDF functioned as part of the 21 Battalion based near Lenasia, outside Johannesburg.[1]

Overview

In 1993 the total troop count of the CDF was 2000. The defence expenditure for Ciskei for 1991/2 was R76,883,000 and for the period of 1993/94 it was R99,910,000.[1]

Organisation and structure

According to Dr Jakkie Cilliers, the CDF consisted of the following:

Defence Headquarters

Originally located at Jong'umsobomvu (outside King William's Town), however, in 1993 the CDF's headquarters moved to the Parliament Buildings in Bhisho. Jong'umsobomvu retained the following:[1]

Logistic Depot: including general equipment, uniforms, daily maintenance, rations, fuel, etc.
Maintenance and Construction Unit
Training Centre.

One Ciskei Battalion

The battalion consisted of 900 men and were stationed at Bhisho;[1] it consisted of:

3 companies of which 2 had Mamba mine-protected vehicles
a small support company
a large Light Workshop Troop and signals workshops which served the whole of the CDF

Two Ciskei Battalion

The battalion consisted of 700 men and was stationed at Keiskammahoek;[1] it consisted of:

3 companies with Mamba mine-protected vehicles
a small support company.

Air Wing

Situated at Bisho Airport a.k.a. Bulembu;[1] it consisted of:

two Shorts Skyvan light transport aircraft for paratroopers and general air transport
three MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters
three light fixed wing aircraft for communication flights, etc. (Cessna 150)
two Britten-Norman Islanders for personnel and freight transport
Piper Cub

There was a special forces/parachute company stationed at Bulembu, the core of a possible future parachute regiment. The Ciskei military band was also stationed at Bulembo and fell under the Air Wing for administrative purposes.[1]

Auxiliary

The CDF's auxiliary according to Dr Jakkie Cilliers [1] consisted of, quote:

"The CDF had semi-permanent company bases at Alice and Kama/Whittlesea. There are also Auxiliary Services for which the CDF provided training and certain administrative functions. These Services are tasked with the protection of chiefs and headmen. These forces are controlled by structures within the Council of State. There is also a decentralised medical and signals element.

Ranks[1]

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
Ciskei Army	No equivalent						No equivalent																		Unknown
Ciskei Army	No equivalent				Lieutenant general		No equivalent		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			2nd Lieutenant			Unknown

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Ciskei Army																													No insignia
Ciskei Army	Chief Warrant Officer						Warrant Officer		Staff Sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private

Equipment

The CDF was equipped for counter-insurgency (COIN) operations. The CDF had one 25 pounder field gun for ceremonial purposes and used R4/R5 assault rifles. The 7,62 mm Light Machine Gun issued was the SS-77. Other armaments included the 40 mm Multiple Grenade Launcher, 60 mm and 81 mm mortars and 7,62 mm Browning.

Vehicles included Mambas, Buffels, Samil 20, seven ton Isuzu trucks and 4x4 vehicles."[1]

Insignia

Ciskei Defence Force insignia

Medals

There were two medals awarded for service to the members of the CDF namely:

Independence Medal (Ciskei), introduced in 1981
Ciskei Defence Medal, introduced in 1988

Disbandment

With the end of Apartheid in 1994 in South Africa, the former defence forces of the Bantustans were incorporated into the newly formed South African National Defence Force.

Flag

The Flag of Ciskei was located in the canton on a green background. On the green a large golden eagle clasped a lightning bolt.[2]

References

Jakkie Cilliers (1993). "An Overview of the Armed Forces of the TBVC Countries". South African Defence Review (13). Archived from the original on 24 June 2016.
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/za-ck.html