Georg Meiring

General Georg Meiring SSA, SD, SM, MMM (born 18 October 1939)[2] was a South African military commander. He served as Chief of the Army (1990–93) and Chief of the South African National Defence Force (1993–98).

Georg Lodewyk Meiring
Born (1939-10-18) 18 October 1939[1]
Ladybrand, Orange Free State Province, South Africa
AllegianceSouth Africa
Service/branchSouth African Army
Years of service1962–1998
RankGeneral
Commands heldChief of the South African National Defence Force (1993–98)
Chief of the Army (1990–93)
Far North Command (1987–89)
South West African Territorial Force (1983–87)
Battles/warsSouth African Border War
AwardsStar of South Africa
Southern Cross Decoration
Southern Cross Medal
Military Merit Medal

Military career

After obtaining a Master of Science in Physics from the University of the Orange Free State, Meiring joined the South African Army as a signals officer in 1962 and, in 1980, became Director of Signals of the South African Army.

Meiring served as Deputy Chief of the Army from 1982 to 1983 and as General Officer Commanding (GOC) South West Africa Territorial Force from 1983 to 1987. He was later GOC Far North Command,[3]:99 Deputy Chief of the Army again, Chief of the Army from 1990 to 1993, the last Chief of the South African Defence Force from 1993 to 1994, and the first Chief of the South African National Defence Force from 1994 to 1998.

Controversy

In February 1998, Meiring, in his capacity as the head of defence of South Africa had provided an intelligence report to President Nelson Mandela on an organisation by the name of "Front African People's Liberation Army". This report implicated many important government dignitaries on conspiracy to assassinate the president, murder judges, occupy parliament and broadcasting stations and cause mayhem in general.[4] Later, after it was investigated by a judge, the report was claimed to be fabricated.[4][5]

Awards and decorations

In 1998, Meiring was awarded the Star of South Africa, Gold.[6] He also received the Order of the Cloud and Banner 4th class from Taiwan.[7]

References
  1. "BIOGRAPHIES OF NAMIBIAN PERSONALITIES in alphabetical order". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. O’Malley, Padraig. "Meiring, Georg: The O'Malley Archives". Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  3. Roherty, James Michael (1992). State Security in South Africa: Civil-military Relations Under P.W. Botha. New York: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. ISBN 0-87332-877-9. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  4. Hamann, Hilton (2001). Days of the Generals: The untold story of South Africa's apartheid-era military generals. Cape Town: Zebra Press. ISBN 1-86872-340-2. Retrieved 10 February 2007.
  5. "It is Time to start Afresh". timeslive.co.za. Sunday Times. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012.
  6. "About Government – National Orders". Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  7. Hayes, S.V., ed. (1994). Who's Who of Southern Africa 1994/1995. Who's Who of Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. p. 385. ISBN 0-9583902-1-5.
Military offices
New title
Retitled from Chief of the South African Defence Force
 Chief of the South African National Defence Force
1994–1998		 Succeeded by
Siphiwe Nyanda
Preceded by
Andreas Liebenberg		 Chief of the South African Defence Force
1993–1994		 Renamed Chief of the South African National Defence Force
Chief of the Army
1990–1993		 Succeeded by
Hattingh Pretorius
Preceded by
Len Meyer		 Deputy Chief of the South African Army
1989–1990		 Succeeded by
Daan Hamman
Preceded by
Charles Lloyd		 GOC Far North Command
1987–1989		 Succeeded by
Willie Meyer
GOC South West Africa Territorial Force
1983–1987


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