What a difference twenty years have done for the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) looking at some photos one quickly realizes a lot has changed over the years. The changes can be defined as good, bad or downright daft.

Before the 1994 election, South Africa had to defend her borders from communist, guerilla warfare. The international sanctions did not improve the arms industry. The government at that time did not drop dead and let it be; instead, they began to manufacture their own weapons.

The army under that period was the pride and joy of the country. The army was well organized, disciplined and dependable. It was the young soldiers guided and trained by the experienced ranking officials during their two years national service period.

The youngsters were not treated like weak and useless members of society, from day one their training gave them discipline, showed them respect and mirrored them as the protectors of our country. Endurance, performance and physical fitness combined with mental stamina turned the young men into the proudly South African Army.

During the years of border conflicts, the South African soldiers diligently served their country, their family, and friends. Although many youngsters lost their lives in the bloody battles and will, always be remembered as heroes. Those who returned to tell the story of the most desperate survival tactics and living in a war zone, or not knowing if death will engulf you, are the ones proudly honored.

Now we have a defense force that is oh so, well who knows? What happened? Oh yes, no more physical training, dancing is better, after all, we do have a dancing president. What on earth would happen if war raged against our country, will the dancing soldiers manage to protect us?

There are the Special Forces of South Africa. An important point to remember is that the Special Forces are not part of the regular South African Army. They fall directly under the Chief of the SANDF.

The first Special Forces Unit was established in 1972 under the apartheid regime and known as Recces. During, this time, the Special Forces were directly involved in the 30-year long border war in Namibia and Angola. The Special Forces specialize in maritime related activities and special force regiments in Overland techniques usually long-range infiltration.

Over the years there have been structural changes and the Special Forces training is considered one of the harder courses in the world. A soldier must meet exceptionally high requirements to attend Special Forces Selection and only South African citizens are allowed into this structure.

Today the Special Forces are nothing else but an organization which has an extensive record of theft. The Special Forces are allowed to kill and are protected by Section 25(2A). There are members of this unit who are guaranteed in the law and now employed by the South African Police (SAP) and remain more lethal than before, working undercover in various groups.

With all the high profile people controlling the basis of the safety of its citizens, it remains an alarming fact that democracy is no longer prevalent.

South Africa Today – South Africa News