The South African Military Academy: A Historical Overview

The South African Military Academy was founded in April 1950 to elevate officer training in the Union Defence Force (UDF) to a standard comparable to international military academies. Initially, the academy was formed in partnership with Pretoria University and was modelled on India's National Defence Academy, with training systems loosely based on the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and the US Military Academy at West Point. This initial collaboration was fraught with issues, including a lack of a formal agreement between the UDF and the university, a shortage of lecturers and facilities, and a high student failure rate.

The Move to Saldanha and Partnership with Stellenbosch University

Following a review by the Kriegler Committee, Saldanha was identified as the ideal location for a joint services academy, primarily due to its existing military facilities and its isolated setting, which was seen as an ideal academic environment free from the distractions of city life. This decision was also influenced by the then Minister of Defence, FC Erasmus, whose constituency included Saldanha. In 1953, the UDF opted to partner with Stellenbosch University, which was preferred for its acknowledged ideology as a “volksuniversiteit”. 

A key point of disagreement arose over the curriculum. The UDF preferred a broad general education, while Stellenbosch University insisted on three years of in-depth study in two major subjects as a non-negotiable requirement. The parties eventually reached a compromise, and the first officers began their studies at Stellenbosch in 1955, relocating to the academy in Saldanha for the remainder of their degrees. The academy officially opened in Saldanha Bay in early 1958, the same year the UDF was renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF). On 1 January 1961, the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University was officially established, with the Vredenburg district, where the academy is located, being promulgated as a seat of the university.

Enduring Challenges and Transformation

Throughout its history, the academy has faced two main challenges: a consistent lack of clarity within the defence department regarding its purpose, and the inherent tension between the academic and military environments. These issues often resulted in the institution being improperly resourced and its facilities not being fully expanded due to the recurring belief that it would be relocated. In 1979, the Biermann Commission even recommended dissolving the faculty, though this was not implemented.

The 1980s saw the academy as a highly militaristic institution, serving a relatively low number of students, and decisions were driven by the “Total Onslaught” ideology. The research and publication record became a “source of embarrassment” for both the faculty and the university. To address these issues and to optimise the use of its facilities, the academy was opened to candidates of both genders and all races in 1991.

The post-1994 era brought significant changes, with the SADF being renamed the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The academy's leadership launched a “pre-emptive strike” in 1995 by hosting a conference on the future of military education in a democratic South Africa, which led to a new curriculum focused on a broad liberal, interdisciplinary education. The introduction of the internet and email in 1995 was a massive watershed moment that helped reduce the academy's geographic isolation and improve staff qualifications and research.

The early 2000s saw a restructuring of the faculty into five schools and a redesign of the curriculum. A distance education program was also introduced, which helped increase student numbers to around 400 per year. However, tensions between the military and academic ethos persisted, leading to a visit by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, which resulted in the “Asmal Report”. The report highlighted the confusion over the academy's core business and the need to align pay scales with other tertiary institutions.

The Modern Era (2010-date)

In 2011, Prof Maashutha (Sam) Tshehla was elected as the faculty's first Black African dean. His appointment saw a continuation of the faculty's demilitarisation and a clearer delineation of the roles of the commandant and dean, who are now at the same level. The faculty has become a dynamic research organisation, particularly in the areas of landward and maritime governance. The PhD program is now open to both civilian and military scholars, and the accredited research output of the faculty has shown significant growth over the past years. The faculty has also established partnerships with various international military and educational institutions. The faculty now serves as an intellectual hub within the South African defence environment, and the synergy between the SANDF and Stellenbosch University is seen as a key strength.