NEWS & EVENTS - PERSONNEL
15 April 2021
New SAAF Chief appointed
Personnel
Maj Gen Wiseman Mbambo has been appointed as Chief of the SAAF and promoted to Lt Gen wef 1 June 2021.
18 March 2021
Pilots mourn ex-SAAF colleagues killed in Swartkop air crash
Personnel
The death of two highly experienced former SA Air Force fighter pilots in a light aircraft crash at Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria on Wednesday has left the country's close-knit aviation fraternity reeling.
12 February 2021
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
Personnel
The underwhelming efforts of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to mark its centenary appropriately last year – aided and abetted to a large extent by an unforeseen pandemic and national state of disaster – will partially be offset by a SAAF Association (SAAFA) proj
9 February 2021
MSD now on hold until 2024
Personnel
Don't bother applying for next year's military skills development (MSD) intake – it's not going to happen.
12 January 2021
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
Personnel
The "blame", if it can be called that, for the delay in pupil pilots at Central Flying School not finishing their courses last year is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4 January 2021
No December wings parade at AFB Langebaanweg
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) presented a pilot's course last year but those who made it will not be able to say they earned their wings in the year the air force marked its centenary.
4 January 2021
No MSD intake for 2021
Personnel
The ongoing havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the associated national state of disaster has reached as far as the SA National Defence Force's major recruiting effort with no Military Skills Development (MSD) intake for 2021.
1 October 2020
SAAF chief bows out
Personnel
Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang has officially retired as the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), with a parade and flypast held at Air Force Base Swartkop on Wednesday afternoon to mark the end of his eight years in office as the...
28 September 2020
South African Air Force commissions Cuban graduates
Personnel
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Zimpande Msimang, bestowed commissions on South African Air Force (SAAF) candidate officers who completed various courses in Cuba at the Air Force College in Pretoria on Friday
24 September 2020
Ysterplaat celebrates Heritage Day
Personnel
South Africa celebrates Heritage Day on September 24 each year, a day in which the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa is commemorated.
14 September 2020
Airforce Chief Salutes Local Aircraft Maintainers
Personnel
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lt Gen Zimpande Msimang, has celebrated his 60th birthday by expressing his appreciation and support to the men and women who keep the airforce's aircraft flying.
13 May 2020
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
11 December 2019
Newly minted SAAF pilots get their wings
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has 12 new pilots in its ranks, after a Wings Parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg in the Western Cape last week.
26 August 2019
SAAF graduates 44 new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has graduated 44 new artisans, who will help address the skills shortage facing the airborne arm of service.
28 May 2019
19 Squadron Oryx pilot nominated for top UN peacekeeping medal
Personnel
The phrases "remarkable courage" and "extraordinary threat" written by no less a person than the UN Secretary-General do not affect the man they were written for. Just the opposite, he was doing his job and that it meant coming under enemy fire was part o
21 May 2019
Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies
Personnel
A former chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), retired Lieutenant General Denis Earp, died in 1 Military Hospital on Sunday night hours after attending two memorial services.
12 February 2019
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
Personnel
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army's B
10 December 2018
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
1 November 2018
Reserves to be "classified" for better utilisation
Personnel
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa's part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
2 October 2018
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
Personnel
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
27 September 2018
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
Personnel
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
11 July 2018
SANDF denies suspension of SAAF Chief - Media Statement
Personnel
The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang is not on suspension.
10 July 2018
SAAF Chief apparently suspended – no comment from SANDF
Personnel
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang is apparently on special leave after being suspended from duty.
13 April 2018
SAAF adds new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has added new aircraft maintenance technicians to its ranks, with 65 artisans being reclassified during a passing out parade this morning.
8 February 2018
DRC Rooivalks notch up a first
Personnel
Now in its fifth year of deployment with the UN Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a pair of Rooivalk combat support helicopters notched up a first when manned by all-black crews on an escort mission.
New SAAF Chief appointed
Personnel
Maj Gen Wiseman Mbambo has been appointed as Chief of the SAAF and promoted to Lt Gen wef 1 June 2021.
Pilots mourn ex-SAAF colleagues killed in Swartkop air crash
Personnel
The death of two highly experienced former SA Air Force fighter pilots in a light aircraft crash at Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria on Wednesday has left the country's close-knit aviation fraternity reeling.
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
Personnel
The underwhelming efforts of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to mark its centenary appropriately last year – aided and abetted to a large extent by an unforeseen pandemic and national state of disaster – will partially be offset by a SAAF Association (SAAFA) proj
MSD now on hold until 2024
Personnel
Don't bother applying for next year's military skills development (MSD) intake – it's not going to happen.
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
Personnel
The "blame", if it can be called that, for the delay in pupil pilots at Central Flying School not finishing their courses last year is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No December wings parade at AFB Langebaanweg
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) presented a pilot's course last year but those who made it will not be able to say they earned their wings in the year the air force marked its centenary.
No MSD intake for 2021
Personnel
The ongoing havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the associated national state of disaster has reached as far as the SA National Defence Force's major recruiting effort with no Military Skills Development (MSD) intake for 2021.
SAAF chief bows out
Personnel
Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang has officially retired as the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), with a parade and flypast held at Air Force Base Swartkop on Wednesday afternoon to mark the end of his eight years in office as the...
South African Air Force commissions Cuban graduates
Personnel
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Zimpande Msimang, bestowed commissions on South African Air Force (SAAF) candidate officers who completed various courses in Cuba at the Air Force College in Pretoria on Friday
Ysterplaat celebrates Heritage Day
Personnel
South Africa celebrates Heritage Day on September 24 each year, a day in which the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa is commemorated.
Airforce Chief Salutes Local Aircraft Maintainers
Personnel
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lt Gen Zimpande Msimang, has celebrated his 60th birthday by expressing his appreciation and support to the men and women who keep the airforce's aircraft flying.
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
Newly minted SAAF pilots get their wings
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has 12 new pilots in its ranks, after a Wings Parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg in the Western Cape last week.
SAAF graduates 44 new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has graduated 44 new artisans, who will help address the skills shortage facing the airborne arm of service.
19 Squadron Oryx pilot nominated for top UN peacekeeping medal
Personnel
The phrases "remarkable courage" and "extraordinary threat" written by no less a person than the UN Secretary-General do not affect the man they were written for. Just the opposite, he was doing his job and that it meant coming under enemy fire was part o
Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies
Personnel
A former chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), retired Lieutenant General Denis Earp, died in 1 Military Hospital on Sunday night hours after attending two memorial services.
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
Personnel
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army's B
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
Reserves to be "classified" for better utilisation
Personnel
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa's part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
Personnel
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
Personnel
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
SANDF denies suspension of SAAF Chief - Media Statement
Personnel
The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang is not on suspension.
SAAF Chief apparently suspended – no comment from SANDF
Personnel
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang is apparently on special leave after being suspended from duty.
SAAF adds new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has added new aircraft maintenance technicians to its ranks, with 65 artisans being reclassified during a passing out parade this morning.
DRC Rooivalks notch up a first
Personnel
Now in its fifth year of deployment with the UN Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a pair of Rooivalk combat support helicopters notched up a first when manned by all-black crews on an escort mission.
