Gerhard Kamffer
Gerhard Kamffer | |
---|---|
Allegiance | |
Service/ | |
Years of service | 1973 – 2023 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Commands |
|
Battles/wars | South African Border War |
Other work | Businessman |
Brigadier General Gerhard Kamffer is a Reserve general officer in the South African Army.
Military career
[edit]Kamffer started his military career with national service in 1973 where he served as a platoon commander at 4 SAI, based at Middelburg in what is today Mpumalanga.[1]
He was Officer Commanding of the now disbanded Heidelberg Commando for nine years and in 1998 was appointed SSO Commandos at South African Army Headquarters with the substantive rank of Colonel.[1]
He successfully completed the Senior Command and Staff Duties course at the South African Army College. In 2005 he was promoted to Brigadier General and the following year he successfully completed the Executive National Security programme at Defence College.[1]
On the 17th February 2021, he was transferred from the post of Director: Army Reserves to the post of Director: Project KOBA-TLALA.[1][2]
Project KOBA-TLALA
[edit]This project was created as a result of an initiative by Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula[2] as an attempt to use the Reserve Force to assist in rural development.[2] Project KOBA-TLALA had the further objectives of upskilling reserve force soldiers and providing them with gainful employment while they were not serving on active duty.[2] One of the notable outcomes of the project has seen some members achieving SAQA accredited training[2][3] As the project developed, it was proposed that it would be converted into a "Production Brigade"[4] and becoming self-sustaining, reducing the burden on the Defence Force budget.[4][5]: 38
Renaming of Reserve Force units
[edit]Gen Kamffer was responsible for managing the project to rename the Reserve Force units which had been identified as needing it.[6]
Other work
[edit]General Kamffer serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Scientia Militaria – the South African Journal of Military Studies.[7]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Helfrich, Kim (26 February 2021). "Kamffer looks set to depart Army Reserves director post". defenceWeb. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Helfrich, Kim (13 March 2018). "Project Koba-Tlala now has a presence in four provinces". defenceWeb. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Smith, Chrismar (March 2020). The SANDF and societal development : project KOBA-TLALA (MMil thesis). Stellenbosch University: Faculty of Military Sciences. School for Defence Organisation and Resource Management. hdl:10019.1/108270.
- ^ a b "Exploring avenues for revenue generation by DOD, Status of Project Kobe Thala; Follow-up meeting on Reserves, Reserve Force Council and related matters; with Minister | PMG". pmg.org.za. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Koen, N. Lt Col (2020). "Defence Reserves Division and C SANDF Project Koba-Tlala Mpumalanga visit a great success". SA Soldier Magazine. 27 (11). SA Department of Defence: 38. ISSN 1609-5014. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via defenceWeb.
- ^ Helfrich, Kim (5 June 2014). "Name change process for Army Reserve units reaching finality". defenceWeb. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Editorial Team". scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za. Stellenbosch: Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. Retrieved 21 April 2023.