Godfrey Ngwenya

General Godfrey Nhlanhla Ngwenya, SBG, DMG, MMS (born 1950) was a South African military commander and diplomat. He served as Chief of Joint Operations from 2001 to 2005, and Chief of the South African National Defence Force from 2005 until 2011.

Godfrey Nhlanhla Ngwenya
General Godfrey Ngwenya in May 2010
Born (1950-04-28) 28 April 1950
Johannesburg, South Africa
AllegianceSouth Africa
Service/branchSouth African Army
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Years of service1994–2011
RankGeneral
Commands heldChief of the South African National Defence Force (2005–11)
Chief of Joint Operations (2001–05)
North West Command (1996–98)
AwardsStar for Bravery in Gold
Decoration for Merit in Gold
Merit Medal in Silver
Legion of Merit (United States)
Other workAmbassador to Angola

Early life

Godfrey Ngwenya was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 28 April 1950. He attended Orlando High School, where he matriculated in 1970. He joined the ANC and the ANC's Military Wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), at the height of the student uprisings in South Africa in 1976. While in exile he underwent military training in Angola and passed his further commanders' courses in the then German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union. He has been married to his spouse Busi since 1984 and has 3 children, one of which is cult figure Duma Ngwenya.

Military career

Ngwenya joined Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress, in 1976, and commanded MK forces in Angola from 1983 to 1989. He transferred to the South African National Defence Force when MK was incorporated into it in 1994 and he was appointed as major general and served as Deputy General Officer Commanding of Witwatersrand Command in Johannesburg from 1994 to 1996.

From 1996 to 1998, Ngwenya was General Officer Commanding of the North West Command in Potchefstroom and from 1998 to the end of September 1999 Chief Director Force Preparation in the Army Office. He served as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations from 1 October 1999 to 31 December 2000. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on 1 January 2001 and appointed as Chief of Joint Operations to 2005,[1] when he was promoted to Chief of the South African National Defence Force.[2]

Ambassador to Angola

After retirement from the army, Ngwenya was appointed Ambassador to Angola.[3]

Awards and decorations
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Ngwenya, render honours during the playing of their respective national anthems at the Pentagon, 20 May 2010.

In May 2010, Ngwenya was awarded the United States Legion of Merit by then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen.[4][5] The award recognised Ngwenya's leadership during a time of transition in the South African military and his country's support of vital United Nations peacekeeping operations in Sudan, Burundi and Congo.

In addition, Ngwenya has been awarded the following medals and decorations:[6]

References
  1. Engelbrecht, Leon (21 January 2010). "Fact file: General Godfrey Nhlanhla Ngwenya". Defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. Ndaba, CPO Dennis (July 2005). "A final compliment to a General for life" (PDF). SA Soldier. 12 (7): 10–13. ISSN 1609-5014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. "Sisulu bids farewell to ex-defence chief". news24.com. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20120606070816/http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imagery.html. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "Chiefs Shake". defense.gov. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/1106/110608_SANDF_new_command/CV_Ngwenya.htm%5B%5D
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Unknown		 Ambassador to Angola
2011–		 Incumbent
Military offices
Preceded by
Siphiwe Nyanda		 Chief of the South African National Defence Force
2005–2011		 Succeeded by
Solly Shoke
Preceded by
Deon Ferreira		 Chief of Joint Operations Division
2001–2005		 Succeeded by
Sipho Binda
Preceded by
Jonny Coetzer		 GOC North Western Command
1996–1998		 Succeeded by
Robbie Coetsee
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