Some Major Factors Influencing Military Efficiency in the South African National Defence Force *‪.‬

1. INTRODUCTION The South African military establishment was formalised as the Union Defence Force (UDF) as early as 1912. It changed its name to the South African Defence Force (SADF) and then to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), but it never ceased to exist. It is thus a mature force with a long tradition of successful military operations. The force has a long standing British heritage of subordination of the military to civil-political authority. It began its life under the tutorship of British officers and non-commissioned officers and included regiments which were part of the Cape and Natal's colonial forces prior to 1910. Of course military traditions of the forces of the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State were inculcated in the UDF, not least of which were the emphasis on accurate fire, expert field craft and tactical innovation.