Constand Viljoen | |
|---|---|
 Viljoen in 1985 | |
| Leader of theFreedom Front | |
| In office 1 March 1994 – 26 June 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Pieter Mulder |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1994–2001 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Constand Laubscher Viljoen (1933-10-28)28 October 1933[1] Standerton,Transvaal, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 3 April 2020(2020-04-03) (aged 86) |
| Resting place | Bet-El farm, Ohrigstad |
| Political party | Freedom Front Plus (1994–2001) |
| Other political affiliations | National Party (pre–1994) |
| Spouse | |
| Relations |
|
| Children | 5 |
| Residence | Bet-El |
| Alma mater | University of Pretoria |
| Occupation | Soldier, farmer and politician |
| Profession | Gunner, artilleryman |
| Civilian awards |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | South Africa |
| Branch/service | South African Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1985 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | 4 Field Regiment |
| Commands |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Military awards |         
|
GeneralConstand Laubscher ViljoenSSA SD SOE SM MMM (28 October 1933 – 3 April 2020) was aSouth African Army officer and politician. He co-founded theAfrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later founded theFreedom Front (which in turn merged into the Freedom Front Plus before the2004 election).[3]
Viljoen matriculated at Standerton High School in 1951.[4] He joined South Africa's pre-republicUnion Defence Force at the Military Gymnasium inVoortrekkerhoogte for the Permanent Force Cadet Course of which he won the "Best Student" in 1952. He studied at the Military Academy from 1953 and graduated as Best Student in 1955 receiving a degree in military science at theUniversity of Pretoria.[1] He was among othersAide de Camp to Dr EG Jansen, Battery Commander at 4 Field Regiment, Instructor at the School of Artillery and Armour, OC14 Field Regiment in Bethlehem, OC School of Artillery. Second in CommandOrange Free State Command in 1968.
Col Viljoen qualified as a paratrooper at this time inBloemfontein. OC Army College, Director of Artillery (on the staff of theChief of the Army) and Director Management Services (on the staff of theChief of Defence Staff). By 1974, Viljoen had been named theSouth African Army'sDirector of General Operations, subsequently serving as thePrincipal Staff Officer to theChief of theSouth African Defence Force.[4] He was appointed asChief of the Army in 1977 and succeeded GeneralMagnus Malan asChief of the South African Defence Force in 1980.[5]: xv He was awarded theMaster Gunner badge (crossed-barrels) in 1984.
Viljoen was the senior SADF military officer directingOperation Savannah in 1975. He is also credited with having planned the first major airborne assault in South African military history, theBattle of Cassinga, a raid carried out againstSWAPO insurgents.[6] Despite his rank, Viljoen was present during the battle,[7] offering what was described as a "swashbuckling" front-line leadership, which won him the respect of many fellowsoldiers.[8]
Viljoen is credited by some with having made overtures which helped lead towhite South Africans' acceptance of universal suffrage and free elections, such as with his famous speech at theBroederbond annual assembly inVoortrekkerhoogte, saying of theblack South Africans in his army,As hulle kan veg vir Suid-Afrika, kan hulle stem vir Suid-Afrika! (Afrikaans: "If they can fight for South Africa, then they can vote for South Africa!").[9]
In 1993, Viljoen and fellow retired generals formed theAfrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front), an umbrella body for conservative Afrikaners. However, Viljoen reportedly had strained relationships with the leaders of other right-wing parties, who considered him too moderate.[10]
Immediately prior to the1994 general elections Viljoen had a force of between 50,000 and 60,000 trained paramilitary personnel at his command, with the ability to seize large sections of the country.[11][12] The force was assembled in preparation for war withuMkhonto weSizwe, the military wing of theAfrican National Congress (ANC), as a potential contingency to protect Afrikaner interests.[13]
In March 1994, Viljoen led an effort by several thousand Volksfront militia to protect thebantustan president,Lucas Mangope, inBophuthatswana againsta coup d'état.[14] Despite being requested not to participate in the action because of extremist views, militants of theAfrikaner Weerstandsbeweging also advanced into Bophuthatswana, sparking clashes with the security forces.[15]
Immediately after the incident, Viljoen split from the Volksfront[16] and initiated a legitimate election campaign,[17] co-founding and becoming leader of theFreedom Front (Vryheidsfront), a new political party representing white conservatives. His decision to take part in the elections is believed to have prevented armed resistance by the far right and on the occasion of his retirement from politics, the South African government recognised him for preventing bloodshed.[18]
Viljoen's decision was at least partly influenced by the mediation of his identical twin brother,Abraham Viljoen (Braam), who was ananti-apartheid activist while his brother led the military.[19][20]
In the 1994 general election, the Freedom Front, under the leadership of Viljoen, received 2.2% of the national vote and nine seats in theNational Assembly. As the VF became the strongest party outsideNelson Mandela'sGovernment of National Unity, as the provisional 1993 Constitution required the participation of all parties over 5% of the vote, Viljoen became the de factoleader of the opposition in South Africa until the NP's departure from government in 1996, although he did not officially hold the position.
Although his supporters were at odds with the government and the ANC, Viljoen praised Mandela on the occasion of his retirement from politics in 1999, even ending his Parliamentary speech speaking in Mandela's native language,Xhosa:Go and have yourself a well-earned rest. Go rest in the shadow of a tree at your home.[21][failed verification][22]
In 2001, Viljoen handed over the leadership of the Freedom Front toPieter Mulder and retired from politics, citing his frustration working with a parliament dominated by the ANC.[23]
In 2003, it emerged that Viljoen had been a target of theBoeremag paramilitary right-wing group, which considered him a traitor who had underhandedly sold out theAfrikaner people.[24]
In 2008 Viljoen, aged 74, put up what was described as a spirited fight against two would-be muggers, who were subsequently arrested.[25]
Current Freedom Front Plus leaderPieter Groenewald announced on 3 April 2020 that Viljoen had died on his farm inOhrigstad,Limpopo. He was 86 and was surrounded by his children. Viljoen died of natural causes.[26]
He is survived by his wife Christina Susanna Heckroodt, four sons and a daughter.[27]
Star of South Africa (Gold) (SSAG)[28]
Southern Cross Decoration (SD)[28]
South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE)[28]
Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)[28]
Military Merit Medal (MMM)[28]
Pro Patria Medal (South Africa) (with Cunene Clasp)[a][28]
Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))[28]
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))[28]
Permanent Force Good Service Medal[28]
Order of the Cloud and Banner (2nd Grade - with Grand Cordon) (ORB)[28]
Unidentified Paraguayan decoration[28]
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| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title New Party | Leader of theFreedom Front 1994–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chief of theSouth African Defence Force 1980–1985 | Succeeded by |
| Chief of theSouth African Army 1976–1980 | ||
| Preceded by Maj GenAndre van Deventer | GOCI South African Corps 1976–1976 | Succeeded by Maj GenIan Gleeson |
| Preceded by | Director ofArtillery 1972–1973 | Succeeded by Brig Frans van den Berg |
| Preceded by Brig LL Gordon | Director Management Services 1970–1972 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Col JW van Niekerk | OCSouth African Army College 1968–1969 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | OCSchool of Artillery 1966–1968 | Succeeded by CmdtShorty Brown |
| Preceded by MajHelm Roos | Chief Instructor Gunnery 1962–1963 | Succeeded by Maj John Albert Reid Cox |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by WO1 Robbie Graham | 48thMaster Gunner 1984 | Succeeded by Cmdt Piet Uys |
Chiefs of the South African military | |
|---|---|
| Chief of theUDF 1912 – 1957 .svg) | |
| Commandant General of theSADF 1958 – 1973 .svg) | |
| Chief of theSADF 1973 – 1994 | |
| Chief of theSANDF 1994 – present  | |
Chiefs of theSouth African Army | ||
|---|---|---|
| Director-General of Land Forces |  | |
| Army Chief of Staff | ||
| Chief of the Army | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
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