Transkei Defence Force
Flag of the TDF
Founded	1981
Disbanded	April 1994
Service branches	Infantry Special Forces Air Wing
Headquarters	Umtata
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Major GeneralBantu Holomisa
Personnel
Military age	18–49
Related articles
History	Military history of South Africa
Ranks	Military ranks of Transkei

TheTranskei Defence Force (TDF) was established during March 1981, from the 141 Battalion of theSouth African Defence Force (SADF). It was the defence force of theRepublic of Transkei, a nominally independentbantustan during theApartheid era ofSouth Africa.

In 1981, the newly formed Transkei Defence Force (TDF) received a gift of equipment from theSouth African Defence Force.

In 1982, the Minister of Defence and then prime minister, G.M. Matazima announced the employment of a group of expatriate advisers from the formerRhodesia. A group of about 30 former Rhodesians had actually commenced employment in March 1981, under the auspices of the Security Services Transkei Company. Former RhodesianSelous Scouts founderRonald Reid-Daly was hired to serve as commander of the TDF and to supervise training.^[1]

President K.D. Matanzima retired as State President in February 1986, and was succeeded by his brother, G.M. Matanzima.

In 1985, Apartheid practitioners conceived a plan to merge the Transkei andCiskei and create a 'united nation ofXhosa speakers' who they thought would support the South African government and help it to stamp out unrest in the Eastern Cape. Matanzima had long held ambitions to rule such a territory, and had opposed the 'independence' of Ciskei in 1981 in the hope that this merger would be realised.

On 19 February 1987, a truckload of Transkei special forces entered the Ciskeian capital Bisho, and unsuccessfully attacked the home of the Ciskei President, ChiefLennox Sebe. The raid was apparently under the control of the former members of theRhodesian Security Forces, although Matanzima refused to admit Transkeian involvement. The raid appeared to be aimed at the overthrow of Lennox Sebe, but the plan failed, after it was leaked to BrigadierBantu Holomisa.^[2]

This together with resistance to the raid from elements within the Transkei, played an important role in the ascendance to power ofStella Sigcau and Brigadier Bantu Holomisa.

By April 1987, the contracts of 27 white military officers, including the former Rhodesians, were terminated and a group of 20 of these men including their commander, Major GeneralRonald Reid-Daly were expelled from the Transkei.

Rumours of a coup attempt by the former State President K.D. Matanzima followed the expulsions. The botched raid also earned Transkei the enmity of South Africa which had considered the Rhodesians to be a stabilising factor.

President G.M Matanzima announced Brigadier Holomisa who had been released due to public pressure after nine weeks detention would be promoted to major general and would succeed General Zondwa Mtirara as commander of the TDF. Holomisa had been detained by the Government as he had apparently agitated against the role of the white officers in the TDF as well as stirring disaffection on the basis of the Matanzima government.

By 23 September 1987, TDF soldiers served resignation letters on the Transkei cabinet. President G.M. Matanzima resigned in the wake of mounting evidence of corruption. Ms Stella Sigcau was elected as the new prime minister, but the TDF took over the administration of the Transkei in a bloodless coup on 30 December 1987, after only 86 days. Major General Holomisa declared martial law and suspended the Transkei constitution, alleging Ms. Sigcau had been involved in the corruption as well. A military council was formed and remained in power.^[3]

In November 1990, a group of six white and black soldiers attempted to mount a coup, but they failed when troops loyal to Holomisa overcame the plotters. Eighteen people were killed, including the leader of the coup, Colonel Craig Duli.^[4]

The TDF was equipped for counter-insurgency (COIN) operations. The TDF used:

• R4/R5 assault rifles,
• 7.62 mm (0.300 in) light machine guns,
• 40 mm (1.6 in) multiple grenade launchers,
• 60 mm (2.4 in) and 81 mm (3.2 in) mortars and
• 7.62 mm (0.300 in) Browning machine guns.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Transkei Army[5][6] v t e
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Transkei Army[5][6] v t e																													No insignia
	Chief warrant officer						Warrant officer		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private

• Cross for Bravery
• Faithful Service Medal (10 Years)
• Independence Medal
• Military Rule Medal
• Transkei Defence Force Medal
• Commander Class Medal (CCM)

With the end ofApartheid in 1994 in South Africa, the former defence forces of theBantustans were incorporated into the newly formedSouth African National Defence Force.^[7] TheSANDF's new14 South African Infantry Battalion heraldry clearly originates from the Transkei Defence Force, its forebear.

• Reichardt, Markus and Cilliers, Jakkie. (1995). “The History of the Homeland Armies” inAbout Turn: The Transformation of the South African Military and Intelligence, Jakkie Cilliers and Markus Reichardt, eds. Cape Town, Institute for Defence Policy, pp. 63-83

• Apartheid government
• Organisations associated with apartheid
• Defunct organisations based in South Africa
• Disbanded armed forces
• Military units and formations established in 1981
• Military units and formations of the Cold War
• Military units and formations of South Africa
• Transkei
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1994

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• Use dmy dates from October 2023
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