South Africa has a complex military history. Change 'Anglo-Boer War' to 'South African War'?

Author and Brigadier General Molefi Hlalele speaks about the history of the South African National Defence Force.

Click below to listen.

The roots of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) can be traced back to the formation of the Union Defence Force (UDF) in 1912, two years after the establishment of the Union of South Africa.

Hlalele says the history of the SANDF is deeply intertwined with the political and social changes South Africa has seen over several decades.

During World War II, the UDF played a significant role, contributing forces to the North African and Italian campaigns.

Hlalele says while some members were handsomely compensated for their service, others were not.

"White soliders were compensated more than Black soldiers. Black soldiers were not even recognised as soliders, they were just assistants."

- Brigadier General Molefi Hlalele

"It is a very painful history that we have to live with. It happened in the US, it happened in other parts of the world..."

- Brigadier General Molefi Hlalele

Hlalele says there have been calls to address the whitewashing of history by renaming the 'Anglo-Boer War' to the 'South African War'.

"There were Blacks on both sides. Blacks who were used by the Afrikaners, or 'the Boers'  - as well as the British Empire, there were also South African Blacks... they were fighting a war that had nothing to do with them."

- Brigadier General Molefi Hlalele

In 1957 the UDF was restructured and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF).

It became involved in various regional military conflicts during the Cold War, including the Angolan Civil War and the South African Border War.

In 1994, as part of the transition to a democratic South Africa, the SADF became the SANDF, the South African National Defence Force.

To listen to an in-depth history of the SANDF, scroll up.