Lindile Yam (born 8 August 1960) is the former SANDF Chief of staff and former Chief of the

South African Army The South African Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Servi ...

Career

He joined

Umkhonto we Sizwe uMkhonto weSizwe (; abbreviated MK; ) was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC), founded by Nelson Mandela in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre. Its mission was to fight against the South African government to brin ...

, the military wing of the ANC, in 1981 and became part of the

South African National Defence Force The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The Chief of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister of ...

in 1994 when all the forces were integrated. He served as Officer Commanding of 13 South African Infantry Battalion from November 1994 to November 1997. He attended the

Royal College of Defence Studies The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) instructs the most promising senior officers of the British Armed Forces, His Majesty's Diplomatic Service and Civil Service in national defence and international security matters at the highest leve ...

in 1995 for a Global Security Strategy Course. He served as the 18th Commandant of the South African Military Academy from 2009 to 2011. He was promoted to major general and was appointed as the 3rd GOC

South African Army Infantry Formation The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army. History Origins: Union Defence Force South African Infantry originated as the ''Infantry Branch'' of the Union Defence Forces in 1913. In 1915, ...

on 1 November 2011. He formally took over command on 2 March 2012 at a parade at the SA Army College in

Thaba Tshwane Thaba Tshwane is a military base (or military area) in Pretoria, South Africa. Units and facilities The oldest building in the complex is the South African Garrison Institute, what is now known as the Army College. Lord Kitchener laid the corn ...

. He was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of the South African Army in January 2016. In November 2019 he was appointed SANDF chief of staff. He left the SANDF in August 2022. SANDF VIP Visit FIB DRC 2014

Awards and decorations

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References

Living people South African Army generals 1960 births People from East London, South Africa Military personnel from the Eastern Cape Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies Military attachés UMkhonto we Sizwe personnel {{SouthAfrica-mil-bio-stub