Military branches:
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint Operations Command, Military Intelligence, South African Military Health Services (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,439,781
[see also: Manpower available for military service - male country ranks ]
females age 16-49: 12,473,641 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower available for military service - female country ranks ]
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,617,063
[see also: Manpower fit for military service - male country ranks ]
females age 16-49: 6,476,264 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower fit for military service - female country ranks ]
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 482,122
[see also: Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually - male country ranks ]
female: 485,017 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually - female country ranks ]
Military expenditures: Military - note:
1.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 84
[see also: Military expenditures country ranks ]
with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete