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Vision
To ensure that the SA Army achieves information superiority enabling an
effective landward defense for a democratic South Africa enhancing national,
regional and global security.
Mission
The mission of the SA Army Signals Formation is to provide secure Signals
higher order user systems to the landward forces of the SA Army and
specialist services to the DOD.
Mandate
The mandate of the SA Army Signals Formation is derived from C Army
mandate and is as follows. The mandate of the SA Army Signals Formation is
to provide Signals Support to Combat Ready Land Forces for:
- National Defence and Deterrence, and if this fails, to win any war
swiftly and decisively.
- Promoting peace and stability both inside the country and
externally.
- To contribute to the development and upliftment of South Africa, its
people and the African Continent.
History of the South
African Army Corps of Signals
Colours
The South African Corps of Signals’ colours
are:
- Green: Signifying Land Forces.
- Light Blue: Signifying Air Forces.
- Dark Blue: Signifying Naval Forces
Motto
The Corps Motto is “Certa Cito” meaning
“Swift and Sure”.
Emblem
The emblem of the South African Corps of
Signals is Mercurius aka “Jimmy”, the messenger
of the gods and is recognised world wide as the
badge of the military signaller.
History
Since its establishment in 1923, the role of
the South African Corps of Signals has been to
provide professional, specialist signal services
for the South African Defence Force.
In October 1984, the South African Army
Signal Formation came into being. Two years
later in September 1986, the then Minister of
Defence, General M.A. Malan, SSA, SD, SM,
officially opened the Military Base Wonderboom,
providing the South African Army Signal
Formation, and therefore the South African Corps
of Signals with a state of the art facility,
specifically designed to fit their unique
requirements.
Initially the units stationed at the Signal
Formation were, 2 Signal Regiment, 3 Electronic
Workshop, 5 Signal Regiment and the Headquarters
Unit. However, in line with the South African
National Defence Force's rationalisation
programme it was decided to centralise all
facets of signals training at the SA Army Signal
Formation and in December 1997, the School of
Signals and 1 Signal Regiment (is now situated
at Rooiwal) were moved from Heidelberg to the
South African Army Signal Formation and 4
Electronic Workshop (now known as 4 Signal
Regiment), relocated from the Cape to Pretoria.
In the late 1990s, as part of the Department
of Defence’s transformation process, the
Department of Defence decided to group various
environments together, elements, which it felt
belonged together such as the environments of
telecommunication, information technology (IT),
registries, documentation services, libraries
and electronic warfare, in other words, all
forms of communication.
This in turn led to the establishment of the
Command and Management Information Systems
Division (CMIS Division) on 1 April 1999, its
task being to deliver the products and services
required by a modern defence force.
The Command and Management Information
Systems Division, which included personnel from
all services (Army, Air Force, Navy and Military
Health Services) was set the challenge of
providing products and services to its clients
within the Department of Defence, while keeping
abreast of relevant changes in this, the
Information Age.
As part of this new Command and Management
Information Systems Division, the Corps of
Signals left the command of the South African
Army and was totally incorporated (personnel and
all equipment) into the Command and Management
Information Systems Division.
On 28 March 2008, certain elements of Command
and Management Information Systems Division
migrated back to the various Services and
Divisions. The South African Corps of Signals
returned to the command of the South African
Army as from 1 April 2008, to be known as the
South African Army Signal Formation. Its aim is
to provide combat ready Signals User Systems
Capabilities to the South African Army and
specialist services to the Department of Defence.
As part of the migration, hundred and ninety
members (190) of the Command and Management
Information Systems Division (all services)
remained behind to continue the work of the
Command and Management Information Systems
Division.
The three thousand six hundred (3,600) South
African Corps of Signals personnel (Army)
returned to the South African Army as members of
the South African Army Signal Formation. Hundred
and forty (140) members of the South African
Navy returned, to be incorporated back into
their service, while two hundred and fifty (250)
South African Air Force members returned to the
South African Air Force.
In today’s modern army the South African Army
Signal Formation provides integrated electronic
warfare, command and control and general
telecommunication services to satisfy the many
and diverse requirements of the South African
Army and its designated clients.
SA Army Signal Formation also provides
operational electronic equipment with related
support services, temporary operational supply
of power, training in and the provision of
computer support and specialist maintenance of
support services during operations undertaken by
the South African Army and its designated
clients and specialist services on request to
the Department of Defence.
The current General Officer Commanding of the
South African Army Signal Formation is Brigadier
General Leon L. Eggers, MMM, the Chief of Staff
is Colonel M.P. Shashape and the Formation
Warrant Officer is Chief Warrant Officer Eric F.
Kahn, PMM, PB, MMM.
The units/regiments under command are
- Signal Reserves
- School of Signals
- 1 Signal Regiment.
- 2 Signal Regiment.
- 3 Electronic Workshop.
- 4 Signal Regiment.
- 5 Signal Regiment.
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