Themba Matanzima

Themba Templeton Matanzima CCM SM MMM
Born	2 February 1953 Cofimvaba
Allegiance	South Africa
Service/branch	South African Army
Years of service	1977 - 2011
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Chief of Joint Operations Division Chief Human Resources Chief of Corporate Staff Chief of Joint Support Chief of Personnel, SANDF Chief of Army Staff Personnel GOC Eastern Province Command Chief of the TDF Chief of Staff of the TDF
Awards	Commander Class Medal (CCM) Southern Cross Medal (SM) Military Merit Medal (MMM) Military Rule Medal General Service Medal Unitas Medal Transkei Defence Force Medal Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service with 30 Year Clasp) Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years) Faithful Service Medal (10 Years) Parachute Wings (South Africa) (Basic, Static Line)
Other work	Military Ombudsman

Lieutenant General Themba Matanzima CCM SM MMM is a former South African Army officer, serving as Military Ombudsman.^[1]

He was born on 2 February 1953 in Cofimvaba.^[2] He joined the Transkei Defence Force in January 1977.

Army career

Matanzima transferred to the South African National Defence Force on integration in 1994. After a period on the Joint Military Coordinating Committee that oversaw the integration process, he then became General Officer Commanding Eastern Province Command in 1996. In 1998 he became Chief of Army Personnel.

In 1999 he was appointed Chief of Personnel^[3] and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. In 2000, the SANDF restructured and he was appointed into a newly created post of Chief of Joint Support.

In 2004 he was appointed Chief of Corporate Staff until 2005, when he became Chief Human Resources.

He appointed Chief of Joint Operations on 1 September 1, 2007^[4] after the death of Lt Gen Sipho Binda in car accident in 2006.

In 2010 he served as acting Secretary for Defence and Acting CSANDF on a number of occasions.^[5]

Honours and awards

Medals

He has been awarded the following:^[6]

• Commander Class Medal (CCM)

• Southern Cross Medal (SM)

• Military Merit Medal (MMM)

• Military Rule Medal

• General Service Medal

• Unitas Medal

• Transkei Defence Force Medal

• Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service with 30 Year Clasp)

• Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years)

• Faithful Service Medal (10 Years)

Other

• Parachute Wings (South Africa) (Basic, Static Line)

References

1. "Newsmaker: TT's the man for the job". City Press. May 19, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
2. Engelbrecht, Leon (25 January 2010). "Fact file: Lt Gen Themba Matanzima". defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
3. "Matanzima word hoof van staf ná Loedolff" (in Afrikaans). Archived from the original on 26 November 1999. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
4. "Ex-homeland chief to head Joint Operations". IOL. August 2, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
5. "CSANDF Ngwenya redeployed to Angola, Matanzima acting". defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWeb. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
6. "About our Speakers - Peacekeeping Africa 2009". Defenceweb.co.za. May 4, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2014.