Career
Born in Kroonstad on 5 February 1935, He obtained a BMil from the University of Pretoria before joining 1 Special Service Battalion. Later he went on to higher command in 1977, serving as commander of South West Africa Command, a post he held until 1980, when he served in the position of General Officer Commanding the South West African Territorial Force. After this he became Chief of the Army, before being promoted to the position of Chief of the South African Defence Force on the 31st of October 1985.
In this role, he took part in negotiations that brought the Border War to an end in 1989, after 23 years of fighting.