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This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

Meiring, Georg

Georg Meiring was born in Ladybrand, Orange Free State, in 1939.  He matriculated at the local high school and then attended the University of the Orange Free State where he graduated with a BSc degree in physics in 1959.  He went on to obtain a MSc at the same university where he lectured in Applied Physics for a period.

In 1963 Meiring joined the Permanent Force as a captain and specialised in signals.  In 1974 he was appointed Director of Signals at army headquarters and in 1975, Director of Telecommunications in the SADF.  In 1977 he was appointed director of logistical staff at army headquarters and in 1978 Officer Commanding, Witwatersrand Command. In 1981 he was promoted to major general and transferred back to headquarters as Chief of Army staff (logistics).  The following year he was made deputy chief of the army and from 1983-86 Meiring served as General Officer Commanding the South West Africa Territory Force in Namibia.  During this time he was involved in pre-Namibian independence negotiations in Lusaka, Zambia and the Joint Monitoring Commission period of co-operation with Angola.

Meiring then became General Officer Commanding the Far North Command and in April 1989 was re-appointed Deputy Chief of the Army.  In 1990 he became Chief of the Army with the rank of Lieutenant General.

SourceWho's Who in South African Politics Number 5 by Shelagh Gastrow.

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