Johan Retief

Vice Admiral Johan Retief SD & Bar PG SM MMM was the Chief of the South African Navy from 2000 to 2005.

For the Namibian rugby union player, see Johan Retief (rugby union).

Johan Frans Retief SD & Bar PG SM MMM SAN (Rtd)
Born	(1946-03-20) 20 March 1946 Cape Town, South Africa
Allegiance	South Africa
Service/branch	South African Navy
Years of service	1967 – 2005
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Chief of the South African Navy Inspector General SANDF Chief of Naval Operations SAS Jim Fouche
Awards	Southern Cross Decoration (SD & Bar) iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) (Golden Protea) Southern Cross Medal (SM) Military Merit Medal (MMM)

Retief was born on 20 March 1946 in Cape Town, matriculating at Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town.[1]

Career

He attended the South African Military Academy after completing his Citizen Force training and graduated with a Bachelor of Military Science degree in 1967 and was judged the Best Student in that year.[2]

He was appointed an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and was selected to attend the Torpedo and Anti-Submarine course at HMS Vernon in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

He joined the Strike Craft Flotilla, initially as training officer[3] at the inception of the project in 1975. He was the Commissioning Captain of SAS Jim Fouche and attended the Naval Command and Staff Course in 1981. After Completing a year as Staff Officer Surface Warfare, he was appointed Director Naval Operations in 1985. After attending the Joint Staff Course in 1988 he served as Senior Staff Officer Research at the Intelligence Division and then as Military Secretary to the Minister of Defence General Magnus Malan and Ministers Roelf Meyer and Gene Louw.

He was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed as Chief of Naval Operations with effect from 1 January 1993[4][5] until 30 April 1996, after which he served as Inspector-General of the South African National Defence Force.

He was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Chief of the South African Navy on 1 November 2000.[6]

Awards and decorations

Adm Retief was awarded the following:[7]

• Southern Cross Decoration (SD & Bar)
• iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) (Golden Protea)
• Southern Cross Medal (SM)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM)
• Pro Patria Medal
• Southern Africa Medal
• General Service Medal
• Unitas Medal
• Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service with 40 Year Clasp)
• Good Service Medal, Gold (30 Years)
• Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years)
• Good Service Medal, Bronze (10 Years)
• Order of Naval Merit (Brazil)

See also

• List of South African military chiefs
• South African Navy

References

1. "Oudleerders erken vir besondere bydraes" [Ex Learners recognised for exceptional contributions]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). November 11, 2005. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
2. Military Academy Roll of Best Students
3. "Johan Retief | Who's Who SA". Whoswhosa.co.za. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
4. "Vlootoperasies kry nuwe hoof" [New Head for Navy Operations]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). December 31, 1992. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
5. "Suid-Afrikaanse Vloot neem afskeid van Hoof van Operasies" [SA Navy bids farewell to Chief of Naval Operations]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). November 19, 1992. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
6. "Fact file: Chiefs of the South African Navy". DefenceWeb. 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
7. Netshirembe, Lutuno (2011). "CAF Medal parade" (PDF). Ad Astra (1): 25.

Military offices
Preceded by Robert Simpson-Anderson	Chief of the South African Navy 2000 – 2005	Succeeded by Refiloe Johannes Mudimu
New title Established at the Secretariat	Inspector General DoD 1997 – 2000	Succeeded by Vejaynand Ramlakan
Preceded by Bertus Burger	Inspector General SANDF 1996 – 1997	Renamed IG DoD with migration of Inspectorate to Defence Secretariat
Preceded by Paul Viljoen	Chief of Naval Operations 1993 – 1996	Succeeded by Evert Groenewald