Profile - Major General Roy Andersen, SD, SM, MMM, JCD Chief of Defence Reserves, SA National Defence Force

Roy Andersen was born on 12 May 1948 and matriculated at Northview High School.

While studying at the University of the Witwatersrand, he was awarded prizes as the top student in two of his five academic years. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA) in 1972 and as a Certified Public Accountant in 1975 in Texas.

Major General Andersen started his career at Ernst & Whinney Chartered Accountants in 1966 and subsequently became Chairman of Ernst & Young. Thereafter he went on to The Johannesburg Stock Exchange as Executive President over the period 1992 until 1997. In March 1997 he was appointed as Chairman of Murray & Roberts Holdings and Virgin Active South Africa and in June 2004 as Chairman of Sanlam Limited.

With regards to Major General Andersen’s military career, he was commissioned into the Artillery in 1966. He commanded the Transvaal Horse Artillery from 1976 – 1979 and was thereafter appointed as Senior Staff Officer Artillery and subsequently Senior Staff Officer Operations of 7 Infantry Division. Major General Andersen was promoted to the rank of Major General in October 2003.

Positions that Major General Andersen currently occupies are Chief Defence Reserves for the South African National Defence Force, Honorary Colonel of the Transvaal Horse Artillery as well as a member of the Council for the Support of National Defence.

Major General Andersen has been awarded the Star of South Africa, Southern Corss Decoration (SD), Southern Cross Medal (SM), Military Merit Medal (MMM), Pro Patria Medal with Cunenc Clasp, Unitas Medal, General Service Medal as well as the John Chard Decoration (JCD) with 30 years clasp.

Major General Roy Andersen, Chief of Defence Reserves, has been appointed General of the Gunners’ of the SA National Defence Force in December 2005.

Maj General Andersen is married to Wendy and has two daughters and a son.

Profile: Brig Gen Debbie Molefe, Director Defence Reserves

Brigadier General was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on 1 August 2009 in the post of Director Defence Reserves.

Brigadier General Molefe has had an illustrious career in the SANDF, as can be seen from her CV.

Click here to read Curriculum Vitae of Brigadier General  S.D. Molefe

Profile: Senior Chief Warrant Officer Jan Viljoen,  the Warrant Officer of the Reserves

Senior Chief Warrant Officer Jan Viljoen has been appointed as the Warrant Officer of the Reserves

His CV reads as follows:

• Born 30 March 1961.
• Grew up in the town of Vereeniging.
• Matriculated in 1979.
• National military service in 1980.
• Promoted to corporal and meganized infantry instructor in 1981.
• Became a Reserve member with Johannesburg Regiment in 1982.
• Promoted to Sergeant in 1984.
• Promoted to Staff Sergeant in 1987.
• Promoted to Warrant Officer in 1989.
• Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major in 1990.
• Promoted to Brigade Sergeant Major Infantry at 7 Division in 1994.
• Promoted to Warrant Officer Reserves Army Division in 1997.
• Transferred to Chief Joint Operations as Reserve Warrant Officer in 2002.
• Promoted to Senior Chief Warrant Officer in 2009 and transferred to Reserve Division of Defence (Warrant Officer Reserve).

Medals Received:

• Pro Patria Medal - Border Only
• Southern African Medal - Internal Duty
• General Service Medal - Internal Operations
• Unity Medal - Unification 1994
• Tshumelo Ikatelaho - General Service Medal - Operations
• John Chard Medal - Long Service

Currently he is employed as a Manager in a Property Valuation company called Abalaing Valuers.

He has been married to Judith Viljoen since 1983 and has one son.

Profile: Brigadier General J.J.G. Gibbs, Deputy Chief Director Defence Reserves

Brig Gen John Gibbs was born on 25 April 1958 and matriculated at St John’s College, Johannesburg.

He studied at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal where he obtains an honors degree in agriculture.

Brig Gen Gibbs has been self employed all his life, mainly in the agriculture and related industries. He currently owns a dairy farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

He is also the chairman of nu-africa, an organization specializing in the planning and design of developmental projects in rural areas, as well as turn around strategies for agriculture and security based organizations.

Brig Gen Gibbs was commissioned in 1982 to the Intelligence Corps of the SA Army. He has held many command and staff posts throughout his career. He commanded Drakensberg Commando from 1992 to 1996. He was also appointed at the Army Senior Command and Staff College as a directing staff member. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in January 2006.

He has been awarded the Southern Cross Medal, the Military Merit Medal and the De Wet decoration.

Brig Gen Gibbs is married to Cheryl and has two sons and a daughter.