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Fabian Msimang

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Lieutenant General
Fabian Zimpande Msimang
Nickname(s)"Zakes"
Born (1960-09-01) 1 September 1960 (age 64)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Allegiance South Africa
Service / branch South African Air Force
RankLieutenant General
Commands
AwardsOperational Medal for Southern Africa ' South Africa Service Medal ' Tshumelo Ikatelaho (General Service Medal) ' Unitas (Unity) Medal ' Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) ' Good Service Medal ' Order of Military Merit '
Spouse(s)Afrika Msimang (wife)
RelationsMendi Msimang (father)

Fabian Zimpande "Zakes" Msimang (born 1 September 1960) is a retired South African Air Force officer who served as the Chief of the South African Air Force.

He left South Africa with his family at the age of 6 months and went into exile. He completed his secondary schooling in India. In 1983 he was sent to Tanzania to assist with the opening of the ANC Development Centre.

Career

He received his flying training at Frunze 1 Central Officers Training Center (now the Military Institute of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic) - Kirghizstan, in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 1986 to 1991. He graduated from the institution with a diploma in Command & Tactics of Military Aviation.

He has been a member of the Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress and saw combat in Angola in 1986. In 1994, he completed the Air Force Junior Staff Course in Zimbabwe before integrating into the South African National Defence Force.

He was appointed assistant project officer on Project Flange (the acquisition programme of the Agusta A109) in Italy where he also completed the Senior Staff Course at the Italian Air Force War School. On his return from Italy, Msimang was then appointed Officer Commanding of the Helicopter Flying School at Air Force Base Bloemspruit.

In 2005, he was appointed officer commanding Air Force Base Bloemspruit and promoted to the rank of colonel. In 2006, he completed the Executive National Security Programme at the South African National Defence College. In June 2007, after a two-and-a-half-year tour as officer commanding Air Force Base Bloemspruit, he was appointed director of helicopter systems and promoted to the rank of brigadier general at the Air Command.

In November 2010, he was appointed chief director of air policy and plans and promoted to the rank of major general responsible for Air Force strategy, policies, capabilities and resource allocation.

Msimang became the Chief of the Air Force on 1 October 2012. He retired at the end of September 2020.

Aircraft flown

Awards and decorations

The following have been awarded to Msimang:

Proficiency awards

Pilots Wings
(Qualification)
0-500 hrs
Black on Thatch beige, Embossed
National Coat of Arms with large wings


References

  1. "LT GEN MSIMANG READY FOR TAKE-OFF". af.mil.za.
  2. "Msimang new CAF". DefenceWeb. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  3. ^ "New Year - New Beginnings at Air Force Base Bloemspruit" (PDF). Ad Astra (1): 13. 2005.
  4. Greebe, Hanrie (2007). "The driving force behind a successful base" (PDF). Ad Astra. 1: 7.
  5. "Appointment of new Chief of the South Africa Air Force". Af.mil.za. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Chief of the Air Force". South African Air Force. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  7. "NEW AIR FORCE CHIEF APPOINTED". e-tools.co.za. 19 June 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  8. "Lt General Msimang Takes Over Command Of SAAF". Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  9. "Msimang to retire on Wednesday". DefenceWeb. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  10. Helfrich, Kim (19 June 2012). "Helicopter Pilot and ex-MK cadre appointed new SA Air Force chief". The New Age.
Military offices
Preceded byCarlo Gagiano Chief of the South African Air Force
2012–2020 		Succeeded byWiseman Mbambo
Preceded byLucky Ngema Chief Director Air Policy & Plans SAAF
2010–2012 		Succeeded byCedric Masters
Preceded byRC Johnson OC AFB Bloemspruit
2005–2006 		Succeeded byH Treunicht
Preceded byJohnny Laing OC 87 Helicopter Flying School SAAF
2004–2005 		Succeeded byUnknown
Senior officials in the South African Department of Defence
Civilian officials
Military chiefs
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