Defence Act, 2002 (Act No. 42 of 2002)RegulationsRegulations for the Reserve Force, 200912. Honorary appointments and ranks |
| 1) | The Chief of the relevant Service may, with the approval of the Minister, appoint an honorary Colonel, Captain (SAN), Lieutenant-Colonel, or Commander (SAN) to a Regular or Reserve Force unit or structural component of the Defence Force. |
| 2) | An appointment contemplated in sub-regulation (1) is titular and confers no military status or power of command on the holder thereof, but entitles the holder to wear the uniform of the unit or other establishment concerned on the occasions determined by the Chief of the relevant Service and to qualify for Defence Force medals and decorations. |
| 3) | Appointments contemplated in sub-requlation (1) are subject thereto that- |
| a) | only one appointment of honorary Colonel or honorary Captain (SAN) per unit or larger organisation or staff Division may be made; |
| b) | in the case of a large or combined unit of various corps an additional honorary Lieutenant-Colonel or Commander (SAN) may be appointed on the same terms and conditions as a honorary Colonel or Captain (SAN); |
| c) | the member must be between 40 and 70 years of age; |
| d) | the member must have permanent residence in South Africa; |
| e) | he member must be of good standing in the community; |
| f) | the member must have a commitment to the unit or organisation; |
| g) | the member must possess an appropriate military bearing, have such officer-like qualities as are generally required of Officers of the Defence Force and his or her conduct must be beyond reproach; |
| h) | the member does not necessarily have previous military experience; |
| i) | the appointment of serving Defence Force officers is discouraged; |
| j) | the member must preferably not have vested business interests in the defence or related enterprises in order that indirect benefits are avoided; |
| k) | the member is entitled to the appellation of his or her rank and must be paid the appropriate compliments when officiating in his or her honorary capacity; |
| l) | the member may not receive remuneration or be issued with a military weapon; |
| m) | the member is appointed for a fixed period of time or have an initial tenure of five years which may be extended; and |
| n) | termination of the member's appointment occurs - |
| i) | if the member cannot perform the duties expected of him or her; |
| ii) | if, due to the member's advancing age, medical condition or physical profile, he or she no longer meets the required standards; |
| iii) | if his or her conduct or actions are to the detriment of the unit, organisation or the Defence Force; |
| iv) | when a unit or structural component disbands; or |
| v) | on request of the member. |