Samuel Hlongwane
Mosiwa Samuel Hlongwane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 July 1962 Frankfort, South Africa |
| Allegiance |  South Africa |
| Service |  South African Navy |
| Rank | Vice admiral |
| Commands |
|
| Awards |       |
| Spouse(s) | Thandi[1] |
Mosiwa Samuel Hlongwane MMS MMB SAN (Rtd) (born 6 July 1962)[2] is a South African Navy officer, who served as Chief of the Navy.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Hlongwane was born on 6 July 1962 in Frankfort, Free State (Orange Free State), but he grew up in the Vaal Triangle in a small township called Bophelong (Vanderbijlpark). He started school in 1970 at Mqiniswa Combined School (Bophelong), he completed his Junior Secondary School in 1980 at Lebohang Junior Secondary School (Boipatong) where he obtained his Junior Certificate. In 1982 he completed his matric at State Senior Secondary School (Sebokeng).[1]
Career
[edit]Hlongwane joined the African National Congress and its military wing UMkhonto we Sizwe in 1982 and was trained in Angola and the Soviet Union.[3] In August 1986, he was selected to attend the Naval Course in the Azerbaijan SSR where he specialised in Ship Navigation Command for a period of four and half years.[1] In November 1991, he successfully completed the Naval Ship Command Course in Navigation and he obtained a qualification of Diploma in Ship Navigation at the Caspian Naval Red Banner College of the Soviet Navy in Baku.[2][1]
In 1991 he was appointed as Chief of Logistics of the two MK Camps i.e. Mgagawa and Kidete Camps in Tanzania. In 1993 - 1994 he participated in the Joint Co-ordinating Committee (JMCC) as a member of the Navy working group.[1]
Following integration in 1994 he attended the Bridging and orientation courses at South African Naval College and Maritime Warfare School.
On 1 January 1996 he was deployed to SAS Umgeni as a learner on board the vessel. On 1 January 1997 he re-mustered to Maritime Intelligence (Counter Intelligence Section). On 1 November 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Commander and appointed as SO1 Maritime.[1]
On 1 March 2003 he was promoted to the rank of Capt (SAN) and appointed as Senior Staff Officer Operations Counter Intelligence (SSO OPCI). On 1 March 2005 until 30 March 2008, he was appointed as the South African Defence Attaché to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) & The Republic of Congo.[1]
On 1 April 2008 he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral Junior Grade (JG) and appointed as Chief of Fleet Staff at the Fleet Command Headquarters in Simon's Town.[1]
He was appointed Deputy Chief of the Navy in 2011[4]
He retired on 30 June 2022[5] and was later appointed acting Director General at the Department of Military Veterans in May 2023.[6]
Awards
[edit]Adm Hlongwane has been awarded the following medals:[1][7]
Merit Medal (Silver) (MMS)
Merit Medal (Bronze) (MMB)
Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) (10 Years)
Unitas (Unity) Medal
Operational Medal for Southern Africa
Mandela Commemoration Medal (Gold)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Curriculum Vitae of the Chief of the SA Navy" (PDF). navy.mil.za. Navy, RSA Department of Defence. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ a b Helfrich, Kim. "Hlongwane named new Navy Chief". Defenceweb. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ "Appointments and/or Promotions of Lieutenant Generals, Admirals and Major Generals". Department of Defence. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ^ "SS Mendi centenary a highlight for Hlongwane as CNavy". DefenceWeb. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "Former CNavy named DMV acting Director-General". DefenceWeb. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ Nedzanani, AB Phathutshedzo (7 December 2014). "Mandela Medal Parade". Navy.mil.za. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
| OC South African Naval Service 1922 – 1932 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Director, Seaward Defence Force 1940 – 1942 | ||
| Director, South African Naval Forces 1942 – 1951 | ||
| Naval & Marine Chief of Staff 1951 – 1955 | ||
| Naval Chief of Staff 1955 – 1966 | ||
| Chief of the Navy 1966 – Present | ||
 | This biographical article related to the South African military is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- Recipients of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Merit Medal
- Recipients of the Operational Medal for Southern Africa
- South African admirals
- Living people
- Chiefs of the South African Navy
- People from the Free State (province)
- 1962 births
- South African expatriates in the Soviet Union
- UMkhonto we Sizwe personnel
- South African military personnel stubs