Rank comparison charts of armies/land forces of apartheid states and territories in Southern Africa.

This chart includes of the nominally independent Bantustans,^[a][b][c][d] apartheid South Africa,^[1] and South West Africa.^[1] These states were all under the control of the apartheid regime of South Africa,^[2] with the defence forces of the Bantustans being made of units that were nominally independent of the SADF, but were selected and trained by the SADF, and who placed former South African and Rhodesian military officers in senior positions within the defence forces.^[3] The South West Africa Territorial Force was an auxiliary arm of the SADF and formed the armed forces of South West Africa from 1977 to 1989.^[4]

Armies

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Bophuthatswana Army[5] v t e
							Major general Generaal-majoor		Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kolonel		Commandant Kommandant		Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant			2nd lieutenant Tweede luitenant			Officer candidate Kandidaat offisier
Ciskei Army[6] v t e
					Lieutenant general				Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
South African Army (1961–1994)[7] v t e
			General Generaal[note 1]		Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal		Major General Generaal-Majoor[note 2]		Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kolonel		Chief Commandant Hoofkommandant[note 3]	Commandant Kommandant	Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant[note 4]			Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant[note 5]			Officer Candidate Kandidaatoffisier
South West African Army[7] v t e
					Major general		Brigadier general				Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major			Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer candidate
Transkei Army[8][6] v t e
			General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Venda Ground Forces[6] v t e
									Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Bophuthatswana Army[5] v t e																													No insignia
	Warrant officer class 1						Warrant officer class 2		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private
Ciskei Army[6] v t e																													No insignia
	Chief warrant officer						Warrant officer		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private
South African Army (1961–1994)[7] v t e																													No insignia
	Sergeant Major of the Army Sersant-Majoor van die Leër			Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I			Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II		Staff sergeant Stafsersant		Sergeant Sersant												Corporal Korporaal				Lance corporal Onderkorporaal		Private Soldaat
South West African Army[7] v t e																													No insignia
	Formation warrant officer			Warrant officer class 1			Warrant officer class 2		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private
Transkei Army[8][6] v t e																													No insignia
	Chief warrant officer						Warrant officer		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private
Venda Ground Forces[6] v t e																													No insignia
	Chief warrant officer						Warrant officer		Staff sergeant		Sergeant												Corporal				Lance corporal		Private
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

Air forces

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Bophuthatswana Air Force[5] v t e
									Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kolonel		Commandant Kommandant		Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant			Second lieutenant Tweede luitenant			Officer candidate Kandidaat offisier
South African Air Force (1961–1994) v t e
			General Generaal		Lieutenant General Luitenant-Generaal		Major General Generaal-Majoor		Brigadier Brigadier		Colonel Kolonel		Commandant Kommandant		Major Majoor		Captain Kaptein		Lieutenant Luitenant			Second Lieutenant Tweede Luitenant
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Bophuthatswana Air Force[5] v t e																													No insignia
	Sergeant Major of the Air Force Sersant-Majoor van die Lugmag			Warrant officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klass I			Warrant officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klass II		Staff sergeant Staf-Sersant		Sergeant Sersant												Corporal Korporaal				Lance corporal Onderkorporaal		Private Soldaat
South African Air Force (1961–1994) v t e																																			No insignia
	Sergeant Major of the SA Air Force Sersant-Majoor van die SA Lugmag			Warrant Officer class 1 Adjudant-Offisier Klas I			Warrant Officer class 2 Adjudant-Offisier Klas II		Flight sergeant Vlugsersant		Sergeant Sersant[note 6]												Corporal Korporaal[note 7]				Lance corporal Onderkorporaal[note 8]								Aircraftman Vliegtuigman[note 9]
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted