Military branches:
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint Operations Command, Military Intelligence, South African Military Health Services (2009)

Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2007)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,508,255
[see also: Manpower available for military service - males age 16-49 country ranks ]
females age 16-49: 12,541,371 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower available for military service - females age 16-49 country ranks ]

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,676,331
[see also: Manpower fit for military service - males age 16-49 country ranks ]
females age 16-49: 6,521,338 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower fit for military service - females age 16-49 country ranks ]

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
male: 492,743
[see also: Manpower reaching military service age annually - male country ranks ]
female: 496,374 (2010 est.)
[see also: Manpower reaching military service age annually - female country ranks ]

Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 92
[see also: Military expenditures country ranks ]

Military - note:
with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete