Indians make military history

Laren Krishna joined the South African Navy in January 1984 as part of the two-year voluntary national serviceman programme for Indians, undergoing basic training at SAS Jalsena.

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Krishna embarked on the Special Forces cycle in 1985 and qualified as the first South African Special Forces Operation of Indian origin April 16, 1987. He then joined 1 Reconnaissance Regiment in Durban.

At just 20 years old, Krishna became operationally active in Angola, participating in notable operations like Operation Modular and other covert missions across the border during the South African Border War.

SA ARMY

The Commandos

On December 13, 1984, 20 members of the Indian Commando Unit, Durban North Commandos, were deployed to South West Africa. On arrival, they received an additional two weeks of orientation and bush warfare training in Sector 10.

The group was attached to the 10 Armoured Car Squadron in Oshakati, performing duties as a support group to the squadron, including foot and vehicle patrols, escorts and ambushes. 2nd Lieutenant Vikram Singh made history as the first South African of Indian origin to be commissioned as an officer in the commandos.

The general

Indrani Arends joined the defence force in 1988 as part of the second batch of Indian females recruited by the SA Navy, training at SAS Jalsena in Durban. She broke barriers in 1991 by becoming the first Indian female to enlist in the South African Army.

Arends's achievements continued to excel as she was the first Indian officer, the first non-European, and female to win the Leadership Trophy on the officer's formation course in 1992. In 2016, Arends was promoted to brigadier general, becoming the first Indian general in the SA Army.

SA NAVY

SAS Jalsena

Following World War II, General Jan Smuts declared that Indians weren’t needed in the South African military. However, after persistent efforts by Indian leaders to achieve equality, the government reversed this decision in 1974, allowing Indians to serve.