Constand Viljoen

General Constand Viljoen SSA , SD , SOE , SM , MMM , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
File:General Constand Viljoen (cropped).jpg
Leader of the Freedom Front
In office 1 March 1994 – 26 June 2001
Preceded by	Party established
Succeeded by	Pieter Mulder
Member of Parliament
In office 1994–2001
President	Nelson Mandela Thabo Mbeki
Personal details
Born	Constand Laubscher Viljoen (1933-10-28)28 October 1933 Standerton, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
Died	Ohrigstad, Limpopo, South Africa
Political party	Freedom Front Plus (1994–2001)
Other political affiliations	National Party (pre-1994)
Spouse(s)	Christina "Ristie" Heckroodt
Relations	Braam Viljoen (twin brother)
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Pretoria
Profession	Gunner
Military service
Allegiance	South Africa
Service/branch	South African Army
Years of service	1956–1985
Rank	General
Unit	4 Field Regiment
Commands	Chief of the South African Defence Force Chief of the Army Director General Operations South African Army College School of Artillery Director of Artillery
Battles/wars	South African Border War Operation Savannah
Awards	Star of South Africa Southern Cross Decoration South African Police Star for Outstanding Service Southern Cross Medal Military Merit Medal Order of the Cloud and Banner with Grand Cordon (China)

General Constand Laubscher Viljoen, SSA , SD , SOE , SM , MMM , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (28 October 1933 – 3 April 2020) was a South African military commander and politician. He co-founded the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later founded the Freedom Front (now Freedom Front Plus). He is partly credited with having prevented the outbreak of armed violence by disaffected white South Africans prior to post-apartheid general elections.

Military service

Viljoen matriculated at Standerton High School in 1951. He joined South Africa's pre-republic Union Defence Force in 1956 upon receiving a degree in military science at the University of Pretoria. By 1974, Viljoen had been named the South African Army's Director of General Operations, subsequently serving as the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of the South African Defence Force. He was appointed as Chief of the Army in 1977 and succeeded General Magnus Malan as Chief of the South African Defence Force in 1980.

Angolan service

Viljoen was the senior SADF military officer directing Operation Savannah in 1975. He is also credited with having planned the first major airborne assault in South African military history, Cassinga, a raid carried out against SWAPO insurgents. Despite his rank, Viljoen was present during the battle, offering what was described as a "swashbuckling" front-line leadership, which won him the respect of many fellow Afrikaners.

Political career

Viljoen is credited by some with having made overtures which helped lead to white South Africans' acceptance of universal suffrage and free elections, such as with his famous speech at the Broederbond annual assembly in Voortrekkerhoogte, saying of the Black South Africans in his army, "As hulle kan veg vir Suid-Afrika, kan hulle stem vir Suid-Afrika!" (Afrikaans: "If they can fight for South Africa, then they can vote for South Africa!").

In 1993, Viljoen and fellow retired generals formed the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front), an umbrella body for conservative Afrikaners. However, Viljoen reportedly had strained relationships with the leaders of other right-wing parties, who considered him too moderate.

Bophuthatswana action and decision to contest elections

Main article: Bophuthatswana coup d'état of 1994

Immediately prior to the 1994 general elections Viljoen had a force of between 50,000 and 60,000 trained paramilitary personnel at his command, with the ability to seize large sections of the country. The force was assembled in preparation for war with Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), as a potential contingency to protect Afrikaner interests.

In March 1994, Viljoen led an effort by several thousand Volksfront militia to protect the bantustan president, Lucas Mangope, in Bophuthatswana against a coup d'état. Despite being requested not to participate in the action because of extremist views, militants of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging also advanced into Bophuthatswana, sparking clashes with the security forces.

Immediately after the incident, Viljoen split from the Volksfront and initiated a legitimate election campaign, co-founding and becoming leader of the Freedom Front (Vryheidsfront), a new political party representing white conservatives. His decision to take part in the elections is believed to have prevented armed resistance by the far right and on the occasion of his retirement from politics, the South African government recognised him for preventing bloodshed.

Viljoen's decision was at least partly influenced by the mediation of his identical twin brother, Abraham Viljoen (Braam), who was an anti-apartheid activist while his brother led the military.

In post-apartheid South Africa

In the 1994 general election, the Freedom Front, under the leadership of Viljoen, received 2.2% of the national vote and nine seats in the National Assembly. It became the strongest party outside Nelson Mandela's Government of National Unity. Although his supporters were at odds with the government and the ANC, Viljoen praised Mandela on the occasion of his retreat from politics in 1999, even ending his Parliamentary speech speaking in Mandela's native language, Xhosa: Go rest in peace. Go rest in the shadow of a tree at your home.

In 2001, Viljoen handed over the leadership of the Freedom Front to Pieter Mulder and retired from politics, citing his frustration working with a parliament dominated by the ANC.

After retirement

In 2003, it emerged that Viljoen had been a target of the Boeremag paramilitary right-wing group, which considered him a traitor who had underhandedly sold out the Afrikaner people.

In 2008 Viljoen, aged 74, put up what was described as a spirited fight against two would-be muggers, who were subsequently arrested.

Death

Current Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald announced on 3 April 2020 that Viljoen had died on his farm in Ohrigstad, Limpopo. He was 86 and was surrounded by his children. Viljoen died of natural causes.

He is survived by his wife Christina Susanna Heckroodt, four sons and a daughter.

Awards and decorations

• Star of South Africa (SSA)

• Southern Cross Decoration (SD)

• x20px South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE)

• Southern Cross Medal (SM)

• Military Merit Medal (MMM)

• Pro Patria Medal

• Good Service Medal, Gold (30 Years)

• Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years)

• Permanent Force Good Service Medal

• x20px Order of the Cloud and Banner - with Grand Cordon (2nd Grade) (ORB)(Taiwan)

• Parachute Wings (South Africa) (Basic, Static Line)

• Proficiency: Master Gunner Badge

References

Party political offices
New title New Party	Leader of the Freedom Front 1994–2001	Succeeded by Dr Pieter Mulder
Military offices
Preceded by Magnus Malan	Chief of the South African Defence Force 1980–1985	Succeeded by Johannes Geldenhuys
	Chief of the South African Army 1976–1980
Preceded by Maj Gen Andre van Deventer	GOC I South African Corps 1976–1976	Succeeded by Maj Gen Ian Gleeson
Preceded by Col Frans van den Berg	Director of Artillery 1972 – 1973	Succeeded by Brig Frans van den Berg
Preceded by Col JW van Niekerk	OC South African Army College 1968–1969	Succeeded by Col Johan Potgieter
Preceded by Cmdt Hendrik Greyvenstein	OC School of Artillery 1966–1968	Succeeded by Cmdt Shorty Brown
Preceded by Maj Helm Roos	Chief Instructor Gunnery 1962–1963	Succeeded by Maj John Albert Reid Cox
Honorary titles
Preceded by WO1 Robbie Graham	48th Master Gunner 1984	Succeeded by Cmdt Piet Uys