Maj Gen Abe Notshweleka was a General Officer in the South African Army from the artillery. He was born in 1954 in Kempton Park and grew up in Tembisa where he matriculated. He joined the uMkhonto we Sizwe's underground structures. He completed a Teaching diploma from a College of Education in Bophuthatswana and taught in schools around Mafikeng. He went into exile through Botswana and later in Malanje, Angola where he completed military training. He later served as a MK Camp Commander of Malanje. He stayed in Mozambique and in Tanzania where he was a Military Attaché.


Mandla Robert Notshweleka
Nickname(s)Abe Sishuba
Born(1954-07-00)July 1954
Kempton Park
Died2021 (aged 66–67)
1 Military Hospital, Pretoria
Allegiance South Africa
Service / branch South African Army
Years of service197?–2021
RankMajor General
UnitSouth African Army Artillery Formation
Commands
AwardsMerit Medal MMS Merit Medal MMB Operational Medal for Southern Africa ' South Africa Service Medal ' Tshumelo Ikatelaho (General Service Medal) ' Unitas (Unity) Medal ' Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) ' Good Service Medal ' Service Medal '
Other work

Military career

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He specialized in artillery while in exile and integrated into the South African National Defence Force with the rank of a lieutenant colonel on 27 April 1994.

He completed the bridging training at the School of Artillery[1] in Klipdrift. He served as a staff officer at 4 Artillery Regiment and the Directorate of Artillery in the office of the Chief of the Army from 1995 to 1998. Lt. Col. Notshweleka completed the Senior Command and Staff Duties Course in 1999 and Executive National Security Program in 2001.

He was appointed the first Chief of Staff of the newly established Artillery Type Formation from 1999 to 2001. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 1 October 2001 and was General Officer Commanding Artillery Formation from 2001 to 2010. He was appointed at the CD Defence Acquisition at the Defence Secretariat from 2010 until he retired with pension in July 2014. He served as a Special Advisor to Minister of Police (Minister Bheki Cele) in his civilian life. He died at 1 Military Hospital, Thaba Tshwane in 2021.

Honours and awards

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Medals

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Identification badges

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Master Gunner: 79
 
Brigadier General
M.R. 'Abe' Notshweleka[a]
Year: 2002
←78: Colonel
Niek J. du Plessis
Lt Colonel
Andre S. de Jager :80→

Notes

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  1. ^ Post occupied when award was made: General Officer Commanding, Artillery Formation

References

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  1. ^ Anon., "School of Artillery", South African Gunner (PDF), p. 9, archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2013, retrieved 31 March 2015
Military offices
Preceded by
Maj Gen Otto Schür
Chief Director Acquisition Management
2010 – 2014
Succeeded by
Maj Gen Jabu Mbuli
Preceded by
Brig Gen Chris Roux
General Officer Commanding Artillery Formation
2001 – 2010
Vacant
Title next held by
Brig Gen Deon Holtzhausen in 2012
Preceded by
Col Carel Laubscher as acting
Chief of Staff Artillery Formation
1999 – 2001
Succeeded by
Col Perie Franken
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Col Niek du Plessis
79th Master Gunner
2001
Succeeded by
Lt Col Andre de Jager