Article by Pfunzo Mafenya; Photos by Col (Rev) Kingsley Masemola

Brig Gen (Rev) Monwabisi Andrew Jamangile

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has appointed Brig Gen (Rev) Monwabisi Andrew Jamangile as the new Chaplain General. He is taking over from Brig Gen (Rev) Marius Cornelissen who is retiring at the end of the year after serving as the Chaplain General of the SANDF for seven years. Before his appointment, Brig Gen (Rev) Jamangile was serving as the Chief of Staff at the Head Quarters of the Chaplain Service.

Brig Gen (Rev) Jamangile was born in the Eastern Cape on 06 April 1959. He started his military career in the South African Defence Force (SADF) in July 1978. He completed his training as an infantry soldier and in 1981, he was appointed with other soldiers to form the then Ciskei Defence Force (CDF). His leadership skills were noticed by the then leadership of the CDF and he was selected and given the responsibility of training the CDF soldiers until the homeland’s independence on 04 December 1981.

In 1990, Brig Gen (Rev) Jamangile was appointed as part of the Ciskei delegation that became part of the successful integration process of different armed forces (the SADF, four homeland defence forces and the nonstatutory forces) that later formed the now unifi ed SANDF. His ministerial calling began in 1992. He enrolled at the Wilberforce Theological College and qualifi ed with a Higher Diploma in Theology in 1995. He served with utmost dedication at several congregations around South Africa, most notably in Cape Town from 1996 to 1997 and in Cradock and Zwide in Port Elizabeth between 1998 and 2002. Brig Gen (Rev) Jamangile is also an Elder Minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Lt Gen V.R. Masondo putting new ranks on Brig Gen (Rev) M.A.Jamangile.

In 2002, Brig Gen (Rev) Jamangile was appointed as the Chaplain for 46 SA Brigade. In 2003, he was transferred to SANDF Special Forces Brigade where he worked until 2005. He was then promoted to colonel and appointed as Chief of Staff in the Offi ce of the Chaplain Service Head Quarters in 2007, where he served until his new appointment.