- Source: Lindile Yam
Lt General Lindile Yam (born 8 August 1960) is the former SANDF Chief of staff and former Chief of the South African Army.
Career
He joined Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC, in 1981 and became part of the South African National Defence Force in 1994 when all the forces were integrated.
He served as Officer Commanding of 13 South African Infantry Battalion from November 1994 to November 1997.
He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1995 for a Global Security Strategy Course.
He served as the 18th Commandant of the South African Military Academy from 2009 to 2011.
He was promoted to major general and was appointed as the 3rd GOC South African Army Infantry Formation on 1 November 2011. He formally took over command on 2 March 2012 at a parade at the SA Army College in Thaba Tshwane.
He was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of the South African Army in January 2016. In November 2019 he was appointed SANDF chief of staff. He left the SANDF in August 2022.
Awards and decorations
Conspicuous Leadership Star (CLS)
Merit Medal (Silver) (MMS)
Operational Medal for Southern Africa
South Africa Service Medal
Unitas (Unity) Medal
Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) (30 Year Clasp)
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
Service Medal (Bronze)
Order of Military Merit (Grand Officer - Grande-Oficial)