President Ramaphosa mourns passing of Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Mokhosi
President of the Republic of South Africa and Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the family and friends of Lieutenant General Thabiso Mokhosi, Chief of the South African Army, who passed away today, 10 December 2019, in a Pretoria hospital.
Lieutenant General Mokhosi was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, allowing him to fill the post of Chief of the Army in October 2019. Prior to his appointment, he served as the General Officer Commanding of Joint Operations Division.
Lieutenant General Mokhosi completed his basic military training in 1985 in Angola. In the following year, he moved on to an advanced engineering demolition course at Simferopol Military Combined Arms College in the Ukraine where he completed courses on operational command and control of mechanised infantry forces.
He later completed the ASC-6 course in operational logistics at ASC School in Bareilly, Italy in 1992 before returning to South Africa.
In 1999 he completed the strategic leadership course at the SA Army Peace Mission Training Centre in Thaba Tshwane.
Lieutenant General Mokhosi later completed the Joint Command Staff Duties programme at the SA Army College and the Joint Senior Command and Staff programme in 2003 at the SA War College.
He also successfully completed the then Executive National Strategic programme, now the Security and Defence Studies programme, at the SA Defence College. He completed the International Security and Strategy course in 2010 at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.
The President has said the passing of Lieutenant General Mokhosi is a heart wrenching loss to the South African National Defence Force as it comes at a time when his dedicated and exemplary service was needed most. The President has also extended his condolences to the South African Army and the Defence family as a whole.
Media enquiries:
Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President
Cell: 072 854 5707
