Lieutenant-General Derick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi

Lieutenant-General Derick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi was appointed Chief of Joint Operations in October 2011 after starting his military career 33 years earlier as a recruit. He holds a diploma in Defence Management from the University of Witwatersrand, together with a certificate in International Business Communications and a degree in Business Administration from the University of South Africa. His military education includes courses for platoon commander, company commander, unit commander, special forces, junior and senior command and joint staff duties.

From 1995 to 1997 Lieutenant-General Derick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi served as military secretary to the Minister of Defence. This was followed by two years as the General Officer Commanding Mpumalanga Command, and appointments as the General Officer Commanding Infantry Formation, and the General Officer Commanding Joint Operations at Headquarters. Other leadership roles include serving as force commander of the African Mission and of the United Nations Mission in Burundi, and as chief director of Army Force Preparations.