Constand Viljoen

General Constand Laubscher Viljoen SSA SD SOE SM MMM (28 October 1933  3 April 2020) was a South African military commander and politician. He co-founded the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later founded the Freedom Front (which in turn merged into the Freedom Front Plus before the 2004 election). He is partly credited with having prevented the outbreak of armed violence by disaffected white South Africans prior to post-apartheid general elections.

Constand Viljoen
SSA SD SOE SM MMM
Viljoen in 1985
Leader of the Freedom Front
In office
1 March 1994  26 June 2001
Preceded byParty established
Succeeded byPieter Mulder
Member of Parliament
In office
1994–2001
Personal details
Born
Constand Laubscher Viljoen

(1933-10-28)28 October 1933
Standerton, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
Died3 April 2020(2020-04-03) (aged 86)
Ohrigstad, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Resting placeBet-El farm, Ohrigstad
Political partyFreedom Front Plus (1994–2001)
Other political
affiliations
National Party (pre–1994)
Spouse
Christina "Ristie" Heckroodt
(m. 1957)
Relations
  • Braam Viljoen (twin brother)
  • Andries Carel Viljoen 1889–1947 (father)
  • Geesie Maria Viljoen née Kotzé 1905–1990 (mother)
Children5
ResidenceBet-El
Alma materUniversity of Pretoria
OccupationSoldier, farmer and politician
ProfessionGunner, artilleryman
Civilian awards
Military service
AllegianceSouth Africa
Branch/serviceSouth African Army
Years of service1956–1985
RankGeneral
Unit4 Field Regiment
Commands
  • Chief of the South African Defence Force
  • Chief of the Army
  • GOC I South African Corps
  • Director of General Operations
  • Director of Artillery
  • OC South African Army College
  • Second in command Orange Free State Command
  • OC School of Artillery
  • OC 14 Field Regiment
  • Battery Commander 10 Field Battery, 4 Field Regiment
  • Chief Instructor Gunnery, School of Artillery & Armour
Battles/wars
  • South African Border War
  • Operation Savannah
Military awards

  • Paratrooper Basic
  • Master Gunner Badge
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