{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use South African English|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Major General | name = Gerrit Nicolaas Opperman | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SD|SM|MMM}} | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1945|07|27}} | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} death date first, then birth date --> | birth_place = Johannesburg | death_place = | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = Gert | birth_name = | allegiance = {{ZAF}} | branch = {{army|South Africa}} | service_years = {{circa|1966}}{{snd}}August 1996<ref name=SAMVOA>{{cite web|title=Major General Gert Opperman to visit Australia as SAMVOA Guest of Honour. |url=http://www.samvoa.org/news.html#gmgo |website=SAMVOA |accessdate=26 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222212328/http://samvoa.org/news.html |archivedate=22 February 2015 }}</ref> | rank = Major General | service_number = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records. --> | unit = | commands = {{plainlist| * OC Northern Transvaal Command * OC Sector 70 (Eastern Caprivi) }} | battles = | battles_label = | awards = {{MilAward Stack|SD |SM |MMM |PP |SAM |GSM |Unitas |GoodServiceG |GoodServiceS |GoodServiceB |OOMMCHL1 |size=x12px}}x12px | memorials = | spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced --> | relations = | other_work = | signature = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = }} Major General '''Gerrit Nicolaas Opperman''' (Gert) {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|SD|SM|MMM|SAStC}} was a General Officer in the South African Army.
==Early life== General Gert Opperman was born on 27 July 1945 in Johannesburg.<ref name=OppermanWWSA>{{cite web|title=Gert Opperman - Who's Who SA|url=http://whoswho.co.za/gerrit-opperman-3336|access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>
==Career== He served as spokesman for the Malan family on the death of Magnus Malan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obituary: Former defence minister Magnus Malan|url=http://www.witness.co.za/?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=64883|website=The Witness|publisher=SAPA|access-date=26 January 2015|date=19 July 2011}}</ref>
== Courses == * {{lang|es|Escuala de Defensa National}} (Joint Warfare qualification) Completed 1975<ref name=OppermanWWSA /> * {{lang|es|Escuela de Estado Mayor}} (Command and Staff qualification) Completed 1975<ref name=OppermanWWSA />
== Posts held == Gen Opperman has held the following posts:<ref name=OppermanWWSA /> * {{Timeline-event|date=2005{{snd}}present|event=Chief Executive Officer {{ndash}} The Research Trust}} * {{Timeline-event|date=2003{{snd}}present|event=Managing Director {{ndash}} VTM Projects (Pty) Ltd, Pretoria}} * {{Timeline-event|date=2003{{snd}}present|event=Executive Trustee {{ndash}} Voortrekker Monument Trust, Pretoria}} * {{Timeline-event|date=2003{{snd}}present|event=Council Member {{ndash}} Voortrekker Museum}} * {{Timeline-event|date=2002{{snd}}present|event=Chief Executive Officer {{ndash}} Heritage Foundation}} * {{Timeline-event|date=1998{{snd}}2000|event=Member {{ndash}} Gert Opperman Consulting cc}} * {{Timeline-event|date=1996{{snd}}1998|event=Managing Director {{ndash}} Guards Division, Coin Security Group}} * {{Timeline-event|date=1994{{snd}}1996|event=Chief Director {{ndash}} Corporate Communication, SANDF}} * {{Timeline-event|date=1988{{snd}}1993|event=OC Northern Transvaal Command, SANDF}} * {{Timeline-event|date=1987{{snd}}2000|event=Executive Chairman/Convenor, Club Gerbera}} * {{Timeline-event|date=1983{{snd}}1988|event=Military Secretary {{ndash}} DOD}}
==Awards== Maj Gen Opperman has received the following awards during his career:
===Medals and decorations=== * International Orders * {{MilAward Desc|SD|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|SM|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|MMM|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|PP|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|SAM|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|GSM|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|Unitas|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|GoodServiceG|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|GoodServiceS|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|GoodServiceB|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|OOMMCHL1|country=ZAR|x22px}} * x22px Chilean Star of Military Merit
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}} {{s-ttl | title = OC Northern Transvaal Command | years = 1988{{ndash}}1993}} {{s-aft | after = Hennie Schultz}} {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}} {{s-ttl | title = Chief Director {{ndash}} Corporate Communication, SANDF | years = 1994{{ndash}}1996}} {{s-aft | after = Andrew Masondo}} {{s-break}} {{s-vac|unknown}} {{s-ttl | title = Military Secretary {{ndash}} DOD | years = 1983{{ndash}}1988}} {{s-aft | after = Roelf Beukes}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Opperman, Gerrit Nicolaas}} Category:South African Army generals Category:Living people Category:1945 births Category:Military personnel from Johannesburg