Lawrence Mbatha

{{Short description|South African general}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use South African English|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = Lieutenant General | name = Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = AFRICOM SANDF Accountability Colloquium 2020 (49612613168).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1968}} | death_date =  | birth_place = Kimberly, Northern Cape | death_place = | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = | birth_name = | allegiance = {{ZAF}} | branch = {{army|South Africa}} | service_years = | rank = Lieutenant general | service_number =  | unit = 3 SA Infantry Battalion | commands = {{plainlist | * Chief of the South African Army * GOC South African National Defence Force Training Command * Commandant SA Military Academy * OC SA Army Gymnasium * OC ASB Johannesburg }} | battles = | battles_label = | awards = {{MilAward Stack|MKOPSA |MKSASM |Unitas |GoodServiceB|size=x12px}}{{efn|name=MedalList}} | memorials = | spouse =  | relations = | other_work = | signature = | website =  | module = }}

'''Lawrence Mbatha''' is the current chief of the South African Army. He was appointed to this position in April 2020. Before being appointed Chief of the Army he was the general officer commanding of the South African National Defence Force Training Command and before that he was the 19th commandant of the South African Military Academy.

== Military career == He joined Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1984 and completed courses in Angola and Zimbabwe.<ref name="Weslander">{{cite web | url=http://www.weslander.co.za/31553/news-details/academy-under-new-command | title=ACADEMY UNDER NEW COMMAND | publisher=Weslander | date=August 20, 2012 | access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref>

He integrated into the South African National Defence Force in 1994 and served as a company commander at 3 SA Infantry Battalion.

He was promoted to colonel in 2003. In 2003 he served as officer commanding of the General Support Base in Johannesburg, followed by an appointment as principal staff officer to the chief of the Army (2007) before serving as officer commanding of the South African Army Gymnasium in 2011. During this time he completed the British Army Staff Course. He was promoted to brigadier general in 2012. Commandant of the South African Military Academy in 2012–2018. GOC Training Command at Human Resources Division from 2018 to 2020.

== Awards == General Mbatha wears the following medals:{{efn|name=MedalList|This list ({{as of|2023|03|29}}) was taken from [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AFRICOM_SANDF_Accountability_Colloquium_2020_%2849612613168%29.jpg] 50px}} * {{MilAward Desc|MKOPSA|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|MKSASM|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|Unitas|x25px}} * {{MilAward Desc|GoodServiceB|x25px}}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef| before = Thabiso Mokhosi }} {{s-ttl | title = Chief of the Army| years = 2020{{ndash}}}} {{s-inc| }} {{s-bef | before = Gordon Yekelo}} {{s-ttl | title = GOC Training Command| years = 2017{{ndash}}2020}} {{s-aft | after = Xolani Mankayi}} {{s-bef | before = Lindile Yam}} {{s-ttl | title = Commandant of the Military Academy | years = 2012{{ndash}}2017}} {{s-aft |after= Gerald Pharo}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbatha, Lawrence}} Category:Living people Category:South African Army generals Category:Graduates of the Joint Services Command and Staff College Category:UMkhonto we Sizwe personnel Category:1968 births