After providing a brief background as to why issues of diversity management<br />within armed forces have become important internationally, this article outlines the<br />diversity challenges facing the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).<br />The first part of the article describes how the racial, language/ethnic and gender<br />profile of the SANDF has changed since 1994 and the tensions this has evoked. The<br />second part provides a brief conceptual framework against which diversity<br />management in the SANDF can be interpreted, whereafter the various diversity<br />management programmes instituted over the years to cultivate a respect for diversity<br />are outlined. It is argued that the predominant emphasis on ‘workplace diversity’ at<br />the cost of ‘valuing diversity’ has meant that existing stereotypes and tensions<br />within the ranks have remained, with dire consequences not only for the<br />cohesiveness and effectiveness of the SANDF, but also for civil-military relations.