Bubele Mhlana

Rear Admiral Bubele Kitie Mhlana is the current serving Deputy Chief of the South African Navy, he was also the longest serving Flag Officer Fleet. He has had numerous Commands of South African warships including being the first black South African naval Officer to Command a Valour-class Frigate, the SAS ISANDLWANA F146, then later SAS MENDI F148.

He was born in the Ngangelizwe township in Mthatha.

Military career
He is a former Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) operative and joined the South African Navy in 1994. He assumed command of the minesweeper SAS Kapa in 2003

In 1999 he attended the Officers Course at the South African Naval College and spent 9 months attending the International Principal Warfare Officer (A) course with the British Royal Navy.

He commanded the Valour Class Frigate SAS Isandlwana (F146) in 2007 In 2009 he attended the United States Naval War College He then commanded SAS Mendi (F148) as well as serving as Commander of the Frigate Squadron

He was appointed Flag Officer Fleet and promoted to rear admiral in 2014 In 2020 he was appointed Chief of Staff for the SANDF Joint Operations Division and Deputy Chief of the Navy from 1 February 2023. .

Honours and awards


In 2012 he was awarded the Tamandaré Medal of Merit from Brazil.