Editing Sergeant major (section)

===South Africa===
[[File:PRE 1994 SOUTH AFRICAN WO1 BADGE.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Warrant officer class 1 rank badge 1951–2002]]
[[File:PRE 1994 SOUTH AFRICAN WO2 BADGE.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Warrant officer class 2 rank badge 1951–2002]]

As described above, sergeant-major is not a [[South African military ranks|rank]], but an appointment held by a warrant officer class 1 or warrant officer class 2. Regardless of the appointment, the warrant officer is addressed as "sergeant-major" (''sersant-majoor'' in [[Afrikaans]]).

The rank was established in the [[Union Defence Force (South Africa)|Union Defence Forces]] in 1913, in a single class. The rank badge was a crown, senior appointments being indicated by a wreath around the badge.<ref name=mil>Radburn, A. (1990) 'South African Military Ranks and Insignia' in ''Militaria'' Vol 20 No 2</ref>

The rank was divided into two classes in 1921. The national coat of arms was assigned as the badge of the 1st class, and the crown was assigned to the 2nd class. In both classes, senior appointments were indicated by a wreath around the badge.<ref name=mil />

From 1957 to 2002, all warrant officers 1st class wore the wreathed coat of arms, and the warrant officer 2nd class wore the plain coat of arms.<ref name=mil /> Since 2002, all warrant officers have worn the new national coat of arms, the classes and appointments being indicated by the shape of the surrounding frame, and the addition of stars and crossed swords above the arms.

Up until 1 June 2008, the highest appointment (level 1), that was held by a warrant officer class 1 was the Sergeant-Major of the [[South African National Defence Force]].

Other senior warrant officer appointments up until 1 June 2008 were:

* Level 2: Sergeant-Major of the [[South African Army|Army]]
* Level 3: Formation sergeant-major
* Level 4: Group or base sergeant-major or regimental sergeant-major<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mil.za/aboutus/uniform/rankinsignia.htm|title=home|website=www.army.mil.za|access-date=12 November 2008|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020110337/http://www.army.mil.za/aboutus/uniform/rankinsignia.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[South African Air Force]] had a similar structure for its warrant officers who are also addressed as "sergeant-major".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html|title=SAAF Rank Insignia|website=www.af.mil.za|access-date=12 November 2008|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101003057/http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Starting 1 June 2008, the warrant ranks (Army/ Navy/ Air Force) are:

* Master chief warrant officer (formerly level 1)—''e.g. Master Chief Warrant Officer of the South African National Defence Force''
* Senior chief warrant officer (formerly level 2)—''e.g. Senior Chief Warrant Officer of the South African Army''
* Chief warrant officer (formerly level 3)
* Master warrant officer (formerly level 4A)
* Senior warrant officer (formerly level 4)
* Warrant officer class one
* Warrant officer class two

A company/squadron/battery sergeant major should ordinarily be a WO2.