Aged 86, Viljoen died at his farm in Mpumalanga on Friday, the presidency said in a statement.

"The president has offered his sincere condolences to Mrs Risti Viljoen and the immediate and extended family of the late general, as well as his friends and political associates."

Ramaphosa said Viljoen would be remembered for "influencing conservative movements" into abandoning plans for military resistance to the democratic transition.

“General Viljoen’s principal contribution was his success in demobilising conservative resistance to the transition in our country at a critical point in our history. He risked alienation by his community and longstanding supporters by mobilising conservative groupings to participate in the political and constitutional negotiations that yielded our democratic dispensation.

“His transition from a military commander to a voice in our democratic Parliament illustrated the inclusive, diverse, and tolerant character of our constitutional dispensation and body politics,” Ramaphosa said.

African News Agency