General Rudolph Christiaan Hiemstra SSA SM (10 March 1912[1] – 26 July 2007) was a South African Air Force commander who served as Commandant General of the South African Defence Force.

He did not serve in the Second World War because of his political opposition to South Africa's involvement in the war and sympathy for Nazi Germany, and was transferred to the civil service, from which he returned to the defence force when the National Party government came to power in 1948.

[4] Among other appointments, he was officer commanding 2 Squadron SAAF, The Flying Cheetahs.

The Commandant General, as permanent head of the Department of Defence as well as of the South African Defence Force filled the post of Commandant General, which post embraced the functions signified by the former dual title.

[4] He was also awarded the Southern Cross Medal and appointed a Knight of the Order of Prince Henry from Portugal.