In 1994 when the SADF was merged with various other military and armed resistance forces as part of the post-apartheid reforms the SAMS became the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force.
[4] Over the years, the following Corps formed part of the South African Army: In the late 1970's before the establishment of the South African Medical Service as an independent Arm of Service, the SA Army's Medical Corps' mobile elements were organised as follows: Assigned to 1 SA Corps: Assigned to 7 South African Infantry Division: as divisional troops, while each brigade had assigned a field ambulance unit (numbered 71, 72 and 73 respectively).
The SAMS was established in July 1979 as a service branch of the SADF.
[5] The establishment combined the medical services of the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
[1] The role of the SAMS was to provide health and medical support services to the SADF, it included a veterinary section that looked after dogs and horses.