(2) Subject to section twenty-five and to any regulations made in terms of section one hundred and thirteen, the Minister may place on a retired list any officer of the rank of — (a) major, in the case of an officer in the Army; or (b) squadron leader, in the case of an officer in the Air Force; or any lower commissioned rank. (3) Any officer placed on a retired list in terms of this section shall be entitled to retain his rank and wear uniform on appropriate occasions. 17 Resignation of officers (1) An officer may, in writing, tender the resignation of his commission to the Commander but shall not, unless otherwise ordered by the Minister, be relieved of the duties of his appointment until he has received notification in writing that his resignation has been accepted by the President. (2) An officer who resigns his commission in terms of subsection (1) and resigns from his employment in the Defence Forces in terms of any regulations shall not be exempt from any service in the Reserve Force to which he may be liable under this Act. 18 Cancellation of commission and discharge of officer (1) Subject to this section, an officer shall hold his commission during the pleasure of the President. (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), the President shall not cancel the commission of an officer unless the Commander — (a) has notified the officer of any complaint or charge made against him and the action proposed to be taken and has given him an opportunity to make representations in regard thereto; and (b) after considering any representations made in terms of paragraph (a ) and conducting an inquiry, if he considers it necessary or expedient for the purpose, has recommended the cancellation of the officer’s commission. (3) Subsection (2) shall not apply to an officer who— (a) has been absent from duty without leave for a period of at least three months; or (b) on attestation made any false statement or concealed any material fact; or (c) was commissioned on attestation and has been commissioned for a period of less than one year. (4) The President shall cancel the commission of an officer if the officer has been sentenced to be cashiered or to have his commission cancelled in terms of paragraph ( c) of subsection (1) of section seventy and the sentence has been confirmed by the confirming authority and has not been set aside on appeal in terms of section eighty-two. (5) A person who has had his commission cancelled in terms of this section shall be discharged by the Commander from the Defence Forces. 19 Appointment, promotion, reduction in rank and dismissal of non-commissioned members The power to appoint, temporarily appoint, promote, reduce in rank or dismiss a non -commissioned officer shall vest, subject to this Act, in the Commander of the Army or the Commander of the Air Force, as may be appropriate. 20 Appointment or promotion for distinguished service Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, the President may, on the advice of the Minister acting on the recommendation of the Commander, reward any member of the Defence Forces for distinguished service or gallant conduct on active service by appointing him to commissioned rank or, if he is an officer, by promoting him to higher rank. 21 Acting rank The Commander may appoint any member to act in a higher rank in accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed. 22 Policy directive and general considerations re appointments and promotions (1) The President may give general directions of policy to the Minister and the Commander with the object of achieving a suitable representation of the various elements of the population in the Defence Forces, and the Minister or the Commander, as the case may be, shall take all necessary steps to comply with any such direction. (2) Subject to subsection (1), when considering candidates for appointments and promotions in the Defence Forces, the Commander or the Minister, as the case may be, shall have regard to the performance of candidates in examinations and the results of performance appraisals. 23 Reduction in rank of non-commissioned officers (1) Any non-commissioned officer who— (a) is sentenced by a court martial to be reduced in rank shall be reduced in rank by the Commander in accordance with the sentence, if it has been confirmed by the confirming authority and has not been set aside on appeal in terms of section eighty-two; or