SSAA SSOOLLDDIIEERR - dod.mil.za · Quality Military Training ... is the name of the game ... hahlo ya bo mahlwabadibona ntweng sešoleng eo e bego e swer- ... the aforementioned

SA SOLDIERSA SOLDIERThe official monthly magazine of the SA Department of Defence

Letters:feedback from our readers

Meet onpeace efforts

Workshop forMilitary Veterans

Minister visits SADCpeacekeeping centre

Trafalgar 200

Saluting our formerand new Surgeon Generals

Remembering fallen heroes in Delville Wood

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20 Ethics andCharacter development

Air Power - A Force For Peace

Quality Military Training ... is the name of the game

World Military Boxing Championships

Buildingtheir bodies

Another feat forSANDF paratroopers

Invitation to attendSA Armour Symposium

Recruiting prospective candidates to the DOD

SA and France Technology and Industry Seminar

New Warrant Officerfor the SAMHS

Know your military observers

GoingJoint

Adding valueto our Ministry

Hosting an Equity Workshop

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STREET ADDRESSDefence Headquartersc/o Nossob and Boeing StErasmuskloofPRETORIA

POSTAL ADDRESSSA SOLDIERPrivate Bag X158PRETORIA, 0001

TELEPHONETel: 012 355 6341 Fax: 012 355 6399email: [email protected]: www.mil.za/magazines/sasoldier

EDITORIAL STAFFEditor: Ms Nelda Pienaar

Editorial Staff: Ms Nomonde Vuthela F Sgt David NomtshongwanaCPO Dennis NdabaSgt Lebohang Letaoana

Text Editor: Mr Eugene Muller

CONTRIBUTIONS: Although all possible care is takenwith articles, the editorial staff cannot take any responsibility forlost articles and photographs.

Reproduction & Printing:Formeset Printers Johannesburg(Pty) Ltd, 44-66 Wriggle Road, Heriotdale, Ext 13, 2094Tel: +27 11 626 1330/2/3Fax: +27 11 626 1331

Translation Directorate LanguageConsultant: Services

Photo Processing:5 ASU Photo Section

Distribution: Mr Jim Tshabalala Tel: 012 355 6341

Layout & Design: Mr Werner v/d Westhuizen

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EDITORIAL BOARDBrig Gen K.D. Mangope (Chairperson)Col L. XabanisaMs N. Pienaar

Lt Col A. RademeyerLt Col F. SiyongwanaCdr B. StocktonMaj T.W. CheelaMaj J. du Toit

Ms J. RenderMr W. van der WesthuizenF Sgt D. NomtshongwanaCPO D. Ndaba (Secretary)

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SA SOLDIER is published monthly - 12 issues per year. The views and opinionsexpressed by the authors of articles are those of the authors and do not necessarilyrepresent those of the Department of Defence (DOD). Acceptance and publicationof advertorial and advertising matter in SA SOLDIER does not constitute DODendorsement or warranty in respect of goods or services therein described. TheDOD does not assume any liability in respect of any claims made in advertise-ments.COPYRIGHT: No article or picture in this magazine may be reproduced withoutthe written consent of the Editor.

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S EP T E M B E R 2 0 0 5 S A S O L D I E R

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Move over Makhaya Ntini: the Chiefof the SA Navy, V Adm Johannes(Refiloe) Mudimu, is the new acquisition for the Proteas. V Adm Mudimu took time off fromhis hectic schedule to play cricketin a test between the members ofthe Naval Board and the ArmscorBoard held at the Armscor SportsGrounds in Pretoria on 13 May2005. This match fostered andstrengthened existing ties betweenthe two organisations. (Photo: F Sgt Amelda Strydom)

For the latest news on defence matters in South Africa, visit our website at: www.mil.za/magazines/sasoldier

FRONT COVER We salute our new Surgeon General - Lt Gen VejaynandRamlakan. Please read more about the change of command parade on pages 16and 17. (Photo: F Sgt David Nomtshongwana)

ABOVE, RIGHT: Sebastian Köber from Germany (left) and Jackie Saye Srfrom the USA competing in the 91+ category. Read more about the biggestamateur boxing event ever presented in South Africa on pages 42 and 43.(Collage: Courtesy Visual Communication)

Another six!

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From the Editor's desk

elcome to our first spring edition packed withgood news and informative brain food! SASOLDIER wants to congratulate Lt GenVejaynand Ramlakan on his appointment asour new Surgeon General. According to MajGen Mohato Mofokeng (the Chief DefenceCorporate Communication) Lt Gen RinusJansen van Rensburg, the outgoing Surgeon

General, has been earmarked as Chief of Corporate Staff inthe SANDF. Please read more about the change of com-mand parade on pages 16 and 17.

South Africa hosted the 26th SADC Inter-State Defenceand Security Committee (ISDSC) meeting, which wasattended by the SADC Ministers of Defence, Security,Home Affairs and Intelligence and which was convened todiscuss peace efforts in the Great Lakes Region, progresswith regard to the SADC Brigade and the African Union'sStandby Force and the Regional Early Warning Systems.

The Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, the currentISDSC Chairperson, said: "Despite the complexity of theissues facing the continent, Africa was, however, makingheadway in ridding itself of conflicts. This was evidentfrom the recent positive milestones in the DemocraticRepublic of Congo (DRC), the Sudan and Burundi." Pleaseread more about the commitment to the consolidation ofdemocracy and governance in our region on page 9.

Another important event on the DOD calendar was theworkshop for military veterans, which was held to discussissues relating to their welfare. Read more about this eventon pages 10 and 11.

The SANDF recently hosted the 49th CISM World MilitaryBoxing Championships. This was the biggest amateur box-ing event ever presented in South Africa. The tournamenthad 33 international boxing teams (220 athletes) compet-ing in eleven categories over a period of seven days. SASOLDIER wants to congratulate our boxers on keepingour flag flying high and for promoting the CISM motto:Friendship through Sport. You were true South Africanambassadors - you made us proud! Read more about thishistorically important sporting phenomenon on pages 42and 43.

Nelda PienaarEditor

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Go tšwa go morulaganyi

e a amogelwa kgatišong ya rena ya mathomo mo setl-heng se sa ngwaga yeo e tletšego ka ditaba tše di bose tšago sedimoša megopolo ya rena. SA SOLDIER e rata golakaletša Lt Gen Vejaynand Ramlakan mošomong wagagwe wo moswa bjaloka Surgeon General. Go ya kaMaj Gen Mohato Mofokeng yo e lego motsamaisi mogo-lo wa Defence Corporate Communication, Lt Gen RinusJansen van Rensburg, yo a tlogelago maemo a gagwe a

boSurgeon General o hlaotšwe go ba motsamaishi mogolo waCorporate Staff ka gare go SANDF. Ka kgopelo balang ka botla-lo mo matlakaleng a, 16 le 17 mabapi le phareiti ya taelano lekamogelo.

Afrika Borwa e be e le monggae wa SADC Inter-State Defenceya bo26 le kopano ya Security Committee (ISDSC) yeo e biled-itšwego go tlo ahlaahla tša bohlolakhutšo seleteng sa GreatLakes, kgatelopele ya SADC Brigade, African Union StandingForce le Regional Early Warning Systems mme yona etsenetšwe ke Ditona tša Dikgoro tše: Tšhireletšo, Polokano,Merero ya ka Gare ga Naga le Bohlodi.

Tona ya tša Tšhireletšo, Mor. Mosiuoa Lekota, Modulasetulo wabjale wa ISDSC, o rile: Ntle le mathata a ditaba ao kontinente elebanego nao, Afrika e ntše e katana le go fediša diphapano. Sese tšwetše pepeneneng malobanyana mo ka dikgatelopele kwaDemocratic Republic ya Congo (DRC), Sudan le Burundi. Kakgopelo balang ka botlalo letlakaleng la, 9 mabapi le boikgafobja go kopantšha temokrasi le bobuši seleteng sa rena.

Tiragalo engwe e bohlokwa khalentareng ya DOD ke kopanotl-hahlo ya bo mahlwabadibona ntweng sešoleng eo e bego e swer-we go ahlaahla ditaba tša go amana le tša boiphedišo. Balang kabotlalo mabapi le tiragalo ye mo matlakaleng a, 10 le 11.

Malobanyana mo SANDF e be e le monggae wa CISM WorldMilitary Boxing Championships ya bo49. Ye e be e le tiragalo yabomaithutwane e kgolo yeo e kilego ya ba gona mo AfrikaBorwa. Phadišano e be e na le dihlopha tše 33 tša boramatsweleba boditšhabatšhaba ( batšeakarolo ba 220) bao ba phadišanagomagorong a lesometee mo lebakeng la matšatši a šupa. SA SOL-DIER e rata go tumiša boramatswele ba rena ba go phagamišafolaga ya rena le go tšwetša pele moeno wa CISM: Segwera kaDipapadi. Le be le le batseta ba mmakgonthe ba Afrika Borwa -re ikgantšha ka lena! Balang ka botlalo mabapi le tiragalo ye yadipapadi ya histori mo matlakaleng a, 42 le 43.

Nelda PienaarMorulaganyi

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AfricanDefenceSystemsAdvert

(Repeat Aug 05 advert)page 47 - now page 5

Winning letter


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feedback

Second decade of defence in a democracy

R200-00 prize for the best letterSA SOLDIER welcomes letters to the Editor. Short letters are more likely to be pub-lished, and all letters may be edited for reasons of style, accuracy or space limita-tions. Letters should preferably be typewritten and double-spaced. All letters mustinclude the writer's full name, address and home telephone number. The volume ofletters we receive makes individual acknowledgement impossible. Please sendyour letters to: The Editor, SA SOLDIER Letters, Private Bag X158, Pretoria, 0001.Letters may also be faxed to (012) 355-6399 or sent via email to [email protected] would like to hear your comments or ideas, particularly about matters affectingmembers of the Department of Defence. Regrettably, anonymous letters cannot beanswered officially or published - Editor.

Of all the gifts life sends us, the bigones and the small, the gift of loving isthe greatest of them all. As membersof the DOD/SANDF, we serve in avery proud institution unified by onecommon military culture and sharedvalues. Let us all be the shining starsthat provide a direction as we marchin the valley of hope towards a betterfuture.

Let us be neighbours to all in needand help to set them free from allkinds of bondage-bondage to sin, dis-aster, disease, hunger, exploitation,oppression, injustice and all thatwould make them less than what Godintended them to be. When you look

Flaws in the article published in theJune 2005 edition of SA SOLDIER onpage 28 on the Freedom Day celebra-tions: IsiXhosa version refers.

I want to believe that the DOD iscapacitated with expertise with regardto language practitioners, inter alia,Directorate Language.

However, the aforementioned arti-cle is a cause for concern due to its col-loquial nature.

This brings one to believe that ourindigenous African languages are nottaken seriously, if at all they are notbeing deliberately trivialised.

Personally, I am no expert in thelanguage, but by any stroke of imagi-nation, the language written in yourarticle cannot be IsiXhosa. No validform of justification can suffice giventhe aforementioned conditions andtaking into consideration thatIsiXhosa is one of the most developedAfrican languages in Africa.

Not contempt with translation

at someone with the eyes of love, yousee a reality different from that ofsomeone who looks at the same per-son with hatred or indifference. Let uslook at our neighbours with eyes oflove. Let the beauty of the Lord beseen in us and let us be neighbours toall in need who God's love will showus.

Without hope, faith and love ourdreams are lost. Without faith in our-selves and in God the lessons of lifeare wasted. Without love we are noth-ing. To know and to love each other isthe only way we learn about who weare.

Let us give God only the best and,

having done so, we must leave theresults to Him.

When we have done our best inwhatever we do, then success and fail-ure are for God to determine. It isalways God who gives the increase inwhatever we do.

Let us not grow tired of being help-ful and let us not lose heart with beinghopeful. Let us go on trying to bedecent and go on working to be kind.

At the beginning of the seconddecade of freedom and democratic inour country may the good tidings ofthe years that lie ahead be with you -Rfn A.M. Rakoma, Reserve Forcemember.

This anomaly needs to beaddressed as a matter of extremeurgency. This could have a demoralis-ing effect on the target audience,defeat the very ends for which it wasintended, and thus water down theclarion call made by the President topromote indigenous languages.

Your assistance in this regard willbe highly appreciated - Maj X.P. Mbekeni, SO1 MilitaryVeterans Administration, Pretoria.

* The Director Corporate Communi-cation would like to respond officially tothe concerns expressed about the translat-ed version of the article, which appeared inthe June 2005 edition of SA SOLDIER onpage 28 on the Freedom Day celebrations.

It is with regret that we received theletter about the article translated intoIsiXhosa published in SA SOLDIER. Thearticle was labelled as undesirable becauseof its colloquial nature. We take notice of

the author's concerns. Our intention wasto meet the imperatives and instructionsthat all the Department of Defence's pub-lications, including SA SOLDIER maga-zine ought to cater for our indigenousAfrican languages. It was obviously notthe intention to deliberately trivialise anyof the African languages; rather it wasmeant to promote them.

We must equally be cautious when wespeak and write any language at any time,and also take into consideration that ourlanguages are important and are extreme-ly sensitive.

We have to be accommodating in ourunderstanding because possibly theIsiXhosa written or spoken by a Xhosaspeaking person residing in provincesother than Northern Cape or/and EasternCape differs from region to region.

We fully support the President's clar-ion call to promote indigenous languagesto the best of our abilities and to carry outthis mammoth communication task. Weinvite constructive criticism from ourreadership and we will in turn improveand deliver the goods as expected of SASOLDIER.

Defence Corporate Communicationand the Editorial Board of SA SOLDIERare engaged in processes of setting up thenecessary communication structures inconjunction with the relevant organisa-tions to avoid any pitfalls in regard tomatters of content management - Lt Col F.Siyongwana, A/SSO Comm Info.


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Committed to developmentI whould like to congratulate you andyour staff on the quality and relevanceof articles in the new SA SOLDIER. Iwork at the Directorate BehaviouralRenewal at Army Office where we arecommitted to the development of ourDefence Force through the develop-

ment of its people. We feel that SASOLDIER is a partner in our effort toinform our people so that we can makebetter decisions.

I would thus like to contribute anarticle on military ethics and principle-based leadership. I hope you find it

suitable for publishing - Capt EsterKruger, SO2 Research, Training andDevelopment: LCAMPS.

* Your article on military ethics andprinciple-based leadership is printed onpages 33 to 35 - Ed.

A poet in disorderBy Lebohang LetaoanaPhoto: F Sgt Amelda Strydom

Jarret Clark, alias The Druid of Centurion, launched hisvolume of poetry at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria on 2June 2005. The launch was in conjunction with theCuramus Association.

Jarret used to work at Chief Director CorporateCommunication as a photojournalist for the periodicalPARATUS (later called SALUT and now known as SASOLDIER). His poems are primarily satirical and lyricaland written in a free style.

The Curamus Association CEO, Mr Rassie Erasmus,said his organisation was very proud of Jarret's successand that he wanted him to be the voice of the Association."It is my most ardent wish that this book and photographwill inspire my fellow people with mental illness to con-quer their disabilities and inspire them to achieve suc-cess, no matter what the circumstances," said Jarret.

In 1995 Jarret fell ill and he was later diagnosed withparanoid schizophrenia. When his condition deteriorat-ed, he was medically boarded. "As an artist I communi-cate through poetry, prose, painting, wood carving andthe spoken word. I often combined these skills to reachmy objectives and to strengthen the argument," saidJarret.

Altogether 36 poems are in English and 33 inAfrikaans. Although the tone of this work is satirical andemotional, an attempt is also made to lighten the moodby means of humorous and descriptive poetry.

The volumes of poetry are for sale @ R60-00 per copy.They may be ordered directly from the author via email:[email protected] or from the Huis vir AfrikaansePoësie, 115 Malherbe Street, Capitol Park, or he can bephoned at cell no: 072 232 1917.

Jarret Clark (left) presented Brig Gen Johan Beyers (Ret)with one of the volumes of poetry at the launch.

I wish to extend my appreciation and a word of thanksfor favouring this Office with a copy of the much antici-pated SA SOLDIER magazine.

It behoves me to congratulate you on the excellentresearch and editorial quality underscoring each andevery article and, in the same vein, renew my support tothe Editorial Board and staff in their future endeavours -D. Dosoruth, Head of Mission (Mauritius HighCommission).

Praiseworthy


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tribute

The following speech was delivered byV Adm Johannes (Refiloe) Mudimu,the Chief of the SA Navy, during abreakfast hosted by the MilitaryCouncil for the farewell to GeneralSiphiwe Nyanda, the former Chief ofthe SANDF, held on 26 May 2005:

"It is a pleasure for me to be presentat this farewell breakfast for GeneralNyanda and I have the privilege of say-ing a few words about this outstandingmilitary leader of our Defence Force,and in particular our nation. General,you were given the helm to steer ournewly formed National Defence Forcethrough an extremely difficult periodof uncertainties and drastic changes.Integration had not yet been concludedand transformation was under way.This trying period required a leaderwith a clear vision, a leader blessedwith wisdom and endurance to drivethe processes to their conclusion.

These challenges you met head onwithout faltering, despite setbacksalong the way. On behalf of the mem-bers of the Military Council I say thatyou empowered your top structure,you accepted their advice and encour-aged interaction. By doing so you pro-vided the guidance, support and toolsfor them to ensure that the SANDF wason the right path to success. Integrationwas most satisfactorily concluded. It isan incredible achievement that hasbeen unmatched in history and isadmired worldwide.

This has become evident from thecountries on the African continent thathave approached South Africa, and inparticular the SANDF, for guidanceand advice in respect of planning forthe integration of various internalforces into a national force. The currentstate of transformation has started tobring about the desired reduction inthe footprint of the SANDF and tostreamline processes. This wasachieved through your steadfast lead-ership and wisdom. The changes thathave been brought about during yourterm of office, such as the implementa-tion of representivity, new insignia andname changes, have bonded andhelped all our members feel theybelong to a common National DefenceForce. In addition to this, your drive to

ensure the SANDF reflects the demo-graphics of our country has ensured thatwe are accepted and respected by all thecitizens of the country. During your timein command, the SANDF has alsobecome increasingly involved in peacesupport operations throughout the conti-nent. We have thus played the vital roleof contributing towards achieving stabil-ity on the continent, so that poverty andconflict can be replaced with an environ-ment conducive to economic growth andthe social upliftment of the people ofAfrica.

working in other spheres or govern-ment and industry, MK veterans, theyoung lions as epitomised by the latelion Chiawelo Gordon Dikebu, thosewho fought alongside Barney Molo-koane and Solomon Mahlangu, thegeneration of Flag Boshielo, great com-manders of MK, Wilton Mkwaya, Ray-mond Mhlaba, Joe Modise, Joe Slovo,Moses Mabhida, who when he realisedyour military prowess, nicknamed youGhebuza after one of Chief Shaka's gen-erals, Kate Molale, Dorothy Nyembe,Florence Mophoshe and Chris Hani.

I recite their praise in your honourGeneral, for I know they respect themanner in which you held sky high theflag of the great motherland. We rejoicein the knowledge that you walked thegreat path and that you torched andtouched many yearning hearts andlonely souls. Your contribution to theemancipation of our country is welldocumented and our children and gen-erations yet to come will be witness tothis correct history that you were partof and helped create. You played a piv-otal role in ensuring that MK had a per-manent presence in various localities ofour country. The Transvaal Machinerywas the most successful machine from1978 to 1983.

It was a Machinery that was able toinfiltrate fighters as well as hardwareand had the ability to survive the front-line areas like Botswana andSwaziland. Surely General and mem-bers, from my intellectual understand-ing of military history, the name ofGeneral Siphiwe Nyanda belongs to theannals of history, as it is the name asso-ciated with selflessness to the cause,one that sought stability and prosperityat home and beyond the borders andunderstood that our freedom would bemeaningless unless it was related to thefundamental questions of Africa'sdevelopment. From the sailors at seaand ashore we will always rememberyour tireless efforts to ensure that weare equipped with corvettes and sub-marines. You will always be remem-bered as a stalwart and pioneer of theSANDF. We then proudly say from thebottom of our hearts: "Gwala,Mpepethwa, Ligule Nojiyeza NyoniEsindwa Yisisila Sayo".

General Siphiwe Nyanda, the former Chief of the SANDF.

Tribute to a stalwart

As the Chairperson of the MilitaryCouncil I can say that all will miss yourpresence. You were a role model andinspiration to us all. You always dis-played a clear understanding of the situ-ations at hand and possessed the wis-dom to make the right decisions aftercareful consideration and analysis of allthe available facts. It was indeed an hon-our to serve on the Military Councilunder your sound leadership. Membersof the Council, permit me a minute toreflect and say that I stand here thismorning on behalf of all those whoknew you General, as Gebuza, and thatyou were a remarkable leader, fearlessand courageous. You bravely command-ed the Transvaal Urban Machinery. Youwere the first to organise the infiltrationof AK 47s to be used in operations insideSouth Africa.

Allow me General, on behalf ofdemobbed and unplaced MKs, those


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Meet on peace effortsBy CPO Dennis NdabaPhoto: F Sgt David Nomtshongwana

outh Africa hosted the 26thSADC Inter-State Defence andSecurity Committee (ISDSC)meeting in Boksburg from 12 to14 July 2005. The meeting wasattended by the SADCMinisters of Defence, Security,

Home Affairs and Intelligence andwhich was convened to discuss peaceefforts in the Great Lakes Region,progress with regard to the SADCBrigade and the African Union'sStandby Force and the Regional EarlyWarning Systems.

The Minister of Defence, MrMosiuoa Lekota, the current ISDSCChairperson, said: "Despite the complex-ity of the issues facing the continent,Africa was, however, making headwayin ridding itself of conflicts. This wasevident from the recent positive mile-stones in the Democratic Republic ofCongo (DRC), the Sudan and Burundi."

In his address to the MinisterialSession, the leader of the South Africandelegation and Minister of Intelligence,Mr Ronnie Kasrils, said that the centrali-ty of the SADC ISDSC to peace and sta-bility in our region meant that we had tobe very effective in the way we worked,planned and delivered in regard toexpectations. It was imperative that wecontinued to demonstrate to the interna-tional community our ability to take col-lective ownership of, and renew ourcommitment to solving our own prob-lems.

Currently our region is stable. Thereis neither interstate conflict nor violenthostility, other than the occasionallocalised clash in the DRC. Notwith-standing such outbreaks, the transitionalarrangements that have been put inplace in the DRC have been tested andhave proved resilient. Much of this sta-bility is as a result of a real commitmentto the consolidation of democracy andgovernance in our region. In this regard,the successful elections held inBotswana, Malawi, Mozambique,Namibia, Mauritius and Zimbabwe are a

reflection of the SADC principles andguidelines governing democratic elec-tions.

There was therefore an absence ofviolence and a smooth handover ofpower was the order of the day.Furthermore, in instances where theconstitutionally determined tenure ofPresidents had come to an end, leadersvacated office, as reflected in Malawi,Mozambique and Namibia. In pursuingthis collective approach we recognisethat the security and well being of ourown countries are inextricably tied toeach other and indeed the continent.The challenge, however, of deepeningthese partnerships remains, particularlysince this period of relative stability can-not be guaranteed.

"In particular, here I wish to high-light the need to further the progressthat has been made in respect of thedevelopment of the regional chapter ofthe African Standby Force, given thecentrality of its role in enhancing ourcapacity to establish peace and securityon the continent. In this regard, therecent joint military exercise, Thokga-mo, involving all SADC Defence Forcemembers hosted by Botswana is a clearexample of the significant strides thathave already been made in preparingand laying the basis for the StandbyForce of the SADC Brigade. Let us buildon this success," Mr Kasrils continued.

He added that another importantaspect was to ensure the operationalisa-tion of the Regional Early WarningCentre. While the plans are in place andthe processes are under way, we need to

speed up our efforts and ensure thatthe Centre has the necessary resourcesto enable it to operate effectively. Wemust be in a position to identify criti-cal developments timeously so that weare able to formulate coherent respon-se strategies for the common good.

"The recent horrific terrorist bomb-ings in London are a stark reminder ofthe need for co-operation, partnershipand speedy response to such atroci-ties. They underlie the fact that nostate, no matter how powerful, isimmune from the complex, unpre-dictable and interconnected nature ofthreats in today's global environment.This meeting of the ISDSC must applyits mind to the report of the 'SADCISDSC and Troika AssessmentMission to the DRC'. We need to lookat what we have been doing which hasbeen successful and what needs fur-ther work. The other issue that needsto be discussed in relation to the DRCis funding and sponsorship throughthe SADC.

"Other important developments inthe DRC since our last meeting mustalso be highlighted. In this regard, wecelebrate the fact that the DRC hasadopted its Constitution. We especial-ly welcome the provision enshriningfifty percent representation of womenin Parliament. The Interim Govern-ment has agreed to postpone electionsto a later date in keeping with thePeace Agreement and is committed tothe success of a free and fair electionwithin agreed time frames," declaredMr Kasrils.

SFltr: Mr January Masilela, the RSA Secretary for Defence, Mr MosiuoaLekota, the RSA Minister of Defence, and the Honourable Mokone Lehata,the Lesotho Minister of Defence, during the Ministerial Session.

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By CPO Dennis NdabaPhoto: F Sgt DavidNomtshongwana

he South African MilitaryVeterans Association(SAMVA) held a workshopover the period 8 to 9 July2005 at Leriba Lodge inCenturion. The main aim ofthe workshop was to debate

and workshop the various models forSAMVA, the new national body repre-senting all our military veterans. Thefour models workshopped were:

Unitary Model - IndividualMembership.Unitary Model - Military Veterans'Organisations.Federal Model - Military Veterans'Organisations.Hybrid Model - Organisationaland Individual Membership.The workshop was opened by the

former Deputy Minister of Defence,and currently Deputy Minister ofHealth, Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge. She added that she wasback to interact with military veterans,a constituency that was close to herheart, and to assist in devising ways toaddress their plight through the for-mation of a representative and unitedmilitary veterans' organisation.

"The issues you will be discussingrelating to the welfare of military vet-erans are issues I feel need to be andcan be resolved. The Deputy Ministerof Defence, Mr Mluleki George, ishelping us implement the MilitaryVeterans Act of 1999, which calls onGovernment departments and allSouth Africans to work together inensuring that military veterans receivethe benefits outlined in the law. Thereis no doubt that many military veter-ans, especially those from the Non-statutory Forces, and to some extent

T

those from the former TBVC Statesand the South African ColouredCorps, are in need of assistance.Veterans who served in the worldwars, the Korean War and other Whiteveterans from the former SADF enjoymany benefits, including health carefrom the DOD. In addition they enjoythe benefits that are provided by theestablishments that were set up by thevarious regiments to whom theybelong. This network has ensured thatmost of them do not suffer the state ofdestitution that is facing thousandsfrom the other groupings," declaredMs Madlala-Routledge.

She added that this state of affairscould not be left to continue. Thewhole country was involved in thetransformation of its institutions,including the DOD. The amalgama-tion of the various military forces after1994 was another step in this transfor-mation. Despite some successes, there

were still many challenges faced by theDOD in this regard. While transforma-tion in terms of race had to a greatextent been achieved in the levels ofsenior generals, the same could not besaid with regard to the middle ranksand women. About 70% of colonelswere still White and mostly male,while about 90% of corporals and pri-vates were Black. With regard to theranks of military veterans and the ben-efits they received, nearly all whoobtained treatment at 1, 2 and 3Military Hospitals were White veter-ans and their dependants. This anoma-ly pointed out the importance of thesuccess of today's workshop.

"When I left the Ministry ofDefence in 2004, I was busy with theAdvisory Board on Military Veterans'Affairs and other interested veteransin discussing the setting up of a credi-ble database of all military veterans,especially those who did not appear in

At the workshop, clockwise: Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, the DeputyMinister of Health, Brig Gen Deacon Mathe, Vice-President SAMVA, Maj Gen Solly Mollo, Chief of Human Resource Support Centre, and Lt Gen Niel Knobel (Ret), National President SAMVA.

Workshop for MilitaryVeterans


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SANDF records or whose presentwhereabouts were unknown. Thisprocess has taken too long and I amglad to learn that progress has beenmade in getting the software sortedout and in populating the database. Ibelieve that to date over twenty thou-sand names have been captured, ofwhich 1 500 have been registered inthe past four months alone. I look for-ward to progress being made in devel-oping the identification cards, whichthe veterans need to access services inthe public sector. Coincidentally, I vis-ited the Centre for Advanced Training(CAT) this week and my spirits werelifted when I learned that 105 Non-statutory Force veterans were under-going training at the CAT and saw thatthe living quarters have now beencompleted," Ms Madlala-Routledgecontinued.

She said that she was pleased tolearn that the Ministry of Defencehad taken a decision not to migratethe Service Corps from the DOD,but to continue to utilise it to reskill

Defence is providing this opportunityto look at the issue of unity among allveterans and to chart a way forward,"she said.

Ms Madlala-Routledge urged thedelegates that as they deliberate theyhad always to keep in mind that theywere representing a very special con-stituency which, when treated uncar-ingly, could cause unpleasant situa-tions for society. "Let us keep our per-sonal interests aside and concentrateon finding solutions. We can never saythank you enough to our sisters andbrothers who sacrificed their educa-tion, their homes, their futures andsome even their lives for the love oftheir country, their people and free-dom. Let all those among us who areable to use whatever influence andability they have to assist our veteranswith determination and zeal. We oweit to them. Society owes it to them.Through the unity that can be forgedthrough this workshop, delivery willbe quicker and obstacles easier toaddress," she concluded.

demobilised soldiers, train militaryveterans and other members of oursociety. There was a critical need fortechnical training both locally and onthe African continent in order to accel-erate both economic development andservice provision. This required adrastic rethink on how resources suchas the CAT were used. The appropri-ate application of the CAT and othersimilar institutions had to go beyondthe realm of simply providing train-ing. There was a need to focus onadvancing economic developmentthrough accelerating value additionby means of appropriate applicationof technical skills.

"The main objective of today'sgathering is to contribute towardsachieving this unity. When theMinister of Defence with some veter-ans' leaders announced the launch ofSAMVA over a year ago, there wererumblings in some quarters that it wastoo early for such a step, while otherswere saying that there was notenough consultation. The Ministry of

Excellent co-operationBy Lt Col A. Naudé, SO1 Africa (SADC/ASDC) Photo: F Sgt Amelda Strydom

As part of South Africa's responsibilityas the current chair of the Organ onPolitics Defence and Security of theSouthern African Development Com-munity (SADC), the DOD hosted theSouthern African Development Com-munity Brigade (SADCBRIG) MilitaryPlanners' Meeting at Super Sport Parkin Centurion from 23 to 25 May 2005.R Adm (JG) E. Ratala (Director Oper-ations), the current Interim BrigadeCommander based in Gabarone, Bot-swana, chaired the meeting. Severalaspects relating to the SADCBRIG asoutlined by the African Union werefinalised and referred to the Opera-tions Sub-subcommittee (OSSC). TheInterstate Defence and Security Com-mittee (ISDSC) OSSC meeting fol-lowed the SADCBRIG military plan-ners meeting. R Adm P. Schöultz(Chief Director Operations) chaired theOSSC meeting on behalf of ChiefJointOperations. All standing committees

Fltr: Lt Gen S.Z. Binda (Chief of Joint Operations), Maj Gen L.M. Dlulane(Chief Director Army Force Structure), V Adm J. Mudimu (Chief of the SANavy) and Lt Gen P. de Sousa A. Santos from Angola.

and work groups presented theirreports to the OSSC for approval andthese were subsequently referred to theISDSC, which was to be hosted by theDOD at the end of June 2005. On theevening of 26 May 2005 a function washosted for the delegates at the Centu-rion Golf Estate. Lt Gen S.Z. Binda, theChief of Joint Operations, hosted thedelegates and expressed his gratitude

for the excellent work done andprogress made. He further expressedhis gratitude for the excellent spirit ofco-operation that existed among SADCmembers states as was again displayedat the OSSC meeting. Lt Gen Bindaalso thanked the Director ForeignRelations, R Adm (JG) G. Mphafi, forthe excellent work his directorate haddone in facilitating both meetings.

clippings


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Article and photo by F Sgt Amelda Strydom

The promotion of regional co-operationin peace and security among theSouthern Africa Development Commu-nity (SADC) member states achieved yetanother milestone on 5 August 2005when the RSA Minister of Defence, MrMosiuoa Lekota, officiated at thereopening and relaunching of theRegional Peacekeeping Training Centrein Harare, Zimbabwe. Minister Lekotaperformed this duty in his capacity asthe Chairperson of the Inter-StateDefence and Security Committee.

The Centre, which will play a vitalrole in peacekeeping in Africa, is situat-ed in Harare at the Zimbabwean ArmyStaff Training College. It will be used totrain soldiers for the SADC Brigade.

Whenever there is a need for thebrigade, men and women from theSADC countries will be sent to theCentre, as well as specialists from allover the world, for training to readythem for deployment, whether to scenesof natural disaster or military action.The SADC Brigade will not stay therepermanently; only a small staff will bethere on a permanent basis to take careof the Centre when it is not in use.

The Centre was established in theearly nineties when SADC member

states began to participate actively inthe United Nations peacekeeping opera-tions. By then, member states and coun-tries were conducting peacekeepingtraining as individuals. However, it waslater realised that there was a need forcombined and co-ordinated peacekeep-ing training to ensure homogeneity.

During the 18th Inter-State Defenceand Security Council held in Lilongwe,Malawi, in October 1996, Zimbabwewas assigned by the SADC Inter-StateDefence and Security Committee to

Fltr: Honourable Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, the Zimbabwean Minister ofForeign Affairs, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, the RSA Minister of Defence, and DrSydney Sekeramayi, the Zimbabwean Minister of Defence, in front of theSADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre.

Bestowed the highest French decorationOn 23 May 2005 General Bentégeat,Chief of General Staff of the FrenchDefence Force, presented GeneralSiphiwe Nyanda, the then Chief of theSANDF, with the Commandeur dansl'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur - the high-est decoration of France to a foreignnational. He gave the following reasons:

General Nyanda's role in the libera-tion and democratisation of SouthAfrica - a "Freedom Fighter".The role the General played inpeacekeeping and conflict resolutionon the African continent. A PeaceMaker.The promotion of bilateral relationsbetween the French and SouthAfrican defence forces. A Friend ofthe French Defence Force. (Article byBrig Gen D.J. Masters, DefenceAttaché in Paris)

After receiving the Commandeur dans l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur, fltr:Maj Duncan Russell (PA to Chief of the SANDF), General Bentégeat (Chief ofGeneral Staff of the French Defence Force), General Siphiwe Nyanda (thethen Chief of the SANDF), and Brig Gen D.J. Masters (Defence Attaché inParis). (Photo courtesy ECPAD/France/)

co-ordinate peacekeeping training inthe region. In February 2005 TheCouncil of Ministers at its meeting inGrade Baie, Mauritius, officially estab-lished the Regional PeacekeepingTraining Centre as an SADC structuresubordinate to the Secretariat throughthe Directorate of Policies, Defenceand Security.

Following this decision, the HostAgreement between the Governmentof the Republic of Zimbabwe andSADC was signed in May 2005.

Minister visits SADC peacekeeping centre


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Focus on military aviation issues inSouthern AfricaBy Brig Gen P.N. Sibiya, Dir Corp Staff Serv, SAAF

The Standing Aviation Committee ofthe Interstate Defence and SecurityCommittee held its 9th conference inWindhoek, Namibia on 9 June 2005.Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi,Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland,Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe wererepresented at this conference. Thecommittee witnessed the handing overof the chairmanship of the StandingAviation Committee from Tanzania toAngola. Gen Pedro Neto, the Chief ofStaff of the Angolan Air Force, tookover as chairperson.

The committee discussed militaryaviation issues in Southern Africa, withparticular reference to co-operation inaviation safety, logistics, training,

operations and HIV/Aids in the mili-tary. The issues discussed were in linewith the committee's vision, that is "topromote peace, security and prosperi-ty in the region through military avia-tion co-operation". In this regard themeeting applauded the successful con-duct of the Tactical Exercise WithoutTroops, which was hosted by Zim-babwe from 25 to 29 April 2005.

The conference also discussed theprogress report regarding some issuesthat had arisen at the 8th StandingAviation Committee meeting andfeedback on the report that was sub-mitted to the Operations Sub-commit-tee. Among issues discussed were thereview of Exercise BLUE ANGEL thatwas held in Zambia in 2003, the con-tinuation of combined exercises andthe role of the Standing Aviation

Committee in the Standby Force. Theconference was informed about thenext combined exercise to be hostedby Tanzania in 2006. The meetingemphasised the need to schedulefuture exercises in order to allow suf-ficient time for planning and toachieve maximum participation.

The conference congratulated LtGen Carlo Gagiano on his appoint-ment as the Chief of the SA Air Forceand observed a minute of silence inmemory of the late Brig Gen G.I.Dahal, the Commander of theTanzanian Air Defence Commandand the former Chairperson of theStanding Aviation Committee, the lateLt Col T.M. Kafula, the Deputy Com-mander of the Namibian Air Force,and the Zambian Air Force personnelwho perished in an aircraft accident.

Exercise INTEROP WestBy Cdr Brian Stockton, SO1 Naval Public Relations

The SA Navy's combat support vessel,SAS DRAKENSBERG, and her twoconsorts, the strike craft SASMAKHANDA and SAS ISAACDHYOBA, have arrived back in SouthAfrica after a successful series of visitsto the United Kingdom and ports onthe West African coast.

SAS DRAKENSBERG attended thebicentennial celebrations of the Battleof Trafalgar in Portsmouth as part of afleet review that involved 160 shipsfrom 35 navies from around the world.En route home she called on Lagos inNigeria, and was the first SA Navywarship ever to do so. She was joinedby the strike craft shortly before herarrival in Luanda as part of the SANavy's Exercise INTEROP West dur-ing which the ships had been conduct-ing various force preparation exercisesand an intensive South African WestCoast patrol.

The presence of the ships inLuanda afforded the Secretary forDefence, Mr January Masilela, and the

Hauter, who in turn called upon theGovernor of the Province of Luandaand the Angolan Chief of Navy Staff.

The visits have been consideredextremely successful in that muchvalue was derived from the furthercementing of good relations with bothNigeria and Angola and, at the sametime, extensive operational and train-ing objectives were achieved.

SA Navy, in particular, extensiveopportunities to engage the Angolanauthorities on matters of mutualdefence interest.

Calls were also made on theAngolan Deputy Minister of Defenceand the Angolan Chief of Navy Staff.Mr Masilela was accompanied, amongothers, by the Chief Director MaritimeStrategy of the SA Navy, R Adm Rolf

Fltr: Mr Siphiti Sibeko, the Chargé d' Affaires of the South African Embassyin Angola, R Adm Rolf Hauter, the Chief Director Maritime Strategy of the SANavy, and Mr January Masilela, the Secretary for Defence, at a function heldon board SAS DRAKENSBERG during her visit to Luanda.


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events

TRAFALGAR 200

HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip reviewing from HMS ENDURANCE.

By Maj Gen Edward Fursdon (Ret),UK

n the Solent on Tuesday 28 June 282005 from aboard the very visiblered-hulled Ice Patrol Ship HMSENDURANCE, and accompaniedby the Duke of Edinburgh, QueenElizabeth II reviewed anInternational Fleet of 167 war-

ships, training ships and auxiliaries,International Tall Ships, historic ves-sels and miscellaneous merchant andprivate vessels from 35 countries -including the SA Navy's DRAKENS-BERG. This was just the start of thenational celebrations marking the200th Anniversary of Admiral HoratioNelson's historic victory in 1805 overthe combined French and Spanishnavies at the Battle of Trafalgar. Shotby a sniper from the French warshipRÉDOUBTABLE, he died on board hisflagship HMS VICTORY, which is stilla commissioned Royal Navy warshippermanently berthed in PortsmouthNaval Dockyard.

The International Fleet Review,which was watched by an estimatedhalf-million spectators from along thenearby shores, continued with a fly-past of British and Overseas aircraftand helicopters; and a sail-past by TheTall Ships and some three hundredsmall private craft. Lastly came anastonishing display by the RAF's RedArrows Display Team. Later in theevening there was an impressive 'Sonet Lumiere' display by two flotillas ofTall Ships depicting a naval battle ofthe Trafalgar period: and the momen-tous day closed with a huge fireworksdisplay.

For the rest of the week, the RoyalNavy's Portsmouth Dockyard devot-ed itself to many and varied nauticaldisplays and performances celebrat-ing the 2005 International Festival ofThe Sea. It also had some fifty Inter-national Fleet Review Ships alongside- including the SAS DRAKENSBERG -

The 200thAnniversary of

AdmiralHoratioNelson's

historic victoryin 1805…

Iwhere they could be visited by mem-bers of the general public.

The Chief of the Royal Navy, FirstSea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West, hadpreviously invited 54 Chiefs ofOverseas Navies, including V AdmJohannes (Refiloe) Mudimu, the Chiefof the SA Navy, to attend the week'soccasions as guests of The Royal Navy,and especially to dine with him onboard Admiral Nelson's flagship HMSVICTORY. They also attended the

Drumhead Ceremony dedicated tothose who had fallen in combat.

V Adm Mudimu, who was accom-panied by his wife and his Flag Cap-tain, Capt (SAN) Des Hutton, reallyenjoyed the whole fulfilling Trafalgarexperience and said he was veryproud to have been there, and espe-cially having the honour of represent-ing South Africa on this auspiciousoccasion. He met Queen Elizabeth,Prime Minister Tony Blair and PrinceAndrew on board HMS INVINCIBLE,and the Queen told him she had par-ticularly noticed the SAS DRAKENS-BERG at her Review. He also muchenjoyed meeting and talking to

Admiral Sir Alan West and the otherChiefs of Navies, and especially theunique experience of dining on boardthe historic HMS VICTORY. "It was alljust wonderful," he said, "and particu-larly to have had SAS DRAKENS-BERG playing her part too."

Later in the week I went on boardthe SA Navy's 12 500 ton CombatSupport Vessel, SAS DRAKENSBERG,commanded by Capt (SAN) ColinSherwood, for whom it was his firstvisit to the UK. He told me "the wholeexperience is something I'll never for-get; other SAN ships are very enviousof us! To have been part of this uniqueoccasion has been a great privilege for


15

me as CO, and for everyone on board.The eighteen day voyage from SouthAfrica to the UK provided excellentpractical training and experience formy 163 crew members - especially forthe batch of ten Junior Leaders onboard, and for those at sea for the firsttime. Ninety-seven of the crew hadnever crossed the Equator before, sothis was duly celebrated in the time-honoured King Neptune fashion! Theorganisation and rehearsal for theInternational Fleet Review all wentvery smoothly; it was extraordinary tosee so many ships at sea at once."

The Tall Ships he had never seenbefore, and would probably never seeagain. Yes, he had actually seen TheQueen as she passed on HMSEndurance - to whom the Ship'sCompany had given the traditionalcheers; the Trafalgar Battle re-enact-ment had been well done, the RedArrows were spectacular, and the fire-work display magnificent. "Therewere so many ships between SASDRAKENSBERG and The Isle ofWight that they totally cluttered theradar picture screen - there wasn'troom for anything else on it but ships!"

I was taken round the ship byOfficer-of-the-Watch Lt (SAN) CarinaGrove, who is currently the

Communications Officer and visitingthe UK for the first time. "The Reviewwas lovely - excellent," she told me:"but best of all was the Red Arrow'sdisplay which was absolutely fantas-tic!" Capt Joe Hattingh is the co-pilot ofthe ship's Oryx helicopter - "a gentle-man's helicopter", he told me. He hadbeen highly impressed by his firstsight of the UK's new Merlin heli-copter, and is also looking forward tothe integration of the new Lynx intothe SA Navy's new corvettes, whichnecessitates a merger of the cultures ofthe Air Force's helicopters with that ofthe Navy's Ships. "It has to be the wayforward for the future," he said.

Next I met 'Operations Medic' LCpl Eljo van Deventer from Gordon'sBay who works in the sickbay. It keepsher pretty busy: "never a dull moment"she said. Her prime job is to deal withbattle casualties. She "has loved everymoment" of this Trafalgar deploy-ment, "and on Monday I'm off toLondon with a group from the ship,"she told me, adding "you cannot sayyou've been to England if you haven'tbeen to London; the shopping there ismeant to be wonderful! Certainly this

visit has been a lifetime experi-ence - and something I neverthought could ever happen."

Able Seaman JacquelinePietbooi is the Junior PublicRelations person on board "andloving every moment of the trip"."Being in the Navy gives you theopportunity to prove yourself,"she told me: "everyone is nowequal - male and female of allraces - and it is up to you to takethe opportunities to get on." She

joined up in 2003 from Kimberley"where you never see the sea"! Her jobis to maximise public relations for theShip and the Ship's Company and tokeep the crew's families regularlyinformed about what the ship is doing.

Prior to being warned about theTrafalgar visit, she knew nothingwhatsoever about Nelson or Trafalgar,so quickly started researching them onthe Internet. As a result she soon learntmuch about a part of naval history nottaught in the South African educationsystem. Having thus become intrigued- and Nelson having become "herhero" - she was inspired, as a PR spe-cialist, to try and give the crew the his-torical background to their forthcom-ing UK Trafalgar experience. "Nowords could describe the occasion,"she said, "especially actually seeingThe Queen in person: it was all unbe-lievable! Watching the re-enactment ofthe Battle - marvellously done - I actu-ally felt the Battle developing acrossthe water, as if it was really happen-ing! Then, at the Drumhead Service, Ifelt proud to be a sailor."

Goodness knows if and when therewill ever be another International FleetReview on the scale of this one. All Iknow is that this 2005 one will live on

The International Fleet on Station in the Solent.

SAS DRAKENSBERG on Station.

for many,many years inthe memoriesof those whowere part ofit: and for thatwe have tothank themost famousRoyal NavyAdmiral of alltime - HoratioNelson.

events


16

Saluting our former andnew Surgeon GeneralsBy Lebohang LetaoanaPhotos: F Sgt DavidNomtshongwana

e came, he saw and he con-quered. After a span of 35years in the military Lt GenRinus Jansen van Rensburghanded over the reigns ofSurgeon General to Lt GenVejaynand Ramlakan during

a change of command parade held atthe Thaba Tshwane Military SportsGrounds on 1 August 2005.

The SAMHS community came innumbers to witness this special occa-sion with mixed feelings of pride,excitement and sadness. "I do, howev-er, have to admit that it is with sad-ness that I take leave of the SAMilitary Health Service. It has been aprivilege to be at the helm of theSAMHS for the past four plus years. Ithas been an enriching experience,which I would not change for any-thing," said Lt Gen Jansen vanRensburg.

There have been many develop-ments and changes in the SAMHSover the past few years under the for-mer Surgeon General, for example:

The establishment and develop-ment of five formations, and theirunits, as well as that of the GSBThaba Tshwane.Existing directorates were expand-ed and staffed, but additionaldirectorates were also established,namely the Directorate PhysicalTraining, Sport and Recreation, theDirectorate Occupational Healthand Safety and the DirectorateReserve Force.The introduction of the BATLSand BARTS Courses at the MilitaryHealth Training Formation.Another area of training, whichhas been expanded, is Disaster

HManagement. During the recentearthquake in Algiers, a DisasterManagement Team, includinginstructors from the MilitaryHealth Training Formation, wereable to test their skills in a real-lifesituation.The establishment of the Universi-ty Reserve Training Unit. Thistraining unit will enable medicalstudents from the various tertiaryinstitutions to join the ReserveForce and undergo military train-ing with a view to their becomingmedical officers within theReserves.

Surgeon General. Lt Gen Jansen vanRensburg served in several interna-tional positions during his full andcolourful career, namely as Presidentof the International Congress onMilitary Medicine, President of theSouth African Society for Aerospaceand Environmental Medicine, Chief ofthe Office of the Eastern and SouthernAfrica Liaison Office, and the Chief ofDelegation for CISM South Africa.

Officers parexcellence.

Lt Gen Rinus Jansen van Rensburg (left) handed over the reigns of SurgeonGeneral to Lt Gen Vejaynand Ramlakan.

"However, the successes achievedwould not have been possible, if I hadnot had the support of capable, dedi-cated and focused chief directors,commanders, directors and staff offi-cers. I was always able to rely on theirassistance and advice," said the former

According to Maj Gen MohatoMofokeng (the Chief Defence Cor-porate Communication) Lt Gen RinusJansen van Rensburg, the outgoingSurgeon General, has been earmarkedas Chief of Corporate Staff in theSANDF.


17

"I am confident that my successorwill be taking over an organisationthat is a national asset, which can playa leading role in the healthcare of ourbeautiful country," said Lt Gen Jansenvan Rensburg. Speaking about succes-sors, here is a profile of the newSurgeon General, Lt Gen Ramlakan:

He was born in Durban in 1957,

and in Swaziland. At the University ofKZN, Lt Gen Ramlakan served as thePresident of the MRSC from 1979 to1980.

From 1981 to 1983 he was Vice-President and General Secretary of theNatal Health Workers Association,and also a founding member of theUnited Democratic Front (UDF). As

part of the command structures of MKin the then province of Natal, Lt GenRamlakan was involved in MKOperation BUTTERFLY. He also heldoffice as a member of the first APMCinside South Africa.

His continued military and activepolitical involvement saw his beingincarcerated on Robben Islandbetween 1987 and 1991, where he wasa member of the Central PoliticalEducation Committee.

Lt Gen Ramlakan served as aMedical Officer at the ANC NationalConference in 1991 and CODESAbetween 1991 and 1992 before hebecame Medical Commander for thePresident Mandela Guard in 1992.Between 1993 and 1994 he served asDeputy Chief of the MK HealthService and led the MK military healthteam when it integrated into the NPKFand later the SANDF.

In the SANDF he held the follow-ing positions: Director Planning of theSAMHS between October 1994 andNovember 1995, Inspector General ofthe SAMHS from December 1995 toFebruary 2000, GOC Area MilitaryHealth Formation from February toNovember 2000, Inspector GeneralDOD from November 2000 toDecember 2004 and SANDF's ChiefDirector Strategic Planning fromJanuary 2005 until his appointment asthe new Surgeon General.

Since the establishment of theSANDF, Lt Gen Ramlakan has suc-cessfully completed the following mil-itary courses: Officers FormativeCourse in 1995, Battle Handling in1995, Junior Command and StaffDuties Course in 1996, and the JointStaff Course (ENSP) in 1997. Lt GenRamlakan was awarded the followingmilitary medals: Bronze, Silver andGold, Internal RSA Operational Medaland the External to RSA OperationalMedal.

His other special awards includethe Edgar Brookes Award forOutstanding Contribution to HumanFreedom and Endeavour. As IG DOD,Lt Gen Ramlakan received the Inter-national ISO 9001:2000 Award. Thiswas the first ever awarding of thisprestigious quality award by the ISOto a South African Governmentdivision.

Lt Gen Rinus Jansen van Rensburg, our outgoing Surgeon General, inspecting the parade.

started his schooling thereand matriculated at NaidooMemorial High School inUmkomaas in 1974. He ob-tained his basic medicaldegree from the University ofKwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in1980. His further health quali-fications include a postgradu-ate diploma in Health ServicesManagement and training bythe IRTC in Copenhagen,Denmark, to counsel victimsof political violence.

Lt Gen Ramlakan's non-medical qualifications in-clude an Executive Course inDefence Management fromthe University of theWitwatersrand in 1998 and acertificated Programme inFinancial Management fromUnisa in 2002. He first joinedUmkhonto we Sizwe (MK) asan underground operative inKZN in 1977. During this peri-od he underwent general mil-itary training in South Africa

Lt Gen Vejaynand Ramlakan, our newSurgeon General.

insight


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Remembering fallenheroes in Delville WoodCompiled by Lebohang LetaoanaPhoto: Mr Tommy Lindsay

n Delville Wood the shattered treesare green with leaves and flowersbloom where cannons stood and richthe fields with golden sheaves, Sleepsoft ye dead, for God is good, andpeace has come to Delville Wood" -Lt F.C. Cornell.

A delegation from the SANDF vis-ited France over the period 13 to 19July 2005 for the annual commemora-tion at the Delville Wood Memorial.The delegation consisted of R Adm(JG) George Mphafi (Chief DirectorForeign Relations), Brig Gen PetraMari (Director Military Health HumanResources), Brig Gen MariusCornelissen (Chaplain General), BrigGen Kwena Mangope (DirectorCorporate Communication), WO1Jakes Jacobs (Warrant Officer of theSANDF) and Mr Tommy Lindsay(Budget Manager Defence CorporateCommunication) who paid tribute tothe fallen heroes at the Delville WoodMemorial. They were later joined byMaj Gen Roy Andersen, the Chief ofthe Reserve Force, and Lt Gen SiphoBinda, the Chief of Joint Operations,who went on behalf of Chief of theSANDF. Maj Gen Andersen had theopportunity to unveil a plaque fromthe SA Commonwealth Association.

A commission was established bythe Royal Charter in 1917. Its dutiesare to mark and maintain the graves ofthe members of the forces of theCommonwealth who died in the twoWorld Wars, to build memorials tothose who have no known grave andkeep records and registers, includingafter World War II, a record of theCommonwealth Civilian War Dead.

The work was founded upon prin-ciples which have remained unaltered,viz that each of the dead should becommemorated individually by name

on a headstone or memorial, that theheadstone should be uniform andthere should be no distinction made interms of military or civil rank.

The beginningThe Battle of Delville Wood was an

engagement in the Battle of the Sommeon the Western Front. The British mili-tary historian, Sir Basil Liddell Hart,described it as the bloodiest battle-hellof 1916. The 1st South African Brigade,under the command of Brig GenHenry Lukin, comprised four regi-ments. At the end of May 1916 theSouth African Brigade, as part of theScottish 9th Division, moved into theSomme area to participate in the com-ing operation. The South Africanswere initially the Reserve Brigade, buton 8 July 2 SAI became involved in thefighting when they relieved the 27thScottish Brigade at Bernafay Wood.

On account of heavy losses, 4 SAIrelieved 2 SAI in this area until 12 July,when all the South Africans were with-drawn for an assault on the village ofLongueval, a German strongpointadjoining Delville Wood. This attackstarted on 14 July and on 15 July theSouth Africans also attacked DelvilleWood. They were told to dig in andhold the position at all costs. On 17July the German counter-attacks start-ed, which lasted until 20 July.

When the South Africans wererelieved on 20 July by elements of theBritish 3rd Division, it was clear thatthey had suffered severe losses. Thisbrigade numbered 3 155 men on 15July. On 20 July only 18 officers and702 other ranks were left alive. Thetotal casualties were 2 536, of which763 were dead, 186 missing, presumeddead, 1 476 wounded and 287 takenprisoners of war (POW).

Delville Wood CemeteryIt was at Delville Wood that South

Africans played their first major rolein the war in France when the SouthAfrican Infantry Brigade took part inthe attack at dawn on Friday 15 July1916. It was also there that Pte W.F.Faulds, who survived the war, wonthe first Victoria Cross to be awardedto a member of the South AfricanForces during World War I. Afterweeks of very heavy fighting, duringwhich hundreds of lives were lost, thewood was finally captured on 25August 1916. Only one tree, a horn-beam, survived the bombardmentsand still stands today in the newwood, which has grown up around it.

152 South Africans are buried inthe Delville Wood Cemetery, andthose who have no known grave arecommemorated on the ThiepvalMemorial to the Missing. The ceme-tery and the Delville Wood Memorialstand in 10 acres (4 ha) of park andwoodland in which are planted manyoak trees grown from acorns sent fromthe Cape Province. Trees from whichthese acorns come were grown fromseed taken by the Huguenots to SouthAfrica after the revocation of the Edictof Nantes in 1685.

Walk ways in the wood still bearthe names given them during theGreat War such as Regent Street, BondStreet, Rotten Row and CampbellStreet. A herd of wild fallow deer,cousins to the springbok, now roamthe wood and park.

The Memorial, which was built astestimony to the sacrifice made bySouth Africans in all theatres of war,was unveiled by the widow of GeneralLouis Botha on 10 October 1926.

Rolls of Honour containing thenames of those who died in bothWorld Wars were placed in theMemorial building during a pilgrim-age of the South African Legion of theBritish Empire Service League in 1952.During a speech on this occasion

I“


19

Mr H.T. Andrews, a then SouthAfrican Minister in Paris, said: "Indeath they point the way to a duty towhich we all stand committed - themaintenance and development of aunited South Africa in a spirit of peaceand brotherly fellowship. In that taskSouth Africa must not fail them". Atthis ceremony Mrs O.M. Swales, moth-er of Maj Edwin Swales, VC, DFC, aSouth African pilot who flew in thePathfinder Force and received theposthumous award of the VictoriaCross, unveiled a new altar built ofParian marble.

BackgroundAfter the German Army failed to

capture Paris in 1914 the opposingarmies dug in to save lives. ByDecember of that year a line of nearlycontinuous trenches stretched from theSwiss border to the English Channel.The next three years of warfare onwhat was to become known as theWestern Front represented a giganticsiege in which attrition was the mainfeature of the conflict. Several methodswere tried by the opposing armies tobreak the trench deadlock. In 1916 theGerman high command decided thatthe solution was to bleed the French

Army white by killing so many of itsmembers that it would knock France outof the war. It was decided that a threattowards Verdun would compel theFrench high command to throw every-thing into the breach to defend againstthis threat to the historical gateway intoFrance.

The Germans succeeded in bleedingthe French Army white, but at the sametime suffered the same fate. The com-bined losses of the opposing armies atVerdun were 420 000 dead and 800 000wounded or gassed. To relieve the pres-sure on the French, the British high com-mand decided to launch an offensive inFlanders in the vicinity of the riverSomme. The plan was to destroy theGerman trenches with a massive artillerybombardment over a period of ten dayswith 2 000 guns over a 25 km front. Theinfantry were given the task of occupyingthe German trenches and the cavalry toexploit the breakthrough.

However, the nature of the groundenabled the Germans to prepare elabo-rate defensive systems in the area. Thus,when on the morning of 1 July 1916 theartillery bombardment lifted, most of theBritish infantry were under heavy firewithin seconds of leaving their trenches.It very soon became clear that the

artillery bombardment was a failure,as the German infantry emergedunscathed from their bunkers andfired at the oncoming waves of Britishinfantry moving in extended order. Atthe end of the day British lossesamounted to 50 - 60 000 casualties, ofwhich 20 000 were killed.

It was not to end there, however.The attacks were renewed severaltimes during the following months,only to end in the middle ofNovember 1916. The Somme offensivehad caused disastrous losses and wasalmost useless from a military point ofview.

The British generals complainedthat their troops were inexperienced,but continued to send them back intothe bloodbath. The casualties in theoperation were 650 000 Germans,420 000 British and 195 000 French sol-diers dead, missing (assumed dead),wounded or taken POW. In total theBritish pushed the Germans 6.4 kmback over a 25 km front.Sources: Col (Dr) Christiaan Jacobs,Military Historian; Commonwealth WarGraves Commission; The Unknown Force(Black, Indian and Coloured) SoldiersThrough Two World Wars by IanGleeson.

The South African NativeLabour Contingent soldiers whodied in France have a last restingplace in the British militarycemetery at Arques-la-Bataille,where their graves are groupedaround a memorial stone, whichhas the following inscription inEnglish, Sesotho and IsiXhosa:

To the memory of those Nativesof the South African Labour Corpswho crossed the seas in response tothe call of their great Chief, KingGeorge V, and laid down their livesin France, for the British Empire,during the Great War 1914-1918,this memorial is erected by theircomrades.

Arques-la-Bataille cemetery isthe resting place for 264 blackSouth African soldiers who diedin France, mainly from naturalcauses in the bitter winters of thewar.

Arques-la-Bataille Cemetery

The South African Native Labour Contingent soldiers who died in France have a lastresting place in the British military cemetery at Arques-la-Bataille. The RSA delega-tion visited the cemetery and laid a wreath to pay homage to the 264 black SouthAfrican soldiers who died in France, mainly from natural causes in the bitter wintersof the war. Front, fltr: Brig Gen David Masters, Defence Attaché in Paris, Brig Gen Petra Mari, Director Military Health Human Resources, andWO1 Jakes Jacobs, Warrant Officer of the SANDF. Back, fltr: Lt Gen Sipho Binda,

the Chief of Joint Operations, Maj Gen Roy Andersen, Chief of the Defence Reserves, R Adm (JG) George Mphafi, the Chief Director Foreign Relations, Brig Gen Kwena Mangope, Director Corporate Communication, and Brig Gen Marius Cornelissen, Chaplain General.

insight

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Recruiting prospective candidates to the DODBy Maj Isibusiso Ngema, SO2 Marketing DirectoratePersonnel AcquisitionPhoto: F Sgt Amelda Strydom

he Department of Defence,through Directorate Person-nel Acquisition, is continuous-ly engaged in marketing andrecruitment endeavoursaimed at enhancing and sus-taining the corporate image of

the organisation on the one hand andrecruiting prospective candidates toserve and provide professional exper-tise required for continuity on theother.

There are, however, many factorsaffecting this process, whetheradversely or positively. This in turnhas an impact on the output in terms ofachievements and also poses certainchallenges to the organisation.

The core business is in the firstplace to market the corporate image ofthe DOD and then the Services, viz theMilitary Skills Development (MSD)Programme, peace support operationsand the Reserve Force.

In the light of this it is thereforeimperative for the DOD to engage inan aggressive marketing endeavour soas to transfer the information regard-ing careers and sustaining the corpo-rate image by eradicating misconcep-tions in the minds of the people aboutthe institution. The DOD has a moralobligation to serve society. By provid-ing information that is relevant to theneeds of society the institution fulfilsthe very essence of the marketing con-cept, hence the needs of society will besatisfied.

Another aspect is the shortage ofwhite candidates in the lower ranks ofthe SANDF. This is a problem that hasmany underlying reasons, includingperceptions among the youth who are

the target market for such products(programmes) and expectations fromsociety.

There are underlying reasons forsuch challenges. If one looks at the sce-nario of people with disabilities, onewould realise that implementation oflegislation seems to be an improbabil-ity. On the one hand it appears thatwidespread ignorance, fear of preju-dice and stereotypes result in peopledisregarding such legislation.

Taking the scenario of white candi-dates into account there are other fac-tors contributing towards the prob-lem. Perceptions of society and theirconsideration of the institution from aglobal village adversely affect theorganisation, as well as fear of theunknown and uncertainties withregard to the long-term strategy of theorganisations. White candidates tendto believe that the effects of transfor-mation impact on them only andtherefore they do not have a future inthe organisation.

This has caused some resentmentfrom this population group and thusaffects the targets that the SANDF hasto achieve in terms of representivity.Ironically the process of transforma-tion does not necessarily reflectreverse discrimination, rather itaddresses the very concept of discrim-ination. Transparency is the key to thesuccess of such endeavours.

Through transparency misconcep-tions would be eradicated. There is adesperate need to engage in informa-tion sessions, apart from recruitmentdrives, so as to sensitise the communi-ties and ultimately win their confi-dence. In this fashion the notion thataffirmative active is reverse discrimi-nation based on race and culturalbackground would be eliminated.

The marketing and recruitmentagency is indeed the mirror through

T which society views the organisation.It is therefore imperative that thisagency or department potray animage that is favourable to organisa-tional requirements and thus impactfavourably on society. This would beachieved by eliminating adverseexpectations in the minds of people.

Through correct selection andplacement procedures such miscon-ceptions would definitely be eliminat-ed. Incentives are not the only way tofacilitate retention of scarce skills andprofessionals within the institutions,but they play a pivotal role in attract-ing personnel with scarce skills intothe system. Favourable working con-ditions are the only way to maintain ahealthy environment within the DOD.People attracted into the organisationcome with varied expectations andrequirements which impact on theobjectives of the organisation.

People with disabilities, for exam-ple, would require reasonable accom-modation in terms of workstations,access to workplaces, facilities andtraining to suite their situation. Thiswould impact on the objectives of theorganisation as legislation requiresthat 2% of the workforce should becomprised of this group.

This link assists the organisation inmaintaining market base and relationswith the stakeholders. High schools,tertiary institutions and Further Edu-cation and Training institutions(FETs) are the hunting ground fortarget recruitment and marketing forthe DOD. Good relations have to bemaintained with the relevant State

Convey information

about careers.


21

Fltr: Maj Isibusiso Ngema, SO2 Marketing Directorate Personnel Acquisition, CaptBelinda Mtalana, SO3 Marketing, Lt Mduduzi Nkhata, SO3 Marketing, and CPO MannyHolmes, CPO Marketing.

Thank you sponsorBy Capt Felicia van Staden,Comm Officer 4 SAI Bn in Burundi

Capt Felicia van Staden, CommOfficer 4 SAI Bn in Burundi, demon-strating to the women how to usebaby powder on their babies. Johnson& Johnson sponsored this and otherproducts. On behalf of the OfficerCommanding 4 SAI Bn in Burundi, LtCol Lebohang Ramabu, we would liketo send a special word of appreciationto Johnson & Johnson. At the request ofCapt van Staden they have sponsoredthe mission with many products, suchas baby shampoo, baby powder androll-on to an organisation, theHIV/Malnutrition Centre in Gatum-ba, under the wing of the RSABattalion in Burundi. Assisting Captvan Staden were WO2 AlfredMochockoto and Capt Elisa Maraga,who educated the people in how touse these products. The women andtheir children were very excited andthankful for the assistance of the RSABattalion (4 SAI Bn). They asked us to

departments and such institutions tosustain continuity.

Through attending career exhibi-tions that are organised by OrbesMedia for SABC Education and the

Careers Information and ExhibitorsAssociation, Directorate PersonnelAcquisition's marketing section is ableto network and benchmark againstother institutions in the corporate

world and State depart-ments. Such exhibitionsprovide a good platformfor one-on-one interactionwith learners who couldbe prospective candidates.

Good relations have tobe maintained with thestakeholders and otherinterested parties such asthe National YouthCommission, regional andlocal municipalities, non-governmental organisa-tions and church organisa-tions to assist in the mar-keting and recruiting ofpersonnel to maintain andsustain continuity. Themarketing section ofDirectorate Personnel Ac-

Capt Felicia van Staden, Comm Officer 4 SAI Bn in Burundi, demonstratingto the women how to use baby powder on their babies.

take a special message to the SouthAfrican nation and just say thank you,as they know that the "Sousas" (South

Africans) are always there with anopen hand. Thank you very much forthe contribution Johnson & Johnson.

quisition requires assistance fromserving members in an effort to por-tray a sound corporate image of theDOD and to attract prospective candi-dates to the DOD.

events

Exploringopportunities

and technological

co-operation inthe defence

sector.


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By CPO Dennis NdabaPhoto: F Sgt DavidNomtshongwana

he Defence Committee Bi-national Commission be-tween South Africa andFrance, through the Technol-ogy and Acquisition workgroup has made a commit-ment to foster and encourage

closer industrial relationshipsby means of a seminar betweenthe defence industries of the twocountries.

interaction to raise issues of commonconcern and find amicable solutions toproblems, which are a real threat toglobal peace in general, and that of theAfrican continent in particular. Headded that the seminar was takingplace at a time when the African conti-nent was witnessing a wave of peacebroking. From Sierra Leone to Liberia,Angola to Burundi and the Democrat-ic Republic of Congo, and most recent-ly the Sudan, adversaries are conclud-ing peace deals in Africa's most pro-tracted and violent conflicts. Most ofthese conflicts require peace support

industry will ensure the cost-effectivepurchase of products and systems andensure the minimum life cycle cost ofthese systems. But in reality SouthAfrica's defence industry is very smallby global standards and constitutesless than one percent of the worlddefence market. In order to competeinternationally, many South Africandefence firms and companies haveentered into joint ventures and

SA and FranceTechnology and IndustrySeminar

T

operations in order to create condi-tions for peace and stability on thecontinent conducive to developmentand growth.

"It is for that reason that the DOD,and the SANDF in particular, requiresthe services of an efficient defenceindustry to address the needs of theSANDF for maintenance, upgradingand where necessary, the replacementof its weapons and equipment. The

Fltr: Gen Laboureyras of the DGA, the Ambassador of France to South Africa, AmbassadorJean Felix-Paganon, the Secretary for Defence, Mr January Masilela, and the Chief ofAcquisition and Procurement, Mr Bruce Ramfolo, at the seminar.

The decision tohost such an event wassupported by the glob-al forces that influenceour economies. Inorder to be a globallycompetitive organisa-tion in today's techno-logically advancedenvironment, it is nec-essary to share andbuild capacity andcompetencies by co-operating with otherorganisations. Withthis background, De-partmental Acquisi-tion and ProcurementDivision (DAPD) andDelegation Generale pour L'Armement(DGA) decided to host such an event.

The seminar was held from 17 to18 May 2005 at Gerotek and provideda forum for the industries of the twocountries to explore opportunities andtechnological co-operation in thedefence sector. At the opening of thisprestigious gathering, the Secretaryfor Defence, Mr January Masilela, saidit would culminate into two days of


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Focus on geopolitical issues in AfricaBy CPO Dennis NdabaPhoto: F Sgt DavidNomtshongwana

In pursuance of the objective of theSouth African National War College(SANWC), which is to train selectedofficers for senior appointments at theoperational level by developing theircommand staff and analytical skills,two seminars were earmarked to com-plement the development of the learn-ers and staff of the larger SANWCcommunity in 2005. The first seminartook place on 16 May 2005 at Kentron,with the aim of presenting topics thatare relevant to the further develop-ment of the learners regarding geopo-litical and socio-economic issues inSub-Saharan Africa and the world.

The theme of the seminar was"Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa: Chal-lenges Emerging from Resolution andManagement of Conflicts in the Re-gion", which was sponsored by theInstitute for Security Studies (ISS).Some of the countries that came underdiscussion included Zimbabwe, theDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC),

Burundi and the Ivory Coast.In line with the Renaissance

approach and central to the NewPartnership for Africa's Development(NEPAD) programme (a key vehicle ofSouth Africa's foreign policy) is a com-mitment by African leaders to takejoint responsibility for "promoting and

protecting democracy and humanrights in their respective countries andregions, by developing clear standardsof accountability, transparency andparticipatory governance at thenational and sub-national levels".

In fact, NEPAD's own "Democracyand Political Governance Initiative",whose purpose is to contribute tostrengthening the political and admin-istrative framework of participatingcountries, in line with the principles ofdemocracy, transparency, accountabil-ity, integrity, respect for human rightsand promotion of the rule of law,clearly states that: "it is now generallyacknowledged that development isimpossible in the absence of truedemocracy, respect for human rights,peace and good governance. WithNEPAD, Africa undertakes to respectthe global standards of democracy,whose core components include polit-ical pluralism, allowing for the exis-tence of several political parties andworkers' unions, fair, open, free anddemocratic elections periodicallyorganised to enable the populace tochoose their leaders freely".

Brig Gen William Nkonyeni, theCommandant of the South AfricanNational War College, opening theseminar.

strategic alliances with foreign defencecompanies. As such, the DOD runs aprocurement and acquisition policythat has a preference for our localindustry in strategically essentialcapabilities and technologies,"declared Mr Masilela.

The Government also realises thatthere will be limitations on the abilityof our industry to meet all our acquisi-tion needs and has a policy thatencourages foreign companies toparticipate during tender invitations.The Government encourages foreigncompanies to enter into partnershipswith our local companies by way ofjoint developments, technology trans-fer or logistics support collaboration.

In the context of the globalisationof defence production, Governmentwill encourage and support joint ven-tures between local and foreign def-ence firms. However, the Governmentwill not contribute to the uncontrol-led proliferation of armaments and

armaments technology through theapproval of international joint ven-tures and strategic alliances betweenlocal and foreign defence firms.

The Chief of Acquisition andProcurement, Mr Bruce Ramfolo,noted that we need to showcase thedefence technologies that can beacquired jointly by the two nations, toidentify partnership opportunistsamong the different members of ourindustries. This must be done to shareour experience and exposures so as todevelop superior technologies that aremandatory for today's security forces.This seminar will also provide anopportunity for our country's relationsto strengthen even further. It is alsothe objective of the seminar to provideopportunity for black economic em-powerment companies and small andmedium enterprises to participate in aglobal defence industrial sphere.

"This seminar will be in the form ofa plenary and thematic workshop in

which the following areas of inter-est will be addressed: aeronautics,land systems, maritime and tele-communications. It will also provideparticipating industry with the oppor-tunity to market itself and also pro-vide opportunity for technology dem-onstrations for interested and partici-pating industries," added Mr Ramfolo.

The Ambassador of France toSouth Africa, Ambassador Jean Felix-Paganon, said that both countries hadexcellent co-operation agreements,especially in the political arena. Hementioned that the two countries havedefied the misconception of the oldsaying that you cannot be partners ifyou are competitors.

He also praised South Africa'sinvolvement in peace support opera-tions aimed at bringing peace andstability in Africa, which in turnwill boost investor confidence andthe alleviation of poverty and un-employment.

focus on people


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New Warrant Officer for the SAMHSBy CPO Dennis NdabaPhoto: F Sgt Amelda Strydom

change of office parade of theWarrant Officer of the SouthAfrican Military HealthServices (SAMHS) was heldat the SAMHS TrainingFormation parade ground inThaba Tshwane on 27 May

2005. WO1 Moses Sebone succeededWO1 Rodney Wilson when he steppeddown after a long and colourful careerin the SAMHS.

In paying tribute to WO1 Wilson,the then Surgeon General, Lt GenRinus Jansen van Rensburg, said hehad always performed his tasks withdiligence in his unique quiet mannerand will be remembered for hiscourage and honesty, which he dem-onstrated throughout his career.

"Warrant Officer Wilson has set aworthy example to follow. He is a per-son of integrity who set high stan-dards and believed in upholding prin-ciple, procedures, discipline and workethics. The Non-commissioned OfficerSkills Competition, which he intro-duced, managed and ran, is but one ofmany examples. He always took pridein his work, and was regarded as aproud soldier, whose neatness andbearing were always impeccable. Hisfriendly, open and approachable man-ner ensured sound working relation-ships with his subordinates, peers andseniors. He was always courteous andavailable to others to assist in correct-ing mistakes," declared the SurgeonGeneral.

During his address WO1 Wilsondescribed his appointments as Regi-mental Sergeant Major, CommandSergeant Major and Sergeant Major ofthe SAMHS, and having had the priv-ilege of serving in the training envi-ronment for eighteen years as thehighlight of his career. He mentioned

health worker. After his repatriationfrom Zambia, where he also workedin the National Health Secretariat ofthe African National Congress (ANC),he joined the SANDF.

He became a warrant officer in thelogistics environment, having under-gone all the military training courses,including Basic Military Training inthe new SANDF. He was appointedas Wing Warrant Officer and wasamong the first Non-statutory Forcemembers to become CommandSergeant Major of the then NorthernCape Medical Command. After serv-ing for more than three years he wasrecalled to Pretoria and served as theFormation Sergeant Major of TertiaryMilitary Health Formation. He waslater appointed Warrant Officer of theInspector General of SAMHS, havingserved nearly three years in his previ-ous post. WO1 Sebone is married toVirginia and has two sons and twodaughters.

that soldieringwas an hon-ourable profes-sion that neededto be recom-mended to anyyoung man orwoman; and thatthe SANDF wasan organisationthat recognisedand rewardedloyalty, commit-ment and leader-ship. WO1 MosesSebone is affec-tionately knownas Bethuel amonghis compatriots.He is the firstNon-s ta tu toryForce member tobecome a War-rant Officer at

Lt Gen Rinus Jansen van Rensburg, the then SurgeonGeneral, officiates as WO1 Rodney Wilson handed overto WO1 Moses Sebone.

Level 2 in the DOD. His appointmentto this position was, and will continueto be, guided by the common desire ofthe people in their determination tobuild a South Africa, which belongs toall who live in it.

He was born and bred in Alexan-dra. He studied and completed histertiary levels. Then he moved toTembisa near Kempton Park. Owingto his commitment to the cause of thestruggle of the people of this country,he was detained several times duringthe heat of the struggle for liberation.

The late Dr Beyers Naudé advisedhim to leave the country throughMozambique to join the gallant fight-ers of Umkhonto we Sizwe in Angola.He underwent training including mil-itary combat work.

Through his determination to con-tinue with the just cause he became amedical orderly and, in his thirst forknowledge, he qualified himself as alaboratory assistant and a community

A


25

Exercise COMBINEDENDEAVOR 2005By Maj A. de Beer, Exercise COMBINED ENDEAVORDelegation Chief

n 9 May 2005 fifteen mem-bers of the Command andManagement InformationSystems Division (CMIS) leftfor Germany to participatein Exercise COMBINEDENDEAVOR to mark an his-

toric milestone for both the SANDFand Southern Africa as a whole.Exercise COMBINED ENDEAVOR isan interoperability exercise, which ispresented annually by the UnitedStates European Command (USEU-COM) and is hosted by the GermanDefence Force.

South Africa received observer'sstatus in 2002. In 2005 the eleventhyear that Exercise COMBINEDENDEAVOUR has been presentedSouth Africa, at the invitation ofUSEUCOM, received acceptance fromthe 47 nations from four continents toparticipate in a North Atlantic TreatyOrganisation (NATO)/Partnership forPeace (PFP) exercise as a full partici-pant. The SANDF took full advantageof this opportunity and participated inall the disciplines offered at theExercise, viz: data transport, singlechannel radio, video telephone confer-encing, switch technology, frequen-cy management workshop and testaugmenters.

To enable our contingent to takepart in the various disciplines, fivetonnes of telecommunication equip-ment was shipped to Germany on acivilian freighter. As South Africa isnot a member of NATO or PFP, Col L.de Jager and Maj A. de Beer attendedthe planning session for the Exercisethat was held in Moldova, where theywere given the opportunity to presentSouth Africa's application for fullaccreditation. After serious discus-sion, South Africa was granted full

participant status in Spain in March2005. The COMBINED ENDEAVORconcept paper was then amended toaccept South Africa as a full partici-pant. The respective delegation chiefsof the 47 participating nations then rat-ified the document.

Exercise COMBINED ENDEAVORprovided these members with theopportunity to test their interoperabil-ity with some of the most advancedcommunication equipment availablein the world today and were able todocument the over 1 200 tests thatwere conducted at this years' exercise.The South African contingent conduct-ed over fifty tests within the differentdisciplines. The 98% success rate,which was achieved, proved beyonddoubt that the SANDF's CommandInformation Systems (CIS) equipmentis equal to if not better than that of thetechnology used by the other partici-pating nations.

The South African contingent had

the opportunity to exchange ideas andcommunicate with other signallersfrom 47 different nations. Our delega-tion also received visits from high-ranking officers from the CMISDivision, including Maj Gen A.C.Hurribunce, Chief CMIS Division,who congratulated the delegation on ajob well done. Officers from otherAfrican nations, including Nigeria,Botswana, the Sudan and Chad alsovisited the contingent.

While in Germany Maj GenHurribunce held talks with USEU-COM and it was suggested that SouthAfrica could host a similar interoper-ability exercise in 2006 to be calledAFRICAN ENDEAVOUR, which willfocus on the interoperability betweenvarious African countries. The contin-gent returned to South Africa on 28May 2005. Preparation has alreadybegun for COMBINED ENDEAVOUR2006 to ensure that our participation isof the highest standard.

The South African delegation at the test site in Germany, fltr: Maj Anton deBeer (Delegation Chief), S Sgt Buks Beukes (Delegation Warrant Officer andLead Technician), Cpl Amanda Koetaan (Switch Operator) and Lt JacoJacobs (Single Channel Radio Operator).

O

insight


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Know your militaryobserversBy Maj W. Meiring, SO1 PSO (J Ops Div HQ)

he first military and missionreadiness training presentedin South Africa was held inJuly/August 1999 in Pretoriaby Joint Operations. Thiscourse was planned and pre-sented to train personnel due

to deploy to the Democratic Republicof Congo (DRC).

Approximately eighty people,including women, were trained andplaced in two groups, a high readinessgroup and a standby group. The origi-nal idea was to deploy senior MilitaryLiaison Officers (MLO) to the war-torncountry for an assessment of futuredeployments. This course led to thedeployment of one MLO to the DRC inSeptember of 1999.

The first military observers(MILOBs) to deploy went to Ethiopiaand Eritrea in December 2000. Themembers selected for this deploymentwere selected from the high readinessgroup that was trained in September1999. During this time it became clearthat the members trained were eitherpromoted from deployable rankgroups or were staffed in posts thatcould not be abandoned for a twelve-month period.

The requirement for South Africato become more involved in peace-keeping in Africa became clear, withthe main focus of the SANDF shiftingfrom conventional operations topeacekeeping operations. The secondMILOBs course was presented ona theoretical basis only and littleemphasis was placed on the practicalscenarios.

The SANDF is currently involvedin numerous missions in Africa. Thecurrent missions in the DRC, Burundi,Ethiopia, Eritrea and Liberia are

United Nations (UN) mandatemissions. The mission currently inSudan is an African Union (AU) man-dated mission. The current mission inthe Ivory Coast is due to a bilateralagreement between South Africa andthe Ivory Coast.

Military observers trainingJoint Operations Division is

responsible for the planning and man-aging of missions where MILOBs willbe utilised. Joint Operations Divisionwill be requested by the UN/AU viathe Directorate Foreign Affairs (DFA)to become involved in a mission for aspecific country. Out of these negotia-tions certain posts will become avail-able that have to be filled by theSANDF.

Joint Operations Division will thentask Joint Training to train newMILOBs if there are not sufficientMILOBs available for deployment.The last MILOBs course held inNovember 2004 was a good examplethat MILOBs can be trained to readi-ness level, upon request. The memberstrained on this course were trained todeploy to Sudan.

Practical trainingIt has become evident that the

MILOBs have found it more and moredifficult to manage in the first few ofmonths of the mission. JointOperations Division, together withJoint Training, realised that theobservers have no practical experienceupon which to fall back in theirdeployment and were instead relyingon conventional training experience.

To rectify this gap a practical phasewas developed to supplement the the-oretical training. The second practicalcourse since August 1999 was present-ed in Bloemfontein in November 2004and was a huge success.

A grouping of thirty-two men andwomen were trained during thistwo-week phase, with a strong empha-sis placed on negotiation skills.

The course was presented at theSchool of Armour at the De Brug train-ing grounds outside of Bloemfontein.The first week was allocated for thereaffirmation and training of basic mil-itary skills that are necessary for thecompletion of the tasks of a MILOB.This training includes the use of theglobal positioning system (GPS) andthe practical handling of a 4x4 vehiclein difficult terrain.

T

The Military Observers weretrained to use the global positioning system (GPS) and inthe practical handling of a 4x4vehicle in difficult terrain.

Nothing in life is as valuable as actual

experience.


27

During the field phase the troopsof 1 Special Service Battalion (1 SSB)were utilised to portray the rebel fac-tions. As 1 SSB is known for providingprofessional, well-trained members,the troops involved in the course wereable to adapt easily to the requiredrole-play of portraying rebels. One ofthe main tasks of this role-play was toprevent the new MILOBs (in training)from conducting themselves in anunprofessional manner, which mightcreate a negative impression of theSANDF and the RSA.

During the field phase of this exer-cise the MILOBs reaffirmed the skillsthat they had been taught in the previ-ous week. They came face to face withaggravated "rebels" and had to man-age both the aspects of negotiationswith the "rebels" and the need to func-tion in harsh terrain with the implicitlogistic difficulties.

The importance of this practicalphase cannot be emphasised suffi-ciently, as it provided the studentswith multiple opportunities to learnand gain valuable experience thatcould save their lives in a real situa-tion.

It is, however, emphasised that

nothing in life is as valuable as actualexperience. This exercise was anopportunity for the members to havesomething to reflect on during theirreal deployment. This practical phaseis designed to simulate probable situa-tions that may be encountered upondeployment, but is not intended to bethe only circumstances a MILOB willencounter.

During a mission there are a mil-lion things that can go wrong andwhich could turn a difficult opportu-nity into a deadly or friendly one. AsMilitary Observers, the students weretrained to think and use the only twoweapons that a MILOB has, namelyhis brain and his mouth.

The success of a course of thisscope relies hugely upon the effectiveand timeous co-ordination and plan-ning of multiple resources. Gratefulthanks are extended to Lt Col Lloydfrom the Chief of Joint Training andMaj W. Meiring from Joint OperationsDivision.

Becoming a military observerHere are a few guidelines for those

members in the SANDF who are inter-ested in becoming a MILOB:

You have to be 35 years oryoungerYou have to be in the rank groupCaptain or MajorYou have to be nominated by yourServiceYou must be CHA GreenYou have to be up to date withyour immunisationsYou have to be in possession of anofficial passportYou have to be in possession of avalid military and civilian drivinglicenceYou have to complete the MilitaryObservers Course successfully.As a MILOB you are working for

the UN/AU and not for the SANDF.However, you are still a member ofthe SANDF, and as such you are anambassador for your country, yourService, your Corps and especiallyyourself.

Good luck to all those membersdeployed outside the borders of thisfine country and an especial word ofgratitude to their loved ones for mak-ing such a big sacrifice in letting theirfamily members carry the flag ofSouth Africa into Africa. We saluteyou all.

Air Force hosts foreign visitBy Capt J.P. van Vuuren, Ad Astra

The Air Force Command and ControlSchool at Air Force Base Hoedspruithosted members from various foreigndefence forces from 3 to 5 June 2005.This was achieved through the effortsof the Officer Commanding, Col M.O.Mcetywa, Defence Foreign Relations,the SA National Defence College andthe Directorate Command and ControlSystems.

The Officers who attended the visitwere from Algeria, Ghana, Namibiaand Zimbabwe. Col Mcetywa, whowas on the Executive National SecurityProgramme (ENSP) at the time, hadcontinually promoted the Air ForceCommand and Control School and as aresult of his persistence, the SANational Defence College gave their

sanction for the visit to take place.The core business of Air Force

Command and Control School is to bethe proud provider of command andcontrol training for the SA Air Force. Itconducts the functional developmentsof air traffic controllers, mission con-trollers, communication officers, com-mand post officers, MAOT comman-ders, air traffic service assistants, radaroperators, communications operatorsand command post assistants.

One of the visitors was heard toremark: "I can now safely say, I haveseen, and now know, South Africanpeople". This is a direct reflection ofthe excellent work that is being pro-duced by the staff of Air ForceCommand and Control School.Comment was also made on the man-ner in which the School functions as a

unit, striving to achieve a commongoal, something that was rarely seenduring their stay in South Africa.

The aim of the visit was to presentthe Air Force Command and ControlSchool to the foreign visitors for possi-ble future exchange programmes forinstructors and learners. The visitorswere briefed on the functions andcapabilities of the school and werethen given a tour of the School, theLearning Centre and the accommoda-tion facilities. The visit culminatedwith a tour to the Kruger NationalPark, before the guests returned toPretoria on 5 June 2005. The visit wasextremely successful and the mem-bers of Air Force Command andControl School are to be commendedfor their efforts, professionalism andhospitality during this visit.


28

Joint Senior Commandand Staff Programme 2005

uring the months of April andMay 2005 the 2005 Joint SeniorCommand and Staff Program-me (JSCSP), led by the Com-mandant of the SA Nation-al War College (SANWC),Brig Gen William Nkonyeni,

embarked on capability visits to all theServices as part of the Programme's JointWarfare Module.

The first capability visit was to theSA Air Force, which consisted of atwo-day visit to AFB Makhado, wherethe group visited 2 Squadron and 3Air Servicing Unit. The highlight ofthe visit was the attendance of an airdemonstration at the Roodewal BombRange where the group had the oppor-tunity to view a wide variety of air-craft in action, which includedCheetahs, Oryx, Rooivalk and Alouet-te helicopters, as well as the C130 andC47 cargo aircraft.

The visit to SAMHS took place atthe Wallmannsthal Training Areawhere 7 Medical Battalion demon-strated their medical airborne displayand medical support to paratroopersduring operations. The group further-more saw how 8 Medical BattalionGroup dealt with members who hadbeen exposed to chemical and biologi-cal agents.

The 2005 JSCSP learners and mem-bers of the Directing Staff also had theprivilege of visiting 4 Special ForcesRegiment at AFB Langebaanweg andthe SA Navy in Simon's Town. Besidesbriefings and static displays theSpecial Forces demonstrated theircapabilities at the Donkergat TrainingArea. The excellent demonstrationsfocused on how the Special Forcescould be utilised in a joint operationsenvironment where they could puttheir specialist skills into practice.

The visit to the SA Navy in Simon'sTown equipped the programme mem-bers with the necessary understanding

of maritime warfare, with specific ref-erence to surface, mine countermea-sures and submarine warfare. A trip tosea on board one of the new patrolcorvettes, SAS MENDI, was believedto be the highlight of the visit.

During the capability visit toBloemfontein, 2005 JSCSP visited theDOD Mobilisation Centre and a num-ber of SA Army units, namely 1 SAInfantry Battalion, 44 ParachuteRegiment, 1 Special Service Battalion,the School of Armour and 1 SA TankRegiment. The visit included an AirDefence Artillery static demonstrationand an exciting demonstration by var-ious armoured vehicles, which culmi-nated in a demonstration by aRooivalk Combat Support helicopter.It became clear to the learners duringthis visit that to be able to plan andconduct operations at the operationallevel one needed to have an under-standing of the tactical and technicallevels of each Service. The visit to theSA Army units certainly ended thecapability visits on a high note.

The learners have now returned to

the SANWC and are actively buildingupon the valuable knowledge andexperience gained from the above vis-its to orchestrate joint operations byintegrating the effects of all fourServices during the Joint WarfareModule. The Joint Warfare Module,under the helm of Capt (SAN) JoeSinovich, will focus on OperationalArt, Joint Military History,Campaigning, Campaign Planningand International Law.

On completion of the programmein November 2005 the learners willgraduate from the College and returnto their appointments throughout theDOD and SANDF and, if necessary,these officers educated at operationallevel will be able to take their place ascommanders or staff officers in JointTask Force HQs and conduct opera-tions across the spectrum of conflict.(Article compiled by Lt Col DeonGreyling, Lt Col Fanie Sehlolo, Lt ColDan Mthimunye and Cdr FionaStrydom - currently in Joint Task Force5 [Syndicate 5] attending the 2005JSCSP at the SANWC.)

D

The SA Navy and the SA Air Force grapple with the guns of the SA Army.


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Adding value to our MinistryBy CPO Dennis NdabaPhoto: F Sgt Amelda Strydom

he Ministry of Defence boaststhree new employees.

The Ministry of Defencehas found a jewel in MsMankwana Ramodike-Thovhakale. Born and bred inMoime near Tzaneen, she

joined the Ministry on 1 July 2005 aftera short stint at the JohannesburgDevelopment Agency, which is respon-sible for developing Johannesburg andmaking it a world-class city. Her jobentails human resource management,human resource development, finan-cial management and budgeting, butshe sees it as her contribution to serv-ing the nation. It also includes liaisonwith people in the DOD and other Statedepartments. About her job she saysthat it gives her the opportunity to use100% of what she has learnt and theenvironment keeps her on her toes."Women have a major role to play insociety and overall as mothers, wivesand sisters, apart from affirmativeaction and equity, we are supposed tosee to it that we grow in developing acareer path for ourselves as the sky isthe limit," she added. She is driven bythe will to accomplish her goals andher role model is her mother, as sheadmired her strength in raising sevenchildren single-handedly. "She pushedvery hard when my dad was not thereand all of us are now enjoying a betterlife. She loves us unconditionallyregardless of what we do and she hasan amazing compassion for people."Ms Thovhakale enjoys cooking, read-ing and motivational speaking. She is amember of the Tower of Grace Churchand is involved in the HIV/Aidsawareness campaign. She is married toMr Shumani Thovhakale, a field tech-nician at Detnet.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts inAdministration with majors inIndustrial Psychology and Public

T

Administration from the University ofLimpopo, a postgraduate diploma inHuman Resource Management fromthe University of Johannesburg. She isbusy with her Masters in BusinessManagement at the University ofJohannesburg and will complete herthesis entitled: "Does training in thePublic Service improve service deliv-ery" in December 2005.

Mr Mzamane William Hlongwanestarted working in the Ministry as adriver and messenger on 21 June 2005.He lives in Soshanguve. He startedworking for the Department ofDefence in 1987 as a messenger atDequar Road. He is responsible fortransporting documents that need tobe despatched from the Ministry tovarious State departments and he alsoconveys personnel of the Ministry totheir destinations.

He is very content with the expo-

2005 as an Assistant Director forCabinet Liaison. His job entails liaisonwith the Ministry and the Presidency,Cabinet, all Cabinet Com-mittees andthe DOD, involving the same issues.His goal is to achieve good comprehen-sive communication, especially onCabinet matters within the Ministry,with the Secretary for Defence and theChief of the SANDF and to support theMinister as part of a bigger team wihtinthe Ministry.

Advocate Kruger is passionateabout his work and his true interest liesin the Government in general, andspecifically the Ministry. He is anenthusiastic sportsman, loves outdoorlife and is a big fan of jazz music. Heholds an LLB degree with majors ininternational politics and relations, aswell as an LLM degree with majors inPublic and International Law, bothfrom the University of Potchefstroom.

Clockwise, from left: Advocate Johan Kruger, Mr Mzamane William Hlongwane and Ms Mankwana Ramodike-Thovhakale.

sure that he is gettingfrom his job. MrHlongwane is married toMargaret, who works forPrestigious and they areblessed with three chil-dren. An ardent KaizerChiefs supporter, heenjoys gardening andlistening to traditionalTsonga music.

Another new acqui-sition in the Ministry isAdvocate Johan Kruger,who was born inPotchefstroom in theNorth West. He was inprivate practice for twoyears. Thereafter hejoined the NationalProsecuting Authority.He joined the MilitaryLegal Service in 2002and was working onoperations law supportin international relationsand the law. He joinedthe Ministry on 1 August

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Hosting an EquityWorkshopBy Col Dineo Monethi, SSO Affirmative ActionPhoto: F Sgt DavidNomtshongwana

he Equal Opportunities ChiefDirectorate (EOCD) hostedthe DOD Equity Workshop atthe SA Army College on 10and 11 February 2005. Itencompassed the implemen-tation of affirmative action,

fast-tracking, and mentoring process-es. The theme of the Equity Workshopwas "Implementation of Equity for theEffectiveness of the DOD".

The seminar drew attention to thefact that the implementation of affir-mative action should be seen holisti-cally and be used to examine theorganisational culture and its influ-ence on equity initiatives.

Two aims were identified as partof this year's Equity Workshop, name-ly to assist the Services and Divisionswith the effective implementation ofequity in the DOD, and secondly, toencourage the Services and Divisionsto implement the equity processes intheir environments as a strategy tosupport and promote fast-tracking,development and empowerment pro-grammes in the DOD.

The workshop programmeaddressed six topics: 1. The legalframework and the assessment of theimplications as a background to theimplementation of equity in the DOD;2. The PSAP Mentoring; 3. TheDominance, Influence, Steadiness,Compliance (DISC) BehaviouralProfile Tool in support of mentoring;4. The best practices on fast-trackingand mentoring of the SA Air Forceand the SA Navy; 5. Barriers to theimplementation of equity in the DOD;6. Recommendations.

PSAP. During the discussion concernswere expressed about the issue of thePSAP Joint Defence Publication andthe Defence Act Personnel MentorshipGuidelines. Chief Director EqualOpportunities and Directorate CareerDevelopment (PSAP) were requestedto look at areas for co-operation onmentoring.

Disc Assessment BehaviouralProfile Tool

Mr Arthur Hammond from AxiomSoftware gave a presentation on theDisc Assessment Tool in support ofthe mentoring process. The DISCbehavioural profiler tool can be cus-tomised for job creation and is amatching tool to manage, train, coach,strengthen and enrich personnelpower and capacities.

Critical arguments raised againstthe tool were that it did not have cul-tural validity and has not been regis-tered with the Health ProfessionsCouncil. The implications of the DiscTool for the mentoring process were

TCol Dineo Monethi, SSO Affirmative Action.

Legal framework and background

Col Monethi made a presentationon the DOD legal framework, whichimpacts on the implementation ofequity in the DOD. She outlined thefollowing areas: the DOD transforma-tional strategic approach; equity objec-tives and equity plans; equity terms ofreference; national representivity withthe DOD representivity targets, aswell as fast-tracking and the mentor-ing process in the DOD.

The following areas were high-lighted as the implications of the legalframework:

The expectations that membershave regarding promotionprospects when they are identifiedfor fast-tracking.Succession planning and the reser-vation of posts for the matchingand placement process by Servicesand Divisions.Compliance with national equitytargets and imperatives.Resistance to change, the need fortransformational leadership,change and paradigm shifts, needfor exposure, PSAP exclusion as aconcern for trade unions.DOD skills audit.Affirmative action, fast-trackingand mentoring. PSAP mentoring programme anddevelopment.Diversity management in theDOD.

PSAP Mentoring Policy Dr Herman Kasselman, Director

Career Development (PSAP), gave apresentation on the PSAP MentoringPolicy. The decision was that theEOCD was to review the MentorshipGuidelines to include the JointDefence Publication in mentorship for


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seen to be the absence of diversitymanagement linkages in the careermanagement process and in the appli-cation of the tool to mentoring.

SAAF and SA Navy best practices in fast-tracking andmentoring

The SA Air Force and the SA Navybriefed the participants on their affir-mative action, fast-tracking and men-toring processes. Concern wasexpressed about the non-achievementof the equity objectives and targets. Itwas mentioned that the Services didnot cater for their members located inthe Divisions and outside of theServices and that neither members noremployees were informed of the DODequity implementation and applica-tion processes.

Barriers to the implementationof equity in the DOD

The workshop distinguishedbetween general barriers to the imple-mentation of equity and those experi-enced on the basis of race, gender and

disabilities in the DOD.

General barriersThe following were identified as

global barriers to equity implementa-tion:

Lack of communication regardingequity policies to the lower levelsin the DOD.Resistance to change and the man-agement of diversity in the absenceof cultural diversity programmes.The Services' lack of informationon the implementation of fast-tracking and the identification offast-trackers.A perceived lack of commitmentand compliance with the imple-mentation of equity in the DOD.Inadequacy or non-existence ofcareer management processes insupport of equity.Equity and fast-tracking processesare mainly spearheaded by per-sons who resist change and trans-formation in the DOD and have nointerest in the designated groups.The absence of an effective exit

mechanism to assist representivityin the over-represented areas.The budgetary constraints raisedon the development of the desig-nated groups and equity imple-mentation processes.Inconsistencies with the applica-tion of Human Resources policies,especially regarding promotions. Negative attitudes, low moraleand the perceived absence of cohe-sion on the issue of equity.The interpretation of employmentequity principles by the differentServices.Lack of an integrated planbetween Services and Divisionsregarding career management andsuccession planning. DOD policiesare not aligned (internal and statu-tory policies, Services andDivisions' policies differ, HumanResources policy alignment).Lack of transparency in terms ofthe implementation of affirmativeaction and the fast-tracking crite-ria used to identify fast-trackers.

(Continued on page 32)

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Formal adoption of the nationalrepresentivity targets by the DOD:75% Blacks, 30% women and 2%people with disabilities.The non-measurement and non-enforcement of compliance by theServices and lack of enforcementmechanisms.No time limits for the completionof equity implementation.Poor performance management,performance directives of man-agers (key performance areas ofmanagers exclude principles relat-ing to equity and affirmativeaction).Fragmented Human Resourcesfunctions in the DOD, HumanResources managers resistingimplementing equal opportunitiesand affirmative action.No curriculum of equal opportuni-ties and affirmative action in thetraining of managers on the func-tional and development pro-grammes.The perception that protégés areperceived to be threatening thementors in relation to the succes-sion planning.The non-application of the relativedisadvantage principle with desig-nated groups.

Racial and ethnic barriersBarriers to the implementation of

equity specifically in terms of racewere identified as racism, ethnic based(discrimination) or perceived tribal-ism, as well as xenophobia.

Gender barriersBarriers to the implementation of

equity specifically in terms of genderwere identified as follows:

Sexism and the perception thatwomen are not soldiers.Poor organisational climate forgender equality to prevail (sexualharassment, gender stereotypingand gender insensitivity attitudes).The absence of DOD gender tar-gets.Lack of access to developmental

programmes and the preparationof women to assume leadershiproles in the DOD.Inflexible and gender insensitivepolicies, which do not allow careermobility for women.

Disability barriersBarriers to the implementation of

equity specifically in terms of disabili-ty were identified as follows:

The Defence Recruiting Strategy isaimed at youthful and fit soldiers(HR 2010 Strategy).Negative attitudes towards peoplewith disabilities. Fear of disclosure of disability sta-tus for fear of rationalisation.Lack of awareness campaigns byServices on disability issues.Accessibility (infrastructure, com-munication and information). TheDOD implementation of barrierfree access.Neglect of the inherent job require-ments, and suitable musterings foremployees with disabilities.Not applying the reasonableaccommodation principle to peo-ple with disabilities.

Racial barriersThe perceptions of ethnicity, racialand xenophobia problems in theDOD.

Human Resources process andplanning

The Human Resources process andplanning can be divided into twophases. Phase I should entail the fol-lowing: 1. Succession planning. 2.Skills audit and the skills developmentplan. 3. The involvement of DIDETA.4. Involve key stakeholders, egInspector General, Human ResourcesPolicy and Planning, trade unions,labour and other employee organisa-tions applicable. 5. The finalisationand confirmation of all DOD restruc-turing processes. 6. The application ofthe Employment Equity Plans andTerms of Reference.

Phase II should entail the fol-lowing: 1. Protégés could apply to be

fast-tracked (self-nomination). 2. Poolmanagers could identify fast-trackers.3. The selection committee/boards areto verify and endorse fast-trackers(Fast-tracking Assessment Board atService/ Division level). 4. Monitor-ing and evaluation of progress (DODFast-tracking Assessment Board isto monitor Services implementationprocesses).

RecommendationsIt was recommended that the DOD

should make policies visible and edu-cate DOD personnel on all equity pro-cesses.

The DOD has to focus on attitudechange and management of racial per-ceptions through training, sensitisingand awareness programmes, controland monitoring through visits androadshows.

The DOD Strategy must be alignedwith equity implementation, and com-pliance measurement must be includ-ed in the Service/Division Chiefs per-formance agreement. (Service Chiefsshould be evaluated and monitored ontheir performance agreement.)

The monitoring mechanism on theimplementation of equity should betransparent (Incentives, timelines,enforcement mechanisms and rewardsystems).

The inclusion and involvement ofEOCD in all DOD career managementand succession planning processes tomonitor objectivity.

Service and Divisional Chiefs areto ensure regular and consistent atten-dance of equity forums by mandatedrepresentatives.

EOCD should replace equal oppor-tunities and affirmative action advi-sors at Levels 3 and 4, and multi-skilled functionaries are to be seen as aforce multiplier. The absence thereof isimpacting on the effectiveness of theprogrammes.

Equity compliance is to be includ-ed in the key performance areas of theServices and Divisional Chiefs. TheSecretary for Defence and the Chief ofthe SANDF must lead and sponsor theequity processes.

(Continued from page 31)


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Ethics and characterdevelopmentBy Capt Ester Kruger, SO2 Research, Training andDevelopment: LCAMPS

t is not the critic who counts; not theman who points out how the strongman stumbles, or where the doer ofdeeds could have done them better.The credit belongs to the man who isactually in the arena, whose face ismarred by dust and sweat and blood;

who strives valiantly; who errs, and comesshort again and again because there is noeffort without error and shortcoming; butwho does actually strive to do the deeds;who knows the great enthusiasms, thegreat devotions; who spends himself in aworthy cause; who at the best knows in theend the triumph of high achievement, andwho at the worst, if he fails, at least failswhile daring greatly, so that his place shallnever be with those cold and timid soulswho know neither victory nor defeat" -Theodore Roosevelt.

As peoples of the world, we havefaced more change in the last 50 yearsthan probably in the whole of historybefore that. We have emerged from thedark ages to face WW I and WW II,which brought about massive techno-logical and social developments. Thesechanges were massive, rapid, perva-sive and inevitable. This type ofchange creates unique challenges forhumanity, which has to keep on func-tioning optimally while continuouslyadapting to rapidly changing environ-ments. To keep swimming in theserough seas requires leadership. To stayafloat requires principles that endurethe rough seas… Principle-based lead-ership is thus the combination of beingable to change while not losing a firmbase.

In our personal and professionallives we all face a myriad of problems.Some of the hardest questions are thefollowing:

How do I balance personal andprofessional areas of life in themidst of constant crises andpressures?How can I be genuinely happyabout the successes and competen-cies of another?How do we maintain control, yetgive people the freedom andautonomy they need to be effectivein their work?

The special environment of thesoldier

Dr Martin Cook, Professor ofEthics in the Department of Com-mand, Leadership and Management atthe US Army War College, states thatthoughtful military professionalsshould feel a deep tension when think-ing about the moral basis of their pro-fession. On the one hand, military ser-vice is all about the deepest values insociety, eg honour, courage and duty.On the other hand, the military exist to

be used by the political leadership of acountry, and therefore sometimes forless than grand purposes. The ques-tion is, therefore, how can an organisa-tion that embodies the highest princi-ples of human life serve to advance theinterests of any particular community?

The following are possible furtherreasons why we may conclude that the

Fltr: Mr M.J. Legadima, WO1 A.M. van Belkum, Capt E.H. Kruger, Capt M. Botha and WO1 A. Dido. Back: Lt Col J.E. Dibley.

I“"What you areshouts so loudin my ears Icannot hear

what you say"- Emerson.

(Continued on page 34)

Part 1

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military professional might need ahigher moral standard than the rest ofthe community:

Soldiers face unique situations,contexts and problems. In a mili-tary operation we might find our-selves in a situation where inno-cent civilians could be hurt. Powerrelationships based on the rankstructure give rise to a unique mil-itary system. The consequences ofimmoral action can be far moredisastrous than in any othersphere of society.The functional line is that soldierswill not be able to do their jobs ifthey were not selfless to a certaindegree. Risking your life for anoth-er and even tolerating the ordinaryhardships of military life require asense of altruism.The demands of the role -Ficarrotta uses the example of thepolice officer being morally boundto do something if he sees a crimein progress, while an ordinary citi-zen would not necessarily feel thesame moral obligation.Group image - The military consti-tutes a readily identifiable group,and thus misconduct by one canlead to bad consequences formany.According to Rocky Williams, for-

mer SSO Strategic Liaison in the SAArmy Directorate Planning, the pur-pose of the creation of a professionalethic for military practitioners is thefollowing:

It protects the citizens from thepotential abuse of power associat-ed with the military.It creates parameters within whicha service to the client may berendered.It delineates the constitutionalsanction of the rights of the armedforces.It justifies the existence of themilitary.Because of the transformation of

the South African armed forces, ourcurrent SA military ethic is an inter-esting mix of influences. On the onehand we have the classic British

doctrine of an "Officer and aGentleman", while on the other admit-ting the democratic principles ofUmkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and the tra-ditional influence of the TBVC forces.International laws of war integratedwith the diverse influences of ourdiverse nation make identification ofcommon ground so much moredifficult.

Principle-based leadership isbased on using ancient ethical princi-ples that exist across cultures, racesand religious groupings. We have in asense lost our internal compass in thechange and diversity. It is there, andeverybody has it; we just have to findit again.

Why principle-centred leadership?

When you think of helping ateenager through an identity crisis orcultivating a farm, there is no quickfix. Natural laws, principles operate

Leadership, in its simplest form,can be defined as "the exercising of aninfluence over people in a whole rangeof situations" while managementinvolves the application of technicalskills to achieve set objectives throughset procedures through the effectiveand efficient use of resources.

Principle-based leadership propos-es the development of leaders withmoral character. The concept of char-acter can best be explained when it iscontrasted with a related concept ofpersonality. Personality is "a durabledisposition to behave in a particularway in a variety of situations".Personality is thus observablebehaviour. Character, on the other


ManagersAdministrate

Maintain

Focus on systems andstructures

Rely on control

Ask how and when

Perform tasks

Do things "right"

Power - the capacity to act andhave courage.Principle-centred leaders are thus

people of character who build princi-ples in everything they do. Charactercommunicates most eloquently in theworld. Fame, wealth and talent are ofsecondary importance to character -there are numerous examples in worldhistory (Hansie Cronje, Bill Clinton,etc.). As Emerson once put it: "Whatyou are shouts so loud in my ears Icannot hear what you say".

DefinitionsFirstly, we have to clarify despite

the fog obscuring the subject matterjargon all the definitions of importantconcepts to ensure that we begin at thesame point of departure. Why are wetalking about principle-based leader-ship and not management? The fol-lowing comparison between the con-cepts of leadership and managementwill clarify the issue (1:5)

LeadersInnovate

Develop

Focus on people

Inspire trust

Ask what and when

Originate tasks

Do the "right" things

regardless of ourawareness or ourlevel of obedience tothem. Prin-ciple-cen-tred leadership pro-poses that we centreour lives aroundthese enduring prin-ciples, regardless ofwhether we are lead-ers or followers,fathers or mothers.Principles are notinvented by society. In that sense theyare the same as the laws of gravity.They are the laws of the universe thatpertain to all human interaction. Theyfunction like a compass - alwayspointing the way. They are also likethe hub of a wheel, unifying and inte-grating all that is connected to them.According to Steven Covey focusingon principles provides the followingdirect results:

Security in identity, self-esteemand personal strength.Guidance in decision-making andactions taken. Wisdom in understanding howthings are integrated and balancedin the world.


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The Warrant Officer honouredBy Lebohang LetaoanaPhoto: F Sgt AmeldaStrydom

The Warrant Officer of theSANDF, WO1 Jakes Jacobs,was honoured with a 40years (29 years in the SADFAND 11 years in theSANDF) service certificateby the SA Army ArmourForma-tion for his contri-bution to the DefenceForce. This event took placeat the Armour FormationHeadquarters on 31 May2005 - the day after thechange of commandbetween Gen SiphiweNyanda and Gen GodfreyNgwenya, the new Chief ofthe SANDF.

Brig Gen Chrisnot compromised. WO1 Jacobs saidhe felt so special to be recognised andthat he was proud of the SA ArmyArmour Formation. He joined the SAArmy when he was 17 years old, andtoday at 58 he is still going strong.

Some of the units in which he hasserved are: 1 Special Service Battalion,Infantry School, 2 Armoured CarRegiment, Army HQ, Army College,Logistic Formation and LogisticCommand.

Fltr: WO1 Abel Mabote (RSM 1 SSB), WO1 Jakes Jacobs (WO SANDF), Brig Gen Chris Gildenhuys (GOC SA Army Armour Formation) and WO1 Floors Venter(WO SA Army Armour Formation).

hand, can be described as a person'slevel of virtue, the ethics one lives byin the form of a "heartfelt" personalCode of Conduct or principles.Essentially character is most evidentwhen people are alone or under pres-sure. Personality can be disguised,character cannot.

Another important concept whenspeaking about principle-centred lead-ership is principles, as opposed to val-ues. Steven Covey describes a mug-ging he witnessed in New York. Themembers of that game may share com-mon values, eg "be loyal to eachother", but this value does not repre-sent the principle of respect for people

and property. The same can be usedwhen we talk about people like Hitler.Hitler could have been a value drivenperson, espousing values like unifyingGermany, but he violated the principleof respect for other human beings, andsuffered the consequences. Principlesare thus like compasses pointing theway, regardless of the circumstances.Values are like maps. They are onlysubjective attempts to describe territo-ry. They are thus only as effective astheir subjective internal interpretation.

The last definition before we cancome to a true understanding of prin-ciple-centred leadership is the conceptof ethics. Kanungu uses the definition

of the Concise Oxford EnglishDictionary when describing ethics.According to this definition, ethicsrelate to morals and to rules of con-duct. Morals simply defined, are thechoice between right and wrong. Afull definition of ethics will thus be"rules of conduct describing what isright and wrong." Taking all of theabove-mentioned into account, prin-ciple-centred leadership can be sim-ply described as influencing peopleby living according to an internal"code of conduct" based on universalprinciples of character

(Part II will be published in theOctober 2005 edition of SA SOLDIER.)

Gildenhuys, the General OfficerCommanding SA Army ArmourFormation, said he was really proud ofWO1 Jacobs because he retained hisprofessionalism throughout his careerand because his professional style was

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Air PowerBy Brig Gen Des Baker, Officer Commanding AFB Makhado

ot to have an adequate air forcein the present state of theworld is to compromise thevery foundations of nationalfreedom and independence.This philosophical state-ment was made by Winston

Churchill in the House of Commonson 14 March 1933, during a time inwhich the world was at apparentpeace with itself. The horror and dev-astation of the Great War of 1914 -1918 was still well ingrained in theminds of politicians and militarystrategists alike, except of course inGermany. The British Prime Ministerat that time, Chamberlain, believedthat there was little likelihood of awar, let alone a World War. But thenagain, predicting the future has neverbeen one of mankind's strong points.

Since then, mankind has continuedto take up arms against itself whilenatural disasters have bequeatheddestitution by wreaking havoc onhumanity at irregular intervals.Natural disasters have often broughtdestruction with effects equal to, orworse than the effects of war - oneneed only recall the vivid televisionshots of the devastation caused by theBoxing Day 2003 Tsunami. Equally,the destruction caused by the recentwars in Iraq was also vividly dis-played on televisions in living roomsworldwide. The point is this: airpower has two manifestations, offen-sive operations and humanitarian sup-port. Considering the role of airpower, both in its offensive andhumanitarian role, and based on airpower legacy, there is no doubt thatthe time is right for air power, in itscurrent guise, to be regarded as a"Force for Peace".

An analysis of one hundred andsixty 20th century campaigns in whichair power was a factor concluded thatcontrol of the air is fundamentally

important to the success of a cam-paign. By the same token, an analysisof all natural disasters and catastro-phes during the last century hasdemonstrated the importance of airpower in its more defensive guise, vizthat of humanitarian support and dis-aster relief.

There is no doubt that theacknowledged forefathers of airpower, Trenchard, Smuts, et al, ifasked to comment on the progress ofair power and its multifaceted contri-butions, would be extremely proud ofthe progress, development andachievements of air power to worldfreedom and the upliftment of society.Today it is important to understandthat air power is more than just fire-power, it must be acknowledged as aForce for Peace.

Over the past twenty years, thefocus of air power, as a major compo-nent of military campaigns, has shiftedsomewhat as the world's forces haverealigned following the elimination ofEast-West confrontational diplomacy.

Certainly the most significanttransfiguration of air power's offen-sive role and function was recognisedby scholars as NATO's forces over-whelmed Yugoslav military activity inKosovo and thereby arguably broughtabout the first ever victory by the useof air power alone.

This convinced many military ana-lysts and politicians, of the absoluteutility of air power for the resolutionof conflict, even though in this case itwas against an adversary incapable ofeffective retaliation in the face of over-whelming odds. It is also perhaps self-deceiving to measure the success of airpower from the outcome of one-sidedconflicts such as the Balkans, the oust-ing of the Taliban regime in

N

Gripen.

A Force for

Peace.


37

Afghanistan, or even action againstIraq, since these scenarios, althoughlikely to be typical of some future con-flicts, do not comply with the classicalequally matched conflicts, such asWorld War II or Korea, and was lastseen during the Vietnam War.

Characteristics of air powerSince Gulf War I, through the

Balkans, Afghanistan and Gulf War II,air power has demonstrated its surgi-cal accuracy to effectively change thecourse of war. The sophistication ofmodern weaponry has introduced alevel of accuracy to the battlefield pre-viously unknown to mankind.

Owing to the accuracy of modernair-to-air missiles, the pilot with thebest technology will most likelyemerge victorious in the air battle. Air-to-air missiles today can be launchedbeyond visual range in a fire-and-for-get mode and smart bombs can bedropped to accuracies within 3 metresCEP; accurate enough to put a bombthrough a window over a distance of120 nautical miles. Today, the prolifer-ation of such smart weapons providesoperational commanders with thepotential to inflict severe damage in avery short period of time in an effort toachieve political objectives. Sadly,man has perfected the art of killingand destruction.

In contrast, analysis of the bomb-ing effort of World War II, duringwhich 2.5 million tonnes of bombswere dropped, revealed that fewerthan a quarter of the bombs droppedimpacted within 5 miles of the desig-nated target. High-level bombing wasextremely inaccurate and caused sig-nificant collateral damage with exten-sive loss of civilian lives.

Interestingly and on a point ofsemantics, because of the increasedaccuracy of weapons, delivery plat-forms themselves should no longer bedesignated strategic or tactical - it isthe nature of the task being carried outthat should dictate the level of war-fare. Strategic bombing no longerimplies the massive area bombingraids associated with the strategicoffensives of World War II or Vietnam.A single weapon dropped from a tacti-cal aircraft can now achieve a strategiceffect.

Political contextThe worldwide trend in modern

democracies for the civilian control ofthe military has increased affiliationbetween politicians and the military,bringing new meaning to VonClausewitz's dictum that "war is anextension of politics by other means".Air power now offers not only the mil-itary, but also indirectly the politiciansthe ability to attack targets with preci-sion and with low risk of collateraldamage and of losses of aircrew andaircraft. In fact, the British shadowMinister of Defence, James Gray, MP,told an air power conference inLondon in 2003, that: "Air power is aseductive form of military power,offering gratification without commit-ment".

In democratic societies illicit orunmotivated commitment to warfareor significant losses of personnel dur-ing battles can bring down any gov-ernment, as the Spanish Conservativegovernment discovered during the2004 elections. Although there doesnot seem to have been a significanteffect on the voting inclination of theUnited States' public as a result of theGulf War, the impact on the BritishGovernment will most certainly beanalysed in detail after their electionsin the coming weeks.

But the concern now, however, isthat air power could be considered bypoliticians as a universal remedy forall future wars with the entry into ser-vice of unmanned vehicles (UAVs)and unmanned combat air vehicles(UCAVs) in which risks are even fur-ther reduced. UCAVs remove all riskto aircrew, thereby satisfying thepoliticians' 'CNN phobia' of "no bodybags, thank you!" But politicians bewarned: air power alone cannot holdground and it is important to appreci-ate that ultimately there will be a needto deploy ground forces.

Paradigm shift - threat asymmetry

It is said that nothing much haschanged over the past one hundredyears in the principles of air powerapplication. Not true! The single mostcritical change to air power principlesfollowed the cataclysmic terroristevents of 9/11, marking a 'paradigm

shift' in the military response to whatwould have previously been regardedas a civilian responsibility.

At a stroke, this act of transnation-al terrorism replaced the conventionalmilitary threats for which the US,NATO and the majority of the world'sarmed forces were equipped andtrained, thereby rendering ineffectivemuch of the military doctrine onwhich their operations were based.The new threat posed by transnation-al terrorism is more real than thethreat of nuclear war ever wasbetween the East and the West. It willaffect the daily lives of millions of theworld's population for years to come -the scary part is that it is not suscepti-ble to resolution by the use of airpower alone.

There is currently a movie on thelocal circuit called XXX.2. It is athriller dealing with fundamentalistextremists as the bad guys and someHollywood star as the super cop. Atone stage in the movie, to a melodra-matic musical backdrop, the Presidentof the United States announces:"Extremists need no armies".Although just a Hollywood set-up,those prophetic words capture thereal challenges facing world peacetoday.

Although intelligence gatheringhas always been the backbone of airpower action, what is clear at thisstage is that with the surreptitiousnature of transnational terrorism, theemphasis on surveillance and detec-tion will have to increase by orders ofmagnitude. In fact, surveillance anddetection is certain to become theenabling component in the applica-tion of air power.

South African Air PowerCloser to home, South Africa is

increasingly being called upon to par-ticipate effectively in regional securityobligations. This may at short noticerequire the participation of its airassets in peace support missions andother diplomatic initiatives associatedwith regional security objectives. Suchoperations could range from merelyshowing the flag, through tacticalreconnaissance, air defence and airdenial missions, to include even the(Continued on page 38)

insight


38

full spectrum of offensive counter-airoperations that could be associatedwith peace enforcement missions.These potential scenarios clearly high-light the need for the retention of aviable air capability to ensure effec-tive participation in any mandatedmilitary operation that would besanctioned by either the UnitedNations or, at least, by the AfricanUnion.

Despite this, South Africa has adeclared defensive military posture.Diplomacy and dissuasion are there-fore our first line of defence. The visi-ble display of a credible air combatcapability is thus deemed to be indirect support of regional diplomaticinitiatives to dissuade any likelyaggressor from offensive actionagainst South Africa or any of itsregional allies. The air system hasthus had to embark on a path of reju-venation to meet the aspirations ofSouth Africa as a reliable partner insupporting the region in its quest forstability and growth. Given the uncer-tainties of today's world, we must

exploit the versatility of air power tothe full and justify the nations confi-dence in our future procurement pro-grammes by demonstrating their rele-vance and cost-effectiveness.

Over time, and particularly overthe last ten years of financial duress,the role of the SA Air Force has under-gone a subtle change from a strategic,to a more tactical air force. But wemust heed the lessons learned over 85years of air power practice that con-firmed that air superiority was not anegotiable commodity and as such,control of the air cannot be achievedby superior numbers of inferior air-craft. The SA Air Force's recapitalisa-tion programme of the Gripen, theHawk, the Agusta 109, the Rooivalk,the Super Lynx and lately the A-400M,is a clear statement of intent and sup-port for the collateral utility of airpower as a Force for Peace.

ConclusionThe future of the SA Air Force is

inextricably linked to developments inair power, and one of the greatest chal-lenges facing the SA Air Force is to

ensure that we respond quickly andsensibly to changes in conceptual airpower thinking.

The spirit of aviation and innova-tion has endured, but today air mind-edness has to be applied in a very dif-ferent political environment from thatprevailing in the early 1900s. As wemove into a world era characterised byinstability and unpredictability, wecannot say with certainty where andwhen crises will emerge, but emergethey will.

The world will continue to be anarena of clashing group interests thatwill, inevitably, from time to timeinvolve collective violence, and theability to coerce an enemy rapidly willremain an invaluable option. And ifdiplomacy and deterrence should fail,at whatever level of intensity, airmenmust thereafter be prepared, firstly, toshape the battlespace for our groundor maritime forces and, secondly, toprovide direct support for their activi-ties within such a battlespace, whetherthe operation be SANDF, SADC or AUcoalition forces made up of multina-tional groupings.


New mess abroad

Members of Alpha Company deployed in Kabezi, Burundi, attended the offi-cial opening of their new mess on 15 July 2005. This was surely a verydelightful day for them. The RSA Battalion Officer Commanding, Lt ColLebohang Ramabu, officially opened the mess by cutting the ribbon for theAlpha Company Sergeant Major, WO2 Vincent Links. Special thanks go tothe RSA engineers who assisted in the erecting of the mess. (Issued by Capt Felicia van Staden, Comm Officer 4 SAI Bn in Burundi)

PreservinghistoryBy Lt Charl Ihlenfeldt

On 14 July 2005 the School of Armourrepainted the name Bloemfontein onNaval Hill. This was done in close co-operation with Tannie Mossie. Thename Bloemfontein was made of stoneand dates back to the period of theAnglo-Boer War. It is situated abovethe White Horse and approximately200 metres from the observatory.

This formed part of a communityproject undertaken by the School ofArmour as part of its programme tomaintain its commitment to and sup-port of the people of Bloemfontein.

The name Bloemfontein derivesfrom a fountain located on the site ofthe caravan park in Victoria Park.African people knew this fountain asMangaung (place of leopards) whilethe Europeans called it Bloemfontein(flower fountain).


39

Quality Military TrainingBy Lt Col Annelize Rademeyer,SO1 Comm WOP and Capt Sanet Strydom, SO3 CommPhoto: Maj Lukie Coetzee

n 1999 3 SA Infantry Battalionwhose role and function reflectedits proud history of service to theSANDF and South Africa waschanged to become a trainingestablishment for the SA Army. Itnow presents Basic Military

Training and various other courses,such as NCO Formative andOperational Duty Courses. The unitbecame one of the four units under thecommand of the SA Army TrainingFormation.

During the past five years the unithas proved itself as a training estab-lishment where young South Africansenrolled in the Military SkillsDevelopment (MSD) System were firstintroduced to military culture and dis-cipline.

January 2005 saw the biggest MSDintake since the conscription era in theearly nineties. Altogether 1 830recruits arrived in buses from all overSouth Africa on 17 January 2005.These recruits did not realise just howmuch preparation went into theirreception.

Corporals started off repairingbeds; those who could weld shed a lot

of sweat at the General Support BaseWorkshop. Lieutenants and captainstook cupboards and trunks to repairinstitutions. The GSB Kimberleytogether with the SA Army TrainingFormation's financial departmentworked over weekends and after-hours to process financial authorities.Members who cancelled theirDecember leave of their own free willto assist with the process of prepara-tion were the order of the day. The listof members involved can go on and on.

at targets with a paintball gun andsprint for 600 m. This event was ahuge success and will definitelybecome an annual event.

The athletics meeting took place on22 March 2005 and was held in con-junction with neighbouring units.Parents of the MSD students were wel-come to attend the event. The ultimatewinner of the day was AlphaCompany, which also took the tro-phies for best spirit, best male and bestfemale athletes.

On 13 April 2005 3 SA InfantryBattalion for the first time everreceived the Freedom of the Sol PlaatjeMunicipality. Kimberley stood in awewhen almost 2 000 soldiers marchedthrough the streets of Kimberley."After the parade the phones justcould not stop ringing from civilianswho wanted to know what they mustdo to join the SANDF! The reactiondefinitely made the long hours ofpreparations and practising worth-while," said Lt Col Grobbelaar.

The cherry on top was the passing-out parade on 14 April 2005. "Whenlast did anybody see 2 000 membersadvancing in review order?" Whenthe parade came to a halt the crowd of5 000 people went mad when youcould hear only one foot. The Premierof Northern Cape, Ms Dipuo Peters,afterwards commented: "If Kentuckycaught me today, I would have beenon a burger tomorrow!" explaining thegoose bumps she got during theparade. The arena was, as always, pre-pared in the style of a master. "For this,all honours go to our RSM, WO1 E.T.Ntuli," Lt Col Grobbelaar said.

Lt Col Grobbelaar said that anexcellent pass rate was achieved in theBasic Military Training presented at 3SA Infantry Battalion and the creditshould go to the instructors who couldgive themselves a pat on the back.

I

During the iron man competition the members didthe military pentathlon track obstacle course.

…is the nameof the game.

bers and recruits.Members had to com-pete in a gruelling 25km bicycle race withall kinds of obstacles,a 10 km run on thesame track, cover themilitary pentathlontrack obstacle course,complete a 800 msandbag carryingrace, and then thegrand finale, theTerminator. TheTerminator was agauntlet where mem-bers had to chopwood, swim, pushwheelbarrows, shoot

"We had his words at the back ofour minds when we took on the task oftraining 2 300 MSD members in 2005.When we look back at the intake, pas-sion, and ultimately commitment werethe determining factors in attaining theexcellent results we obtained," said theOfficer Commander, Lt Col A.P. (Riem)Grobbelaar.

The 2005 MSD intake was markedby several special events. The unithosted an iron man competition on 18and 19 March 2005. Civilian firms wereinvited to compete against staff mem-

"Commitment comes frompride, and pride comes from

passion" - Brig Gen AbelNelwamondo, GOC SA Army

Training Formation.

events


40

Ukumiswa koxolo nokhuseleko kweli lizwekazi laseAfrikaNgu CPO Dennis Ndaba

mzantsi Afrika ubuwongameleintlanganiso yamashumi ama-bini anesithandathu (26) pha-kathi kweMibuso yoKhuselonoKhuseleko (ISDSC) lweSADC, kwindawo yokuqhubaiinkomfa ekuthiwa yi-Birch-wood ese Boksburg, ukusukela

ngomhla weshumi elinesibini (12) ukuyakumhla weshumi elinesine (14) kweye-Khala ku 2005. Ababezimazise loontlanganiso ngaba-phathathiswa bezo-Khuselo, ezoKhuseleko, owezaseKhayakunye nowe-zoLwazi nengqiqo; abayebaxoxa ngenzame zoxolo kuMmandlawe-Great Lakes, inkqubela-phambilikuMkhosi weSADC, amajoni omkhosiangolindela omanyano lwe Afrika kunyenemixokelelwano elumkisa ummandlangaphambi kwexesha.

Umpathiswa woKhuselo umnum-zana uMosiuoa Lekota, okunguye ongu-mhlali ngaphambili we-ISDSC uthe:"Nangona kukhona inkcukacha ezininziezisaxoxwayo ezijongene neli lizwekazi, iAfrika yenza unako nako ukuzikhuphakwimbambano. Oko kubonakaliswe ngu-mgama oqinisekileyo ohanjiweyo kwiDe-mocratic Republic of Congo (DRC),eSudani naseBurundi".

Kwintetho yakhe kumhlangano wa-baphathiswa, inkokheli yeqela labathuny-wa base Mzantsi Afrika kunye nom-phathiswa weZolwazi nengqiqo, umnum-zana Ronnie Kas-rils, uthe i-SADC ISDSCijongise yonke into kuxolo nozinzo kum-mandla wethu, into ethetha ukuba kufu-neka kube neziphumo kwindlela esise-benza ngayo, ekuyileni nasekuhambisenioko okulindelweyo. Kufuneka siqhubekenokubonisa ibandla lezizizwe ukubasiyakwazi ukudibanisa ubumnini, sibesesivuselela ukuzibophelela kwethu eku-combululeni iingxaki zethu.

Okwangoku ummandla wethu usaz-inzile. Akukho mbambano nabubhovub-hovu, ngaphandle kokungqubana kwabe-mi baseDRC. Nangona kukhona uku-qhamka kobutshaba, izicwangciso ezenzi-

weyo e-DRC zivavanywe zafumanekeziluqilima zomelele. Olu zinzo lun-gunobangela. wokuzibophelela kwangen-yani kummango wedemokrasi nombusokummandla wethu. Kananjalo impumelelonyulo lwase Botswana, Malawi, Mozam-bique, Namibia, naseZimbabwe luzizi-bonakaliso zomthethosiseko zemigwaqoyeSADC zokulawula unyuloolunedemokrasi.

Abukhange ke bubekhona ububhovub-hovu ngeli xesha bekudluliselwa amandlaokuphatha kulabo abaphumelela unyulo,yonke into yahamba kakuhle ngempumele-lo. Kanjalo kuthe xa kuphela ixesha lokubasesikhundleni ngokomthetho kwabonga-meli ababephethe, abakhokeli baphumakalula ezi-ofisini abalwa namntu, njengoku-ba sabona kwenzeka e Malawi, e Mozam-bique nase Nami-bia, esithe xa sijonga okukwenza okufanayo sabona ukuba ngok-wenene ukhuseleko nempilo kwilizwe lethuzimanyene ngokungenakuconjululwa nel-izwekazi lethu iAfrika. Okucela umngenikakhulu ke kukwakha uthe-lelwano olun-zulu ngokuba uzinzo olu lukhoyo angekesiluthembe kakhulu.

"Ngaphezu kwako konke, ndicela uku-thi okona okubaluleke nangakumbi yimfu-neko yenkqubela phambili ekufuneka yen-ziwe kumajoni omkhosi ohlala ulindile,adlala indawo ebalulekileyo kakhulu ekuz-inziseni uxolo nokhuseleko kweli lizwe-kazi. Ngokunjalo, ke siyokukhumbula uku-ba kutsha nje bekuye kwadityaniswa ama-joni, "Thokgamo", angamalungu oMkhosiwoKhuselo ase SADC ebeyonganyelwe yiBotswana, okungumzekelo ocace gcawamanyathelo abalulekileyo athathiweyoukulungiselela ukubeka isiseko samajonioMkhosi oHlala uLindile wase SADC.Masakhele ke phezu kwale mpum-lelo,"uqhubeke watsho ke umnumzana Kasrils.

Wongezelele wathi, enye into ebalulek-ile kakhulu kukuqinisekisa ukubakokuqhubela phambili kokusetyenziswakweSazulu seMixokelelwa-no eLumkisauMmandla Ngaphambi kweXesha.Ngelixesha uyilo lusazinzile neenkqubozisalungiswa kufuneka sikhawulezisenemigudu yoku-qinisekisa ukuba isazulu

esi sinabo bonke ubutyebi bendalobokunceda, ukuze kusetyenzwe ngem-pumelelo. Kufuneka sibe kwindawoyokuba sikwazi ukwalatha okunganzimangelixesha kusaqala, ukuze sikwaziukwenza ingxelo ecacileyo ethetha intoenye kubuchule bokulwa imfazwe.

"Oku kudutyulwa kweebhombu eLondon okwenzeke kutsha nje, kusisi-khumbuzo esicace gca semfuneko yokuse-benzisana, uthelelwano, nempenduloekhawulezayo kulo nkohlakalo enjalo.Baye balibala kukuba akukho mbuso,nditsho nokuba unamandla angakananina ongenakuchukunyiswa ziintsongeloezin-tsokothileyo ezifika ungazilindelangaokwenzeka kwilizwe lonke jikelele. Lentlanganiso ye ISDSC kufuneka izikiseukucinga ngengxelo ye-SADC ISDSC nan-gomsebenzi wabancedisi abazizithunywaeTroika, kwiDRC. Kufu-neka sijonge ezozinto eziye zayimpumelelo nalezo ezisafu-na ukusetyenzwa ngokungeziweyo. Enyeinto efanele ukuba ixoxwe ngoku-mayelana ne DRC yi ngxowa-mali kunyenabameli babanikeli ngemali kwi SADC.

"Ezinye izinto eziyinkqubela phambiliezenzeke e DRC ukusukela ngexesha sig-qibela ukuba nentlanganiso kufunekaziphakanyiswe. Ngokunjalo sivuyisananeDRC ngokwamkela kwayo iMithethoyabo yoLawulo. Ngokungakumbi samke-la ulungiselelo lokufaka iipesenti ezinga-mashumi amahlanu zabafazi ePalamente.URhu-lumente wangaPhakathi uvumileukumisela elinye ixesha losuku lonyulo,ukuze luhambisane neSivumelwanosoXolo, kwaye uyazibophelela kwim-pumelelo yonyulo ekhululekileyo nenob-ulungisa njengokwesivumelwano,"ubhengeze kanjalo umnumzana u Kasrils.

* The English version of this article isavailable on page 9. To obtain a translation ofthis article or any article published in SASOLDIER in any one of our official languages,please make use of the professional servicesrendered by Directorate Language Services ofthe DOD. For assistance contact Col DaanVorster, Director Language Services, at tel no:(012) 392 3176 - Ed.

U


41

Tiragatso ya INTEROP WestKa Cdr Brian Stocton, SO1 Naval Public Relations

Mokorogadi wa tshegetso ya ntwa waSAS DRAKENSBERG WA SA Navy(dikepe tsa ntwa tsa Aferika Borwa)mmogo le tse pedi tse di se tshegetsangebong SAS MAKHANDA le SAS DHY-TOBA di boile mono Aferoika Borwa kamorago ga katlego ya go etela UnitedKingdom le maemakepe a mmalwa a kwamabopong a Aferika Bophirima. SASDRAKENSBERG e tsenetse moletlo wantwa ya Trafalgar wo o nnang teng kamorago ga dingwaga tse 200.kwaPotsmouth e le sengwe sa dikepe tsa ntwatse 160 go tswa dinageng tse 35. Mo loe-tong lwa go boela gae se etetse Lagos kwaNigeria, ka go dira jalo e nnile sekepe santlha sa SA Navy go dira jalo. Strike craft(sekepe sa dithulano) se inaakantse le SASDRAKENSBERG gantele nyana pele setsena kwa Luanda e le karolo ya Tiragatsoya INTEROP West eo go yone dikepe dineng di diragatsa dipaakanyo tsa gosireletsa lebopo la Aferika Borwa-bophir-ima. Go nna teng ga dikepe tse kwaLuanda go file Mokwaledi wa tsa

in any one of our official languages, pleasemake use of the professional services renderedby Directorate Language Services of the DOD.For assistance contact Col Daan Vorster,Director Language Services, at tel no: (012)392 3176 - Ed.

Godimo ga fao go fitlheletswe ditumallanotse di ka ga ditlhokwa tsa tiragatso le katiso.

* The English version of this article is avail-able on page 13. To obtain a translation of thisarticle or any article published in SA SOLDIER

GO TSWA MOLEMENG GO YA GO LAMOJENG: Rre Siphiti Sibeko, motlhokomedi wamerero ya boemedi jwa Aferika Borwa kwaAngola, R Adm Rolf Hauter, mokaedi-mogolowa togamaanomo lefapheng la ditlhaselo tsadikepe le rre January Masilela e leng mokwale-di wa tsa tshireletso ba le kwa moletlong o oneng o tshwaretswe go SAS DRAKENSBERGmotlheng wa ketelo ya yona kwa luanda.

uMbutho wezaseMoyeni ubunezihambelizasemaZweni angaPhandleIbhalwe nguKapteni J.P. van Vuuren,Ad Astra

iAir Force Command and Control School(Isikole soMbutho wezaseMoyeni soku-Khuza nokuQondisa) eHoedspruit ibinezi-hambeli zamalungu emibutho yezoku-Vikela eyahlukahlukene kusukela ngomh-laka 3 kuya ku 5 enyangeni kaNtulikazi(June) onyakeni ka 2005. Lokhu kwenzekengenxa yemizamo yoMphathi oMkhulu(OC) uKheneli M.O. Mcetywa, iDefenceForeign Relations, iKolishi loMbuthowezokuVikela kaZwelonke kanye neDirectorate Command and ControlSystems. Abasebenzi boMbutho abebe-yizihambeli bebevela e Algeria, Ghana,Namibia kanye naseZimbabwe. uKheneliMcetywa owayesoHlelweni oluPhezululukaZwelonke lwezokuPhepha (ENSP)ngalesisikhathi, uqhubeke nokupha-kamisa iAir Force Command and ControlSchool, ngenxa yomphumela wokube-kezela kwakhe, iKolishi loMbu-thowezokuVikela kaZwelonke waseNingi-zimu Afrika inikeze imvume yokuthi kubekhona loluhambo.

Umsebenzi we Air Force Command andControl School ukuba ababoneleli.kwe-zokukhuza nokuphatha ukuqeqeshwaeMbuthweni wezaseMoyeni waseNingi-zimu Afrika. Iphethe ukuthuthukiswakomsebenzi wokubhekelela ukuhambakwamabhanoyi emoyeni, abaphathibezithunywa, abezokuxhumana, abase-benza ngeposi, abakhuzi beMAOT, abasizaabasebenza ngokuhamba kwezindiza-mshini, abasebenza ngeradar, abasebenzangezokuxhumana kanye nabasiza aba-sebenza ngeposi. Omunye wezihambeliuzwakale ephawula ethi: "Sengingashongokungesabi ukuthi, ngibonile, sen-giyabazi, abantu baseNingizimu Afrika".Lokhu kuyinkomba yomsebenzi omuhleowenziwe abasebenzi beAir ForceCommand and Control School. Kuphindekwaphawulwa ngendlela isikole esiseben-za ngayo ngokubumbana, belwela uku-zuza inhloso efanayo, obekuyinto ebey-imvelakancane ngesikhathi behleli laphaeNingizimu Afrika. Inhloso yalokhuku-vakasha bekuwukwethula iAir ForceCommand Control School kwizihambelizangaphandle ngethemba lokuba khona

kwezinhlelo zokushitshana ngabafundisinangabafundi esikhathini esizayo.Izihambeli zichazelwe kafushane ngom-sebenzi nangamakhono alesisikolebaphinde bahanjiswe beboniswe isikole,isikhungo sokufundela kanye nezinda-wo zokuhlala. Loluhambo lugcinengokuthatha uhambo oluya eKrugerNational Park, ngaphambi kokubaizihambeli ziphindele ePitoli ngomhlaka5 enyangeni kaNtulikazi onyakeni ka2005.

Loluhambo lube impumelelo enkulukanti namalunga eAir Force Commandand Control School kufanele anconywengomsebenzi, ubungcweti kanye nem-patho ngesikhathi saloluhambo.

* The English version of this article isavailable on page 27. To obtain a translationof this article or any article published in SASOLDIER in any one of our official lan-guages, please make use of the professionalservices rendered by Directorate LanguageServices of the DOD. For assistance contactCol Daan Vorster, Director LanguageServices, at tel no: (012) 392 3176 - Ed.

tshirelotso, Rre JanuaryMasilela, bogolo setonna SANavy sebaka sa go buisana le bapuso ya Angola ka ga dikgatl-hegelo tsa tshireletso. Go ilegape gwa etelwa le motlatsatona wa tshiraletso mmogo lemoeteledipele wa badiram-mogo ba Navy ba Angola. Fagare ga banwe, rre Masilela o nea patilwe ke mokaedi-mogolowa togamaano mo lefapheng laditlhaselo tsa dikepe ebong RAdm Rolf Hauter oo a ileng aetela mmusi wa profensi yaLuanda mmogo le tlhogo yabadirammogo ba Navy yaAngola. Go bonagala e le gorediketelo tse di nnile le mosolatota gone go fitlheletswe gape letiisetso ya tirisanommogo lemebuso ya Angola le Nigeria.

sport


42

World Military BoxingChampionshipsBy Capt N.K.Z. Thusi, SO3 Terrorism, DefenceIntelligence

he SANDF hosted the 49thCISM World Military BoxingChampionships from 30 Juneto 8 July 2005 at theUniversity of PretoriaGroenkloof Campus. Thiswas the biggest amateur box-

ing event ever presented in SouthAfrica. The tournament had 33 inter-national boxing teams (220 athletes)competing in eleven categories over aperiod of seven days. The winnerswere crowned as world military box-ing champions on 8 July 2005.

Countries from all corners of the

he said. The United Nations SecretaryGeneral, Kofi Annan, declared 2005 asan international year of sport andphysical education. "I thereforeencourage all members to get involvedin sport as it plays a vital role inimproving the lives not only of indi-viduals, but of whole communities,"the Surgeon General emphasised.

In concluding, the SurgeonGeneral said: "I am proud to be associ-ated with this prestigious event. It isan honour for the SANDF to present atournament of this magnitude and wetrust that CISM will trust us in thefuture to present tournaments forother types of sport as well. Thearrangements are almost finalised forhosting the 2007 Military World Golf

Tournament, which will includewomen."

Prof Jonathan Jansen, the Dean ofthe Faculty of Education of theUniversity of Pretoria, reminded theparticipants that they were in a coun-try that had a rich history of boxers,among them the former President, Mr

T

Cpl J. Chauke from South Africa (left) fought against A. Deng from the Sudan in thequarter finals' 91+ kg category. Unfortunately Cpl Chauke lost the fight (12-28).(Photo: S Sgt Nico Jacobs)

The biggestamateur boxing

event ever presented inSouth Africa.

earth participated in theChampionships, such asChina, Korea, Russia, theUSA, Ireland, Algeria, Egypt,Namibia, Germany and theNetherlands, to name but afew. Fifteen of the 33 partici-pating countries were fromAfrica.

During the launch andopening ceremony of the 49thWorld Military BoxingChampionships, the thenSurgeon General, Lt GenRinus Jansen van Rensburg,said that the InternationalMilitary Sports Council(CISM) theme was"Friendship through Sport"."The various sponsors andpersonnel from theUniversity of Pretoria servedas an example of new friend-ships being established.Organisers of this event andMilitary Liaison Officers(MLOs) made a lot of newfriends during the process,"


43

Nelson Mandela. Prof Jansen alsomentioned that the visitors were in thecountry while it was commemoratingfifty years of the Freedom Charter."One of the points on the Charter wasthe access to sport, hence we are allgathered here today to take part in thebiggest amateur boxing tournament inSouth Africa," he said.

The presence of the members ofthe National Ceremonial GuardEntertainment Band, Cpl LindaLebona and L Cpl Thapelo Molusi, toentertain on this kind of occasion withtheir sweet voices during the openingand closing ceremony guaranteed afestive atmosphere at these cermonies.Two African traditional groups, theMarimba group from Benoni and Zuludancers from Mamelodi in Pretoria,also took to the stage during the open-ing ceremony. The audience stood up,applauded and whistled to show theirappreciation of the groups' perfor-mance.

On 28 June 2005, a German teampresented a boxing developmentalclinic to youngsters in Alberton on theEast Rand. Most of the team membershave already participated in nationaland international boxing tournaments

and have received various medals.During a courtesy call on 4 July

2005 to the Chief of the SANDF, GenGodfrey Ngwenya, he welcomed theCISM chief delegates of the participat-ing countries. The CISM Vice-President for Africa, Col KalkabaMalboum from Cameroon, presentedthe CISM Grade Order of MeritMedals and a plaque to the Chief ofthe SANDF. He said: "this is ourappreciation and thanks as CISM toSouth Africa for allowing us to hostthis event and it is expected thatthrough sport we will break the barri-ers created by colonialism." He furthermentioned that friendship, peace, tol-erance and understanding were theCISM values, which were accepted byall Africans.

In turn the Director Physical SportTraining and Recreation (DPSTR), BrigGen Aubrey Sedibe, presented a totemof a handmade wire rhino to the Chiefof the SANDF. Gen Ngwenya thankedthe CISM for choosing South Africa tohost such a prestigious event andpromised that the SANDF would beavailable to host other tournaments infuture. He thanked them for all thegifts that he received and concludedby saying: "may the best country win."

Delegates of the CISM took timeoff from their busy schedule to payhomage to the fallen heroes of thestruggle at the Freedom Park inPretoria. The Chairperson of FreedomPark, Lt Gen (Ret) Lehlohonolo Moloi,explained that South Africa had a longhistory, hence it was vital to preserveit in order to develop a deeper under-standing of the country and its people.He described Freedom Park as a sym-bol of a tortuous journey towards, andsacrifices made for freedom. The mis-sion of the Freedom Park is to providea pioneering and empowering her-itage destination that challenges visi-tors to reflect upon our past, improveour present and build on our future asa united nation.

On 6 July 2005 all the delegates andathletes visited the ApartheidMuseum and Gold Reef City inJohannesburg. This rest day gave thefinalists a welcome breathing spaceand an opportunity to prepare mental-ly for the final bouts, which took placeon Friday afternoon, 7 July 2005.

In CISM tradition, after the end ofeach final fight, the medal winnerswere called to the podium. All thenational flags of the medallists werehoisted and the national anthems ofthe gold medallists were played. Allmedallists were also presented with abouquet of protea flowers.

Behind the scenesAlmost 200 people worked behind

the scenes to contribute to the successof the Championships. TheChairperson of the OrganisingCommittee, Col Wolfgang Steinbach,was assisted by personnel who lookedafter accommodation and transport,logistics, military liaison officers,security, CMI, a 24 hour joint opera-tions centre, corporate communica-tion and a video team to take footageof all events and fights at theChampionships.

Members of the SA NationalAmateur Boxing Organisation (SAN-ABO) supported the Championshipsby assisting in keeping count at fightsand acting as referees. The SecretaryGeneral of SANABO, Mr BarriesBarnard, commented "It is a brilliantlyorganised Championships, one of thebest I have ever been involved with,anywhere in the world."

Summary of resultsA total of 203 fights took place

over six days. Germany was the win-ner of the Championships with threecontestants receiving gold medals.China and Russia both won two goldmedals, while the Netherlands,Ireland, Korea and Thailand won onegold medal each.

Russia had seven athletes in thefinals, five of whom received silvermedals. Turkey received two silvermedals, with India, Thailand, Kenyaand the USA one silver medal each.

Altogether 22 athletes receivedbronze medals. Algeria won threebronze medals, while Zambia, theUkraine, Thailand, Egypt andGermany won two bronze medalseach. Countries who won one bronzemedal were Uganda, Namibia,Kazakhstan, Korea, Morocco,Lithuania, Kenya, the USA and theSudan.

Friendship Through Sport - DanielKooj from the Netherlands (left)and Guitaek Lim from Korea afterthe fight that was won by Kooj with3 points in the 81 kg category.(Photo: Lt Col AnnelizeRademeyer)


44

Old but not cold

Right: The Western ProvinceSANDF Veterans Ladies’ Team -back row, fltr: M. van Niekerk, M. Strauss, R. Geldenhuys, A. Singleton (Captain), M. Wesselsand R. Vollgraaff (Vice Captain).Front row, fltr: H. van der Merwe(Coach), D. Janse van Rensburgand D. Diale.

By Maj R.D. Vollgraaff, ServiceCorps Regional Office Cape Town

During the SANDF Netball Champion-ship held from 4 to 9 July 2005 in CapeTown at the Tygerberg High School theWestern Province Ladies Veteransteam showed the U23 and Senior teamhow it should be done. For the firsttime in a long time the WesternProvince SANDF Veterans Ladies teamtook the honours by obtaining the goldmedal. Well done, Western Province!

Building their bodies

Clockwise: Amn Lucas Molefi, Pte Andries Nhlengethwa, Amn Luvo Mqwebo and Mr Gilbert Mampa at the NorthernsNovice Body-building Championships.

By Lebohang LetaoanaPhoto: F Sgt David Nomtshongwana

Four members of the SANDF participated inthe Northerns Novice Body-buildingChampionships at the Wonderboom MilitaryBase in Pretoria on 18 June 2005.

Amn Lucas Molefi, Amn Luvo Mqweboand Mr Gilbert Mampa (all from 68 AirSchool) and Pte Andries Nhlengethwa from 1Military Hospital took part in this tough chal-lenge. They were competing against some ofthe well-established bodybuilders in Gauteng.The competition attracted many spectators.

Amn Molefi competed in the ban-tamweight category (up to 65 kg) and man-aged to take third position, while AmnMqwebo participated in the welterweight cat-egory (up to 75 kg) and he came second.

Pte Nhlengethwa, who was competingwith the "heavyweights" in the light heavy-weight category (86-90 kg) took third place.Mr Gilbert Mampa, a non-uniformed member,came second in the middleweight category(80-85 kg).

All those who are interested in body-buildingshould contact Pte Andries Nhlengethwa at:083 555 7916 or (012) 651 9940.

sport


45

Another feat for SANDF paratroopers

1st row, fltr: Maj M.S. Gopane (Team Manager), Sgt J.M. Matebele and Col R.G. Webber. 2nd row, fltr: S Sgt A. Hoeksema (Chief Judge), Sgt J.C. van Dyk, Cpl G. Lottering and Pte J. Jordaan. 3rd row, fltr: Pte B.T. Mthembu, Pte K.R. Seabelo, Sgt R.W. Lekaba, Pte L.W. Mohlala and F Sgt Ranger. Insert, fltr: PtePhoshoko (Trainee Judge) and Cpl J.M. Kitime (Judge).

By Tenyeko MalulekePhoto: Maj Martin Gopane

Over the period 27 April 2005 to May2005, the South African NationalParachute Championships were heldat Margate in KwaZulu-Natal.

The SANDF was represented bysixteen members, ten of whom partici-pated in the discipline of classic accu-racy. The senior team consisted of ColR.G. Webber who obtained first placeand Sgt J.M. Matebele who came sec-ond. Maj Martin Gopane, the ActingSecond in Command of the DOD AirSupply Unit, was the Team Manager.In the progression, team junior level,Cpl G. Lottering came first and Sgt J.C.van Dyk and Pte K.R. Seabelo camesecond and third respectively. TheSANDF team was the overall winnerin this event. Different medals wereawarded to the participants. MajGopane (gold medal), Sgt J.M.Matebele (silver and gold medals), ColWebber (two gold medals), Sgt J.C.

tors agape with admiration, and wehope that they will continue to keepthe SANDF's flag hovering high.

signed as judges. These membersdeserve a pat on the back for the scintil-lating perfomance which left the specta-

Business Challenge Relay

Front, fltr: Tpr Mosala Lesirela, Mr Michael Pantsi and Mr Petrus Taimane.Middle, fltr: WO1 Abel Mabote (RSM 1 SSB), Cpl Crystal Saayman, WO1 Wilson Jaftha and L Cpl Samantha van Heerden. Back, fltr: Tpr Sempe Shongoane, Maj Hansie Yzelle (Second in Command 1 SSB) and Sgt Sabelo Zulu.

By Capt Hendrik Senekal, SO3 Comm 1 SSB

The annual National BusinessChallenge Relay was held in Bloem-ontein on 16 April 2005. This is one ofthe primary events on the annualroad-running calendar of Bloemfon-tein during which a large number ofbusinesses and Government depart-ments enter teams and compete inseveral categories. This year 1 SpecialService Battalion (1 SSB) entered threerace walking teams and one road-running team. The 1 SSB teams keptthe DOD's flag flying high by achiev-ing excellent results. The senior men,veteran men and ladies race walkingteams of 1 SSB won their respectivecategories in the race walking compe-tition. The senior men road-runningteam won the category for Govern-ment departments, while they achiev-ed a fifth place in the senior men'sroad-running category. The seniorand veteran men race walking teamswere also awarded trophies for

van Dyk (silvermedal), Cpl Lot-tering (gold me-dal), Pte J. Jor-daan (gold me-dal) and Pte K.R.Seabelo (bronzemedal). S SgtAnnalie Hoekse-ma was onceagain officiatingas the ChiefJudge and shewas supportedby WO2 AndréNortjé and F SgtDick de Bruyn.Warrant OfficerPatches Kennard(Ret) assistedCpl J.M. Kitimeand Pte Phosho-ko who were as-

winning in their respective categories.The veteran men's race walking teamwon in its category for a third consecu-tive year, and the senior men's racewalking team managed this achieve-

ment for the second year running. The"Armour Striders" as these race walk-ers of 1 SSB like to call themselves,have become a formidable force in thelocal and national race walking arena.


46

Armour Symposiumn Armour Symposium is to beheld on 15 September 2005and willbe co-hosted bythe G e n e r a l

Officer Commanding SAArmy ArmourFormation andthe ManagingDirector BAESystems L a n d s y s t e m sOMC.

This sympo-sium will be pre-sented at theSchool of Armourin Bloemfontein.The theme of thesymposium willbe: "Armour inAfrican PeaceSupport Oper-ations (PSO) in2020" and willlink up with thecurrent develop-ment of theArmy's strategyknown as ArmyVision 2020. Localand internationalspeakers will bepresenting paperson related topics.The opening ad-dress will be de-livered by Lt GenSolly Shoke, theChief of the SAArmy.

Those interest-ed should registerby means of theattached registra-tion form.

A

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