July - Department of Defence

messageFrom theEditor's deskA bvaho khaMudzudzanyi4United we stand, divided we fall! Viva Africa!This was the theme at the 40th anniversaryof the Organisation of African Unity (OAU),now known as the African Union (AU),which took place at the JohannesburgStadium on 25 May 2003 when the rebirthand renewal of the African continent wascelebrated. The AU represents an equal partnership ofthe 53 African States or Governments that make upthe organisation.Carrying all 53 flags of the AU member countriesthe National Ceremonial Guard paraded in detailedprecision around the open field to the rhythm of thebands of the SA Army, the SA Air Force, the SA Navyand the SAHMS, maddening the crowd withexcitement.In order for Africans to face the future withrenewed vigour in a world that is increasingly changingtechnologically and otherwise, President ThaboMbeki announced: "We have transformed theOrganisation of African Union to the African Union",in a stadium filled to capacity. (Please read more onthe celebrations on pages 14 and 15.)At President Mbeki's request a moment's silencewas observed in remembrance of the two thousandpeople killed in the recent earthquake in Algeria. TheCommander-in-Chief of the SANDF then mademention of the fact that the SANDF will deploy toAlgeria in an endeavour to assist. (Read more on theemergency relief effort to Algeria on page 11.)An added bonus this month is our pull-out posteron pages 24 and 25 revealing the new honours of theSANDF. Also read the most informative article aboutour new medals and decorations on pages 22, 23, 26and 27.We are sure that you will enjoy this issue, packedas always with interesting topics and useful articles,giving you food for thought.Nelda PienaarActing EditorVhuthihi, phandekanyo ai bveledzisi!! viva Africa. Itshitsho vha tshipikwa tsha vhutambo ha dzangano la(OAU) line zwino la divhiwa nga u pfi (AU) AfricanUnion, li pembelelaho u fhedza minwaha ya mahumimana (40th), zwo farelwa tshitadium tshaJohannesburg, nga la 25 Shundunthule 2003 musi hutshi khou bebiwa na u vusuludza dzhango la Africa.Dzangano la AU li imelela mashango a futhanuraru (53) ane avhumba ili dzangano.Musi fulaga dza mashango a futhanu-raru (53) dza ilidzangano la AU dzi tshi khou fhefhediswa nga vha mmbi yavhupili vha (NCG) National Ceremonial Guard musi vha tshikhou matsha na vha bennde kana vha vhu mvumvusi vha Mmbiya Vhupileli ya Afurika Tshipembe (SA Army), vha Mmbi yaVhupilelei ya Muyani (SA Air Force), vha Mmbi ya Vhupileli yaMadini (SA Navy) na vha Mmbi ya Zwamutakalo (SAHMS), zwovha zwi tshi khou mvumvusa na u nyanyula vhateleli.Muphurisidennde Vho-Thabo Mbeki vho divhadza uri; "uriMaafurika vha vhe na vhu matshelo kha lino lifhasi lo dalahotshanduko ya thekhinolodzhi, ro shandukisa dzangano laOrganisation of African Unity (OAU), ra li ita dzangano laAfrican Union". (Zwinzhi zwa vhutambo uvhu kha siatari 14 na15)Muphuresidennde Vho-Thabo Mbeki vho humbela gogo lavhathu afho tshitadium uri hu vhe na tshifhinga tsha u humbulaavho vho ri siaho vha zwigidi zwivhili nga wone mudzinginyongei Algeria, vhari sa izwi vhe mulanga Mmbi ya Lushaka lwaAfurika Tshipembe vho divhadza uri Mmbi ya Lushaka i dorumelwa ngei Algeria uri vha ye u thusa. (Zwinzhi nga hatshumelo yashishi ngei Algeria kha siatari 11)Nyingahuvhili uno nwedzi ndi tshifanyiso kha siatari 24 na25 musi hu tshi khou tibulwa tshiphugathalu tsha Mmbi yalushaka ya Afurika Tshipembe (SANDF). Mafhungo manzhi amimendele miswa na zwinakisedzi kha masiatari 22, 23, 26 na 27.Ri fulufhela uri vha do di dzulela u vhala mafhungo a inogurannda sa izwi i tshi do vha yo vha farela mavhungo a ndemekana vhuthogwa.Nelda PienaarMuthusa-MudzudzanyiS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

6feedbackFive years in the eye of HIV stormI have seen the worst and besthumanity has to offer. HIV enteredmy life five years ago. It was not easywhen I found out that I was HIVpositive. More especially if you are acitizen of KwaZulu-Natal wherethings really happen.By that time there were a lot ofmyths and false statements about thevirus. To reveal your status was adifficult thing to do. For that reason Idecided to make a disclosure to peopleof Middelburg in Mpumalangawhere I was working at 4 SAI Bn.Rumours such as, if you are HIVpositive you will die sooner or youwill not live long. These rumoursmade me scared to reveal my status.After I spoke to some members atwork, I experienced at first hand thestigma, discrimination and ignorancethat usually accompany such disclosure.Although some members weresupportive, the fear was there.Early last year I decided to joinmembers who were appointed for anHIV peer educators course. After thatI felt a little bit better. I did little formy former unit, 4 SAI Bn, now I amprepared to work hard and spread themessage about HIV and AIDS in mycurrent unit, DOD 101 Air SupplyUnit (ASU), the SANDF as a whole,countrywide and worldwide.Now I am at DOD 101 ASU whereeverybody knows about my status. Iam very much concerned aboutTearsSome things are worth tears,while others are not.Death is worth tears, when someonewhom we love diesWe weep because we feel the loss.Wrongdoing is worth tears.Evil is worth tears.When we are truly sorry,When we wish we had acteddifferentlyDeep sorrow is worth tears too,When our hearts are touchedwith grief,We cry for a while, alone.Death is the natural end of life,Pte Andries Nhlengethwa workinghard at the gym.(Photo: Sgt David Nomtshongwana)members who are infected by thisvirus, but who are ignorant and notwilling to talk about it. The soonerthey do it the better.I have seen people struggle withtheir HIV status, and watched theirliberation as they, some privately andsome publicly, disclosed their infection,freeing themselves and clearingthe path for others to do the same. Ihave seen people, including myself,cross cultural, religious, political andethnic boundaries despite oursuperficial differences.Wrongdoing is set right by our regretAnd our reparation,Sorrow must be put awayIf we are to get on with the businessof living.Most things can be mended!We do not waste tears on abroken pot.Patience will mend it,or we can save up and buya new one.Most things can be mended!Hard words can be healed by silenceand forgiveness.Sickness by the remedies we know,or by rest.Winning letterFor me HIV is a symptom, not acurse. HIV is not the enemy. It onlyenters when a door has been openedfor it. Ignorance, fear, poverty,inequity, social injustice, isolation,discrimination and greed are theguilty culprits, not the virus. I wonderif we will ever learn the lessonsHIV is here to teach us.What have I learned on my journey?I have learned that dreams areessential because they make theimpossible possible. I have alsolearned that without faith in God,others and myself the lessons ofHIV are wasted.The most important lesson isabout love, for without it we arenothing. To know and love oneanother irrespective of who we are isthe only thing to do for support andencouragement.As I look forward to my future,despite HIV, I am excited about allthe possibilities, opportunities andlessons. The next five years and morewill bring good results. If HIV is arace between fear and me, with life asa price, I can honestly say that I havewon by the grace of God. It is overnow, let us hold hands and break thesilence. Together we can do it.For any information I can becontacted at cell no: 082 471 0767 ortel no: (012) 672 5180 (w) -Pte Andries Nhlengethwa,Motivational Speaker, Pretoria.Unkindness can be repented,Things forgotten can be rememberedagain.Everyday comes to night at last.Let us look forward, not back.Let us make the best of things.Let us hope and not waste tears -A.M. Rakoma, Tzaneen.AdditionThe content of the article "Soldiersand musketry" published in the May2003 edition was provided byWO1 J.I.N. de Wet from ChiefDirectorate Force Preparation at theArmy Office - Ed.S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Thank you forcaringMy children and I would like toconvey our sincerest gratitude forthe immense support you gave usafter the passing of Walter.You so graciously gave of yourtime, energy and care to carry usthrough.As we look back now on the pasttwo weeks we marvel at how wemade it to this point, but that isclearly because people like youcarried us. You poured emotionsand kindness in ways we canperhaps never be able to adequatelydescribe or thank.Please convey my deepestgratitude to members of the SouthAfrican National Defence Force whothrough their professionalism gavethe funeral such stature and dignity.Please accept, however,inadequate our thanks from thebottom our hearts.Ungadinwa nangomso!Ndim' Umama Wakho -Mrs A.N. Sisulu, Linden,Johannesburg.Sharing the powerPower sharing is a priceless gift thatcannot be bought or sold, but itsvalue is far greater than a mountain ofgold. Power sharing is a miracle thatis not found by all.Whenever two or more partiescome to an agreement among eachother remember the following: Powersharing is like the tender and fragrantflower, the smallest things can hurt it,so you must protect it. It is like thesun, when it shines and it makes youwarm all over. The co-operationthrough the power sharing can lastforever or for only a day, so treasureit and do not let it go. It takes lots ofwork and entails responsibilities. Itcan make you feel complete and comfortable.It can also make you feelweak and make you feel strong. It is aheavenly glory towards the everlastingdemocracy and "Uhuru", it is alsoa major pillar to nation building andfreedom, so do not let it go away.I refer this to our fellow compatriotsof our African continent, especiallythe Congolese and Burundians.South Africa is just inside at yourbackyard, so take it as your roleRectificationsThe wrong photo caption was printed in the April 2003 edition on page 28. Theperson on the photo is Col Addinall Fredericks, OC ASB PE, and not Col Clivevan Schalkwyk.The wrong photo and caption were published in the June 2003 edition onpage 19. Here follows the correct photo and caption. We apologise for anyconfusion - Ed.Fltr: Col Petrus Stefanus Steinberg (outgoing OC DOD Technical ServiceUnit), Maj Gen Sipho Binda (GOC Logistic Support Formation), and ColMonde Mbiza (incoming OC DOD Technical Service Unit).model. As we all know there is nochampion of peace and harmony, butthe fact remains that, if we are dividedwe can fall down, but if we areunited we can stand and survive.Unity, unity is strength. Congoleseand Burundians, we wish you all thebest with your new challengingcareers - Cpl M. Nonyondla,Thaba Tshwane (currently deployedin the DRC).Promotingthe disabilityequityIt is high time for you to rise in famefrom your good work pertaining topromoting the disability equity, raisingawareness about disabled people,their rights, needs, potential andcontribution to the DOD.There are prospects for change inthe DOD because of elements whichmanoeuvre the policies diplomaticallyat ground level. Action = reaction.I have been helped by a clearlystipulated and transparent policyDS/EOCD 106/30 B page 15(66). Theother important issue is that, commanderson the ground shouldunderstand the broadness of theword "barrier-free-environment", thatit is not only toilets and ramps, butthey need to link it to page 7(ii)Affirmation of disabled people. To bein a wheelchair is not the end of theworld. Nothing could obliterate theimage of the Olympic Games forDisabled Persons held in Pretoriafrom 2 to 3 December 2002. Whatan event!I really did not think that therewere people and soldiers who caredmuch about us and loved us. Wewere among high-profile people andthe top leadership of the DOD.As a responsible, disabled, nonstaffedsecretary of the DisabledTeam of 1 SAI Bn I promise to leadmy subordinates by example at workand in sport by following the correctchannels.I thank everybody who made ourday a success. Keep it up EOCD! -Cpl M.N. Simka, 1 SAI Bn.9J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

clippingsCourtesy callsBy Maj Carina Pyper, SO2 VisitsDefence Foreign Relations,Photo: Sgt Eddie SmithThe Chief of the ChinesePeople's Liberation Army(PLA) General Staff, GenLiang Guanglie, was invitedby the Chief of the SANDF,Gen Siphiwe Nyanda, to visitthe RSA as his personal guestover the period 4 to 9 May 2003.The aim of the visit was to showgoodwill and to strengthen the relationsbetween the SANDF and thePLA. The official visiting programmeincluded a welcoming parade, a courtesycall on the Vice-President, MrJacob Zuma, a courtesy call on theMinister of Defence, Mr MosiuoaLekota, and also to Gen Nyanda.A briefing session on transformationin the SANDF co-ordinated bythe office of V Adm Martyn Trainor,the Chief of Corporate Staff, waspresented to the delegation on theirrequest. They also had theopportunity to pay a visit to Simon'sTown Naval Base where R Adm (JG)A.G. Söderlund, Director Fleet ForcePreparation, gave a briefing on the SANavy Fleet at the Hugo BiermannConference Room. They visited anSA Navy ship, a warrior class strikecraft, SAS ISAAC DYOBHA. Thevisit to the naval base ended with alunch at Admiralty House. This wasan enjoyable experience for the guestswho expressed their gratitude. Thevisit was a success and futureco-operation will continue.Fltr: His Excellency Liu Guijin (Ambassador of the People's Republic of China),Brig Gen Abe Notshweleka (General Officer Commanding SA Army ArtilleryFormation - Accompanying Officer), Lt Gen Xu Qiliang (Deputy CommanderShenyang Military Region and Commander of the Air Force component ofShenyang Military Region), Gen Liang Guanglie (Member of the Central MilitaryCommission and Chief of the PLA General Staff), Mr Jacob Zuma (DeputyPresident of South Africa), Gen Siphiwe Nyanda (Chief of the SANDF) andV Adm Zhao Guojun (Deputy Commander Nanjing Military Region andCommander of the PLA Navy East Sea Fleet) with the beautiful vase whichwas a gift to Mr Zuma.10Pakistani students dropped inADefenceCollegevisited theSANDF from 14 to18 April 2003. TheSA NationalDefence Collegeconducts coursesfor selected seniorofficers of theArmedForces/CivilServices of Pakistanand for militaryofficers fromfriendly countries.The objective is tostudy essential factorswhich have abearing on nationalgroup of sixteen studentsand staff members (MajorGenerals to Colonels) fromthe Pakistani Nationalsecurity and military strategy with aview to preparing them for assignmentsat higher policy, planning,command and staff levels.The group also visited the fourServices and was briefed at thestrategic level on the organisationand roles of the Services.Visitors from the Pakistani National Defence College attending a briefing at the SA NationalDefence College. (Photo: Sgt Eddie Smith)S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Emergency relief effort to AlgeriaCourtesy DOD Bulletin, No 33/03ABoeing 707 of the SA AirForce under the command ofCol Walis Nkosi (SANDF)left Waterkloof Air ForceBase on 24 May 2003 to assistwith humanitarian reliefoperations in Algiers followingthe devastating earthquakethat rocked Algiers and surroundingareas on 21 May 2003.This followed a message sent toPresident Bouteflika by PresidentFrench navalship visitsCape TownBy Lt Cdr Prince Tshabalala,Media Liaison Officer Naval BaseSimon's TownThe French hydrographic ship,FNS BEAUTEMPS-BEAUPRE, visited CapeTown over the period 16 to22 May 2003. The objective ofthe visit was to expand internationalcontacts for the SANavy through the French Navy andto enhance contact with French andlocal South African communitiesthrough a port visit to Cape Town.The FNS BEAUTEMPS-BEAUPRE isone of two BEAUTEMPS-BEAUPREclass vessels, which were commissionedin 1992 to replace the surveyvessels, L'ESPERENCE and D'EN-TRECASTEAUX. These types of classvessels are capable of both oceanographicsurvey and research. Theship is under command of Cdr BenoitPetit and has a crew of fifty, includingnine officers. Her displacement is3 292 tons fully loaded, the length is14,9 m with a beam of 14,9 m. Herdimensions are 80,64 m x 14,90 m x6,20 m. She is powered by four dieselalternator engine sets and can attaina maximum speed of 14 knots.Thabo Mbeki on 22 May 2003,expressing South Africa's heartfeltcondolences in the wake of the deathsof over 500 people, over 600 othersinjured and destruction toinfrastructure.The team, which comprisesRescue Africa and Global Relief (two50th anniversary of theKorean WarBy PO Dennis NdabaPhoto: Sgt David NomtshongwanaThe SA Air Force and the SAAir Force Association(SAAFA) held the annual SAAir Force Memorial Serviceat Bays Hill in Pretoria on 11May 2003. The aim of thememorial service was toacknowledge those who paidthe supreme price while in service oftheir country.This year's service coincided withthe 50th Anniversary of the KoreanWar, which was fought fromnon-governmental organisations) andmembers of the SA Police Service DogUnit assisted the Algiers governmentto search for survivors of the recentearthquake. A reconnaissance teamof the SANDF did an appraisal ofhow the SANDF could assist in thesearch and rescue mission.4 August 1950 to 20 November 1953.The SA Air Force participated in theKorean War as South Africa was amember of the United Nations. Theceremony also included a commemorativefly-past in honour of those thatdied during the war. V Adm MartynTrainor, Chief of Corporate Staff,represented Gen Siphiwe Nyanda,the Chief of the SANDF.Also honoured at the service wereWO1 Piet Breytenbach, who died inthe line of duty after an explosion atthe Roodewal Bombing Range on 18November 2002, and WO2 Jan Jerling,who died in the line of duty followingan accident on 5 December 2002.Brig Gen J.E. Lello, the President of the South African Korean War VeteransAssociation and the International President of the Korean War VeteransAssociation, also paid his respects. He is a survivor of the Korean War.11J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

eventsDevelop a relationship12By PO D.M. NdabaPhoto: Sgt DavidNomtshongwanaAsigning ceremonybetween the Governmentof the Republic of SouthAfrica and the Governmentof Romania washeld at the DefenceHeadquarters in Pretoriaon 7 May 2003. The Memorandumof Understanding (MOU) concerningdefence co-operation wassigned by the Minister of Defence,Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, and theMinister of Defence of Romania,Mr Ioan Mircca Pascu.South Africa and Romaniaestablished full diplomaticrelations in November 1991. TheRomanian President, Mr IonIliescu, visited South Africa inOctober 1993. Since then varioushigh-level visits have taken placebetween the two countries,including the recent official visit byMinister Lekota and MinisterBen Ngubane, Minister of Arts,Culture, Science and Technology.From 26 August to 4 September2002 President Iliescu led a largeRomanian delegation to the WorldSummit on SustainableDevelopment in South Africa.The MOU marks another milestonein the development of therelationship between the two countries."As a developing nation weare looking to equal partnershipswith friendly and developingcountries in order to facilitateaccess to cutting- edge technologyand new markets," said Mr Lekota.The agreement also aims topromote the training of militarypersonnel through a variety ofexchange programmes; militarymedicine, logistics and procurement;peace support and humanitarianaid missions; research,production and trade of militaryequipment; and other areas ofcommon interest in defencematters.Mr Mosiuoa Lekota,Minister of Defence(right), and Mr IoanMircca Pascu,Minister of Defenceof Romania, shakinghands after signingthe Memorandum ofUnderstanding.Land converted frommilitary to tourism usageBy Maj Otto Lambrechts,SO2 Corporate CommunicationDOD Logistic Support FormationAhuge tract of SANDF land is tobe converted from military totourism usage. This will rectifya situation which arose in the1970s sanctions era when SouthAfrica developed a weaponscapacity unequalled in theworld for a nation of its size.The 56 000 ha of sparsely populatedarea north of Lake St Lucia, about 14 kmsouth of Sodwana, was chosen for thetesting of these weapons, which includedartillery, rockets, missiles andmortars. From the 1990s the Hell's GateTraining Area was primarily used by121 SA Infantry Battalion as a trainingarea for the training of infantry soldiers.The local people under iNkosis Mabasoand Zikhale were relocated to otherareas. The range sweeping exercise tookplace over the period 23 February to1 March 2003. Members from the DODLogistic Support Formation, the SA AirForce and Bravo Company of 121 SAInfantry Battalion were flown by helicopterfrom Hell's Gate to the originaltarget areas where unexploded highexplosive ordnance was identified andcleared up.Members of the local media, BrigGen Clive Giles, Director ProductSystems Support Munitions from theDOD Logistic Support Formation, BrigGen Sipho Ndubula, Director Facilitiesat Chief Logistic, and members of theLand Claims Commission attended amedia briefing at Hell's Gate. ColCorrie Ferreira, SSO Munitions fromthe DOD Logistic Support Formation,explained that land claims were laidafter 1994 and the DOD decided thatthe land should be returned to theclaimants. This was followed by negotiationswith the local people with aview to developing the land into aprime tourist area.He further added that the DODhad appointed experts in land surveying,conservation and relocation tomanage its extensive conservationprogramme. The total value of theinfrastructure at Hell's Gate is inexcess of R40-million, which the DODwill leave intact, with the exception ofcertain prefabricated facilities and allmilitary hardware that will be takenaway.This two-year project is beingconducted in close conjunction withthe Land Claims Commission, whichrepresents the local communities andthe Department of Public Works.The exercise commander, Lt ColBertie Cronje, said afterwards that theexercise was a great success as muchunexploded high explosive ordnance,such as 120 mm mortar bombs and40 mm grenade launcher ammunitionwere found and blown up. Themembers of DOD Logistic SupportFormation, Bravo Company of 121 SAInfantry Battalion, 35 Squadron andAir Force Base Louis Trichardt mustbe commended for their dedicationand the professional way in whichthey conducted the exercise.S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Rest in peaceArticle and photos bySgt David NomtshongwanaThe late Mr Walter Sisulu(90) received a full Statefuneral with all thehonours on 17 May 2003.He died in the arms of hisbeloved wife and comrade,Albertina. A specialofficial funeral is reservedfor distinguished personswith extraordinarycredentials as decided bythe President, after consultation withthe Cabinet. The funeral service washeld at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto,Johannesburg, followed by the burial atthe Croesus Cemetery. Gen SiphiweNyanda, the Chief of the SANDF,together with the Services andDivisional Chiefs were the pall-bearers,while WO1 J.J. Jacobs, the WarrantOfficer of the SANDF, together with theServices and Division Warrant Officers,officiated as the bearers. The NationalNational Ceremonial Guard members entering Orlando Stadium during thefuneral of the late Mr Walter Sisulu.Ceremonial Guard and Band also didus proud with their immaculate drillsand music. The SANDF also providedmedical support for the President andthe SANDF participants. Some of thelogistics provided by the SANDFincluded four water tanks, a guncarriage and a gun tractor.13Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, the Minister of Defence, keeping a close watch while the Chaplain General, Maj Gen (Rev) F.F.S.Gqiba, leads the bearers.J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

events14Celebrating 40 years ofsolidarityAfrica Day25 May 2003By Nomonde VuthelaPhotos: Sgt David NomtshongwanaUnited we stand, dividedwe fall! Viva Africa!The 40th anniversaryof the Organisation ofAfrican Unity (OAU),now known as theAfrican Union (AU), atthe JohannesburgStadium on 25 May2003 was a celebrationof rebirth and renewalof the African continent.The AU represents an equalpartnership of the 53 African Statesor Governments that make up theorganisation.In order for Africans to face thefuture with renewed vigour in aworld that is increasingly changingtechnologically and otherwise,President Thabo Mbeki announced:"We have transformed theOrganisation of African Union to theAfrican Union", in a stadium filled tocapacity.Through the AU the President hassworn that the slaughter of oneAfrican by another will be stopped."We will do our best to end thissenseless killing," said PresidentMbeki. He continued, "Tutsi andHutu are African, Housa and Yorubaare African."As Chairman of the AU, PresidentMbeki further stated that the organisationwould continue to assist warplagued countries, such as the CentralAfrican Republic and the Côte d'Ivoire to return to democracy. ThePresident also touched on theBurundi Peace Agreement and Sudan,and applauded the ongoing talksbetween the Sudanese Governmentand the Sudanese People's LiberationPresident Thabo Mbeki and Nigerian President O. Obasanjo inspect theNational Ceremonial Guard.Movement (SPLM).At President Mbeki's request amoment's silence was observed inremembrance of the two thousandpeople killed in the recent earthquakein Algeria.The Commander-in-Chief of theSANDF then made mention of thefact that the SANDF will deploy toAlgeria in an endeavour to assist.The SANDF is second to none andhow it just does us so proud! Notonly does the Defence Force protectour borders and beyond, but it hasalso successfully adapted to the veryversatile role of being a serviceprovider and a show-stopper.Members of the SANDF broughtlife to the stadium long before thepublic poured in. In the biting chill, sotypical of a "Jo'burg" winter morning,members took to song to fend off thecold.Carrying all 53 flags of the AUmember countries the NationalCeremonial Guard paraded indetailed precision around the openfield to the rhythm of the bands ofthe SA Army, the SA Air Force, theSA Navy and the SAHMS, maddeningthe crowd with excitement.Firstly, following the SANDF cuein the form of a thundering 21-gunsalute, celebrations were declaredopen. Then of-course there was theSANDF grand finale: fireworks wentoff in the sky, officially marking theend of the day's proceedings.Nine flag bearing parachutistsjumped from a helicopter into the stadiumand saluted President Mbekiand visiting dignitaries beforeS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Youngsters from Burundi do it the African way.The SANDF in full force.making an exit.The SANDF provided support tothe SA Police Service in safeguardingthe event and staging the Africa Daycelebrations. The DefenceForce also provided securityin the military vehiclepark at the back of theJohannesburg Stadiumduring rehearsals andcelebrations.Waterkloof Air ForceBase received heads of state and ministersfrom the participating countriesand also made an Oryx helicopteravailable for use.Medical support was provided bymembers of SAMHS to all SANDFforces deployed. The show of supportput on was awesome!Local artists dazzled the 40 000strong crowd with all-timefavourites. Miriam Makeba "MamaAfrika", Letta Mbuli, CaiphusSimenya and Hugh Masekela didwhat they are so famously knownfor, making music.Throughout the entire week'scelebrations over the period 18 to 25May the SANDF was there.Members of the SANDF makingus proud.15J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

clippingsArmscor leads the drive for qualityBy PO Dennis NdabaPhoto: Sgt Eddie SmithArmscor was awarded the certificateof the InternationalSafety Organisation (ISO)9001:2000 on 20 May 2003 bythe South African Bureau ofStandards (SABS). Armscorand quality have alwaysbeen synonymous in South Africa,and throughout the world thedefence and aeronautical institutionslead the drive for quality andreliability.Armscor still plays an importantrole in South Africa where qualityand excellence are concerned throughits leadership in the SA ExcellenceFoundation, the SA Society forQuality, the SA Quality Institute andthe SA Auditors, Training andCertification Association.In 1995 Armscor decided toperform gap analysis against the ISO9001 requirements and an externalconsultant was contracted. A generalcomment of the consultant was thatin most instances Armscor documentationwas far more extensive thanwas required by ISO. In 1997Armscor decided to formally start theBy Bertus Celliers, Manager:Corporate Communications,ArmscorDr Elsje Meintjies, SABS Managing Director ofGlobal Conformity, presents the ISO 9001:2000Certificate to Mr Sipho Thomo, Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Armscor.process for ISO certification.First a group of people, representingall departments in Armscor,underwent training in "ProcessMapping with ISO in Mind" and ISO9001 in 1994. A working group wasappointed to start the process bydeveloping the Armscor enterprisemodel and deploying and mappingkey business and support processes.The rest of Armscor was introducedTransform naval dockyardto ISO by means of abooklet entitled"Introduction to theISO Code of Practice inArmscor", which waspresented on WorldQuality Day.The processes weredeveloped from a clientrequirement perspective,which aimed tohave a total, integratedsystem that incorporatessafety and healthas well as environmental,statutory and legalissues. The SABS wasselected as the certificationbody, and afterthorough research oncertification bodies apreparatory discussion wasconducted.An internal audit was performedin 2002 and a pre-audit was conductedby the SABS in September 2002.The final audit was done on 26 and27 November 2002, and the auditorsrecommended certification forArmscor. Certification was approvedby the Certification Board in Februarythis year.16An Interim Memorandum ofAgreement (MOA) betweenArmscor, the Secretary forDefence and the SA Navywas officially signed at theArmscor Building in Pretoriaon 25 April 2003.The MOA will facilitate theprocess of transforming the Simon'sTown Naval Dockyard. The firstphase has been completed, whichculminated in a Due DiligenceReport. This will be utilised for therepositioning of the dockyard.This MOA details the transitionalFltr: V Adm Johan Retief, Chief of the SA Navy, Mr Jack Grundling, ChiefFinancial Officer of the DOD, and Mr Sipho Thomo, Chief Executive Officerof Armscor.phase until the establishment of apublic-public-partnership, whichwould be coupled with a ServiceDelivery Agreement betweenArmscor, the Secretary for Defenceand the SA Navy. The PPP andrepositioning of the Dockyard has theobjective of transforming thedockyard into a commercially viableentity, while retaining its strategicimportance of the Dockyard for theSA Navy.S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Survivethe ParisianjungleBy Shellee Geduld, staff reporter(article reprinted with permissionof the Cape Argus)Huddled under an umbrellaon a cold, wet Parisian day,a much decorated SouthAfrican colonel demonstratedhis soldierly grit - andastonished his new neighbours- by having a familybraai in his wintry garden.It was a brave effort to make hisfamily feel at home, and it was thefirst of many in the French capital forCol Johan W. van Zyl and his familyduring his three-year stint as Air andDefence Attaché at South Africa'sembassies in Paris, Brussels and TheHague.The chilly, if restorative braai wasrecalled at a ceremony at theLangebaan-weg Air Force Base atwhich Col Van Zyl, now commandingofficer of the base, received France'ssecond highest "order of chivalry" forhis part in cementing ties between thetwo countries.The Ordre National du Merite,with the rank of Knight, was awardedby R Adm Richard Wilmot-Roussel ofthe French Navy on behalf of FrenchPresident Jacques Chirac.Van Zyl spent three years inEurope from 1998. R Adm Wilmot-Roussel recalled that having spentonly a week in Paris, Col Van Zyl andhis family decided to have a "familybraai under the wintry Parisian rain,which without a doubt must havesurprised a number of theneighbours".R Adm Wilmot-Roussel describedCol Van Zyl's "adaptability, zest andhumour" as the best way to "survivethe Parisian jungle". "During his stay,Col van Zyl undeniably contributedto establishing privileged ties betweenour two countries," R Adm Wilmot-Roussel said.Beyond his skills at the braai,You are winnersCongratulations to the four winners of theSA Air Force Fund Competition:●●●●Arend Keulder won a week's holiday out of season at anyone of the SA Air Force Fund holiday flats.Raymond Moeketsi won a midweek holiday break(Monday to Friday) for four people self-catering.Ina Sage won a day in the life of an Air Force pilot.Edward Ralane won a cash prize of R500-00.The question was: Which holiday and travel club is associatedwith the SAAF Fund?The answer is: Linric Club.Col Van Zyl is also a noted photographer,and Paris evidently offeredample opportunities to displayhis talent. R Adm Wilmot-Rousselrecalled: "Indeed, he has a wide collectionof pictures of monuments andother peculiarities of our capital,among which are… 'the beautifulCommandant appointed asProfessor ExtraordinaryBy Maj Arina Hanekom,Communication OfficerMilitary AcademyThe University of StellenboschBusiness School has appointed theCommandant of the MilitaryAcademy, Brig Gen L.S. Mollo, asProfessor Extraordinary for theperiod 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2006.The University of Stellenboschcreated this category of appointments togive recognition to individuals for theirproven specialised expertise, and/or theireminence in their profession and field ofstudy, and to involve them in the academicprogrammes of the relevant Departmentor School. This appointment will alsostrengthen the relationship between theMilitary Academy and the University ofStellenbosch Business School.women of Paris'." The OrdreNational du Merite was created byGeneral Charles de Gaulle in 1963.The National Order of Meritoriginated in the tradition of the oldFrench chivalry orders establishedby Henry III in the sixteenthcentury.Brig Gen L.S. Mollo.17J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

eventsThe French and oursoldiers learn fromeach otherBy Capt (SAN) Stan Slogrove,SSO Maritime Capabilities atJoint Operations DivisionPhotos: Courtesy 121 SAI Bn andSA War CollegeThe early Saturday morningtranquillity of theNaval Island at RichardsBay was shattered bythe powerful roar ofoutboard engines, astwo inflatable boatsfilled with FrenchMarines raced up ontothe beach. The soldiersquickly dispersed asthey rapidly secured the beachheadand then the rest of the island. Soonthe grey bulk of the FrenchBatral-type landing ship, FNS LaGrandiére bore down on the beach, herbow doors opening like the mandiblesof some giant mantis. Personnel,vehicles and cargo were dischargedonto the beach, and so beganthe Field Training Exercise (FTX)phase of Exercise RAINBOW TREK.Planning staffs of the SANDF andFASZOI (French forces in the IndianOcean zone) under the command ofthe Task Force Commander, ColJohan Blaauw, and his French counterpart,Capitaine de Vaisseau (NavyCaptain) Francois Cloup-Mandavialle,had met earlier in the week, as Marchbecame April, at the undergroundmilitary facility on Durban's Bluff, toconduct a Command Post Exercise(CPX). The aim of the theoreticalExerciseRAINBOWTREK.phase of this Peace Support exercisewas to validate and harmonise thedoctrines and tactics that would beused in the practical phase. Languagedifficulties were overcome and thetwo force components sized eachother up as they ran through thevarious activities of the scenario.On completion of the CPX, theplanning staffs moved up the coast toRichards Bay and occupied the tentedcamp that had been set up inadvance. The cargo from the LaGrandiére soon became an evacuationcontrol centre manned by French andPersonnel, vehicles and cargo were dischargedonto the beach after the FNSLa Grandiére bore down on the beach.(Photo: PO Gustav Oosthuysen)18S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

The Naval Island at Richards Bay with Pelican Island in the background.FNS La Grandiére in the background while the emergency naval evacuation takes place.South African medical and administrativepersonnel. For the first time,members of the South African RedCross Society were also involved.Strains of the South African andFrench national anthems drifted overthe island each morning as the twocontingents held a formal paradebefore beginning the day's work.Soon afterwards the tented operationscentre would be abuzz in severallanguages, as reports came in fromthe field and future activities wereplanned.Paratroopers from FASZOI and 44Parachute Brigade jumped into theHell's Gate area in the St Lucia Parkto release "foreign tourists" from the"rebels" (both groups playedenthusiastically by members of 121SA Infantry Battalion). The freedhostages were transported toRichards Bay and on to the evacuationcontrol centre for processing andeventual repatriation. The twoFrench C160 transport aircraft and aPanther helicopter, as well as theSouth African C130 and Oryx helicopters,became a familiar sight in theskies over Richards Bay as theexercise progressed.The Combat Support Ship SASOUTENIQUA and the Patrol FrigateFNS NIVOSE joined the force in duecourse. A naval evacuation centre(separate from the ECC) was set upon the beach of the nearby PelicanIsland.In the exercise the French andSouth African ships' companies practisedthe evacuation of diplomaticstaffs and other foreign nationalscaught up in local hostilities, a veryreal and possible scenario in Africatoday. French Naval Commandosand SA Pathfinders also conductedan exercise to release "diplomatsbeing held hostage" from the localCommando Headquarters.The exercise ended with a displayof the capabilities of the forces beforelocal dignitaries and visiting diplomatsand senior officers, followed bya post-exercise debriefing. Bothparticipating forces gained muchfrom the exercise, learning fromeach other's strengths. ExerciseRAINBOW TREK was conducted aspart of the French RECAMP series ofexercises. This is France's contributionto the development of PeaceSupport capabilities in armed forcesthroughout Africa.19J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

20insightHuman resources formthe cornerstoneBy Brig Gen Dries de Wit,Director Human Resource PlanningPhoto: Sgt David Nomtshongwana“Excellence in HumanResource Planning" isthe vision ofDirectorate HumanResource Planning andrepresents what theDirectorate is aimingfor. DirectorateHuman ResourcePlanning, situated atthe DefenceHeadquarters inPretoria, is responsible for corporatehuman resource strategy and planningof the DOD, the co-ordinating ofthe human resource (Item 10) budgetof the DOD and for the provisioningof human resource managementinformation.The Directorate constantly has toconsider the effects of a rapidlychanging and challenging environmenton the human resource compositionof the DOD. In the first placethere are external factors, such aspolitical decisions, legislation, socioeconomicrealities (eg high unemploymentand financial constraints) andtechnological developments (eg thephasing in of the main equipment ofthe Strategic Defence Package) thatinfluence the human resource planningdecisions of the DOD. Secondly,internal factors such as the ideal sizeand shape of the DOD (the forcedesign and force structure) determineBrig Gen Dries de Wit.a specific human resource compositionin terms of quantity and quality.In terms of policy the DOD must havethe right person in the right place atthe right time. In addition, legislationrequires of the DOD to have an effective,efficient and economical (affordable)human resource composition.It is a challenging task to managethe effect of all the above factors aspart of the joint human resourceplanning process of the DOD.Since the establishment of theDOD, Directorate Human ResourcePlanning has been in the forefront toprovide human resource strategicdirection.Some of the outstanding achievementsof the Directorate include thedrafting of the DOD Human ResourceStrategy 2010, the drafting of the NewThe structure of Directorate Human Resource PlanningSecretaryD HR Plan…of ourorganisation.Service System of the SANDF, the initiatingof the DOD Youth FoundationTraining Programme, the developmentof a Pensions Dispensation forformer Non-statutory Force members,the management of human resource(Item 10) expenditure within theapproved budget and the provisioningof an outstanding human resourcemanagement information service.The Human Resource Planningenvironment of the DOD will continueto present huge challenges in thefuture as the DOD continues to transform.Human resources form the cornerstoneand the most important assetof any organisation. It will thereforebe required that the DOD should continuouslydevelop, implement andmonitor the effects of various strategies,sub-strategies and plans toensure that the quality and quantityof the human resource composition ofthe DOD can meet future demands.This will be the primary task ofDirectorate Human ResourcePlanning.Lieutenant colonels and commandersin the Personnel Corps who areinterested in being part of the fastpacedteam that designs the futurehuman resource composition of theDOD through human resourcestrategies and plans are welcome tocontact Brig Gen De Wit at tel no:(012) 355 5870. There are currently afew vacant SO1 posts in theDirectorate.SSO HR Strat Plan SSO HR Plans SSO HR Management InfoSO1 HR Strat PlanSO1 HR Plans(Army &DivisionsSO1 HR Plans(Air Force &DivisionsSO1 HR Plans(Navy, SAMHS &DivisionsSO1 SecretarialServices(for HR Staff Council)SITAConsultantSO1 HR Management InfoS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

First black Reserve Force military judgesworn inBy Capt (SAN) E. van der Walt (Ret)Photo: Sgt David NomtshongwanaVictor Sibeko (50), an advocatefrom Brakpan on theEast Rand, was one of thefirst legal practitioners toapply for appointment as aReserve Force officer in theSANDF. Because of hisseniority he was given the rank ofcolonel. After his appointment ColSibeko had to undergo an inductionprogramme to educate him on militaryculture. This had to be done inhis spare time. He first completed amilitary orientation course afterwhich he was schooled in militarylegal subjects, such as military law,the law of armed conflict, operationallaw, law of evidence and criminallaw. He passed his examinationswith flying colours. Before he couldbe sworn in as judge, he had to situnder instruction to familiarise himselfwith the military justice system.On 6 May 2003 Col Sibeko wassworn in as military judge by BrigGen Annemarie Myburgh, DirectorPut a stop to theftArticle and photo by Maj MarindaOberholzer, SO2 CommunicationSA Army Artillery FormationCol Victor Sibeko.Military Judges, in one of the courtroomsat Thaba Tshwane. He was tobegin his duties with immediate effectand he said he was ready and willingto play his role in the SANDF. ColSibeko will preside as a senior militaryjudge when and where required,especially in cases involving seniorSANDF members from the rank ofmajor upwards, but he could alsohandle disciplinary casesinvolving junior members.The scope of Col Sibeko'sduties will include having topreside over cases involvingSANDF members in othercountries, such as Burundi andthe Demo-cratic Republic ofCongo (DRC) whenever suchneed arises.Col Sibeko is due to leavefor the United States in July thisyear to attend a two-monthcourse on military advocacy.In 1979 Col Sibeko obtained hisBA Law degree and in 1981 hisLLB degree at the NationalUniversity of Lesotho.Thereafter he was admitted asadvocate in Lesotho in 1981.During his career as a legal practitionerhe inter alia worked as a negotiatorfor Mobil, the fuel company,and was an adjudicator for the GautengHousing Transfer Bureau wherehe later served on the appeal panel.In 1993 he opened his own legalconsultancy. Col Sibeko is marriedand is a keen golfer who plans to getinvolved in SANDF golf.The quick and willing responseof artillery and armour memberswas of the utmost importancein arresting thieves whotrespassed at the GeneralSupport Base Ministry ofDefence (GSB MOD) logisticalwing. On 21 March 2003 at about17:00 Pte Madinetja Saopa, Pte PheneloDipale (both Reserve Force membersat Transvaal State Artillery) and PteThabo Tsoai (a Reserve Force memberat Pretoria Regiment) assisted inapprehending thieves in the stores at91 Ammunition Depot.Their heroic response showed thatthey were professional soldiers,Fltr: WO2 Lindokuhle Vika (SA Army Artillery Formation HQ Warrant Officer),Pte Madinetja Saopa, Brig Gen Abe Notshweleka (GOC SA Army ArtilleryFormation) and Pte Phenelo Dipale.always ready to make a differencewherever they were serving theircountry. The two Gunners, Pte Saopaand Pte Dipale, appeared on officebearing before the General OfficerCommanding SA Army ArtilleryFormation, Brig Gen AbeNotshweleka, who congratulatedthem on their brave performance. BrigGen Notshweleka said: "We areproud to have soldiers of such calibreas part of the Artillery Corps."21J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

insightNew decorations andmedals for the SANDF22By Brig Gen Deon Fourie,Reserve ForceEarly in 2001 the HonoursAdvisory Panel, underChief Director of HumanResources Policy andPlanning, Maj Gen Joanvan der Poel, met to consideradvising thePresident on a new seriesof decorations andmedals for award todeserving personnel ofthe SANDF.There were various reasons forthe step. An important need was forhonours to reflect the transformationof the Defence Force. The existinghonours were those that had beenawarded to members of the DefenceForce before 1994 and they had yet toexpress the ethos of all SouthAfricans.There was also the need to reducethe unnecessarily large number ofdecorations and medals available inSouth Africa. For some years therehad been concern at the proliferationof honours in South Africa. Alreadybefore 1994 the orders, decorationsand medals for the police,Correctional Services, intelligence, theDepartment of Foreign Affairs, theDefence Force, and for civilians numbered290 pieces. The addition ofawards for MK and APLA veteransbrought the total for the country to320 insignia. The situation was so outof hand that a member of the DefenceForce could wear far more medalsmerely for completing periods of passiveservice than for bravery or formerit. This had the effect of reducingmedals from the status of Presidentialhonours to that of good conductbadges. After all, the reason forawarding decorations and medals isto honour the recipient, not simply toadd a badge. The SANDF was determinedto set an example of good tasteand austerity.Perhaps the most ideal guide to abetter situation was that adopted inZimbabwe in 1981. There the numberof honours was reduced from the 38honours available under Rhodesianrule to a simple, well-designed fourteeninsignia. Apart from the fiveclassOrder of Merit for meritoriousconduct by the uniformed servicesand the general public, there werethree decorations for bravery - theGold, Silver and Bronze Crosses ofZimbabwe. Then there was a Longand Exemplary Service Medal for theregular uniformed services, anEfficiency Medal for the military andpolice reserves, and a Long ServiceMedal for the Public Service. There isalso a medal for the best military andpolice shot each year, a Medal forMeritorious Service associated withthe Order of Merit, and aCommendation Medal.Each Zimbabwe decoration ormedal has a suspender brooch toshow whether the holder is a civilian,or is in the police (the scales of justice),the army (oak leaves), the airforce (a fish eagle) or is a prisons' officer(a key). For the CommendationMedal, the Long Service andExemplary Service Medal and theEfficiency Medal the ribbons varyfrom service to service. The PublicService Long Service Medal has itsown design and its own ribbon.Otherwise, the designs and the namesare identical for civilians and services.As the SANDF was continuingwith its process of renewal and transformation,entirely new decorationsand medals rather than mereIntroducesa new era.reductions in numbers was the obviouspathway to follow to achievethese aims and to give an image of aDefence Force representative of allcultures among the citizenry.The role of the Honours AdvisoryPanel in this process was to provide asource of advice on the institution,design, regulation, organisation,precedence, and other arrangementsrelating to honours awarded forservice rendered in the NationalDefence Force. The Panel supplementsRegular Force expertise withadvice from persons with an interest,expert knowledge, or experience indealing with honours and theirinsignia. Some members from outsidethe Regular Force were part-timemilitary personnel drawn from theReserve Force. There were also theState Herald, the Chief Curator of theSouth African National Museum ofMilitary History, staff officers whosework concerns the process of makingawards, representatives of serviceinterests, as well as representatives ofthe non-statutory forces.This was not the first time thatdecorations and medals had beendevised afresh for the Defence Force.There had been variations of Britishhonours before 1954 when a distinctset of decorations and medals wasdevised for the first time. These werechanged quite radically in the 1970sand from time to time additions andamendments were made, the lasttime in 1992 after a departmentalcommittee of enquiry had sat to considerthe matter. This, however, wasS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

the first time that a specialist panel,representing wide interests andexpertise had tackled the problem.The Panel began its work bydetermining the needs that should bemet with regard to recognised principles.The first guiding principle,contained in section 84 (2) (k) of theConstitution of the Republic of SouthAfrica, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), and inthe principles of Constitutional Law,was that the institution and award ofhonours are solely prerogatives of thePresident. It was thus essential thatthe honours instituted by thePresident for award to personnel ofthe SANDF should be greatly valued.To be valued honours had to be of ahigh standard, logically conceived,simple and dignified and in goodtaste. They had to compare with thebest foreign systems of honours.Honours for the Defence Force hadnaturally to be consistent with soundmilitary tradition and custom. Theyhad to take especial account of thecultural diversity of South Africa andreflect the country, its flora and faunaand particularly the people.The first recommendations wereto combine in a limited number ofdecorations, without distinctionbetween officers and other ranks,recognition of bravery, leadership,merit, and devotion to duty, togetherwith a medal for participation inoperations and, finally, a medal forlong and faithful service.An early step was that of devisingprovisional designs, while the Panelalso considered possible names forthe decorations and the medals. Theprimary recommendation was thatthe designations should be sharedamong the languages of South Africa.In this task the Language Bureau ofthe DOD gave valuable assistance inselecting names so that every SouthAfrican language would be used.Interestingly, when the proposalswere placed before the Minister ofDefence, he discerned a linguisticerror in a designation and insisted onan amendment.It was quickly discovered thatthere was much more work involvedin drafting the Presidential Warrantsthan was at first expected. Since 1952numerous decorations and medalshad been instituted and replaced andstaff officers with differing experienceand backgrounds had prepared thevarious warrants. It had alsosometimes been forgotten that aPresidential Warrant is a form of executivelegislation. Thus they needed tobe drafted in keeping with the provisionsof the Constitution, 1996, statutelaw and the common law of SouthAfrica. Changes brought about inrecent labour legislation were particularlyimportant. Consequently thecontents and the format ofPresidential Warrants were carefullyexamined and recast to be uniform asfar as the variations of the decorationsand medals allowed. Legal opinionwas obtained both from the Chief ofLegal Affairs in the Department ofDefence and the Legal Adviser in thePresidency.Ribbons had to be carefullydesigned to have a distinct identity.With the vast number of ribbons previouslyused in South Africa, as wellas elsewhere in the world, the StateHerald at the time, Maj F.G. Brownell,was put under great pressure. Also,as the process evolved, a long drawnout process of revision had to beundertaken. Many adjustments hadto be made to the designs of the decorationsand medals to permit theirmanufacture within a variety ofrestrictions.This process required liaison withmetallurgists at the South AfricanBureau of Standards who preparedspecifications for types of metal,weights, thicknesses and other features.This was all to ensure that thefinal product would meet with thestandards the recipients themselveswould have to achieve. It alsorequired the manufacture of leadprototypes and discussions with theintended manufacturers and representativesof the Logistics Division.An historian and collector of medals,Capt Peter Digby, was also drawninto the process for his knowledge ofthe quality of foreign honours inorder to help make comparisons ofquality. The total process from standardisationto manufacture wasestimated to require some eighteenmonths.The Honours for braveryThe decorations for bravery areNkwe ya Gauta, Nkwe ya Seleferaand Nkwe ya Boronse (the GoldenLeopard, the Silver Leopard and theBronze Leopard). Bars may beawarded to represent subsequentadditional awards of these decorations.The three decorations differslightly from one another. The metalsare gold, silver and bronze and eachhas its own surface design to give athree-dimensional effect. The basiccolour of the ribbon is light blue torepresent the blue crane whose featherwas presented by Xhosa kings as a"decoration" to brave warriors. AllContinued on page 26Fltr: Nkwe ya Gauta, Nkwe ya Selefera and Nkwe ya Boronse (bravery).23J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

NEW HONOURS OF THE SOUTH AF RNkwe ya Gauta (bravery). Nkwe ya Selefera (bravery). Nkwe ya Boronse (bravery).24Iphrothiya yegolide (merit). Iphrothiya yesiliva (merit). Iphrothiya yebhronzi (merit).S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

RICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCETshumelo Ikatelaho(campaign award).Medalje vir Troue Diens(long service award).Medalje vir Troue Diensand bar 20 Years (longservice award).Medalje vir Troue Diensand bar 30 Years (longservice award).25Medalje vir Troue Diensand bar 40 Years (longservice award).Medalje vir Troue Diensand bar 50 years (longservice award).Medalje vir Troue DiensRD and bar 20 Years(RD = decoration forReserve Force emblem).Okhankanyiweyo (as displayedon the ribbon of the TshumeloIkatelaho)(mention indespatches to the President).J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

26insightDecorationsContinued from page 23three decorations have the Coat ofArms of the Republic on the reverse.The post-nominal letters for the threedecorations are NG, NS and NBrespectively.The Nkwe ya Gauta is a fivearmedcross of nine-carat gold. Thearms of the cross spread outwardsfrom a central medallion formingchevron-like angles. The outer edgesare curved. Between the arms arethree short rays of gold. In the centreof the obverse on the light-blueenamel medallion is a golden leopard'shead cut off at the throat. Thecentral medallion is one half thediameter of the decoration. The ribbonfor the Nkwe ya Gauta is lightblue, 20 mm wide, with gold edges6 mm in width.The Nkwe ya Selefera is a fivearmedcross of silver of the sameshape as Nkwe ya Selefera but withborders along the edges. Between thearms of the cross are three short raysof silver. The leopard's head in thecentre of the light blue enamel medallionis silver. The central medallion isone half the diameter of the decoration.The ribbon is light blue, 20 mmwide, with white edges - 6 mm inwidth.The Nkwe ya Boronse is also afive-armed cross of bronze, theextremities of the arms curve andtheir flat surfaces are hollowed orconcave. Between the arms of thecross the rays are of bronze. There isa bronze leopard's head in the centreof the light blue enamel medallion.The central medallion is one half thediameter of the decoration. The ribbonis light blue, 20 mm in width,with bronze edges - 6 mm in width.The honours for bravery may beawarded to officers and other ranksof the SANDF, of any auxiliary serviceof the SANDF and of any armedforces serving with the SANDF, whohave distinguished themselves bybravery on a single occasion or over aperiod of time in the following ways:To be awarded the Nkwe yaGauta recipients must have distinguishedthemselves by performingacts of exceptional bravery duringmilitary operations.To earn the Nkwe ya Seleferarecipients must have distinguishedthemselves by performing acts ofconspicuous bravery during militaryoperations and recipients of the Nkweya Boronse must have performed actsof bravery during military operations.The award of the decorations forservice in active military operationsshall be indicated by distinguishingService insignia worn on the ribbon.The insignia is made of the samemetal as the particular decoration.The insignia for recipients of the SAArmy will be crossed swords, forrecipients of the SA Air Force it is aneagle, for recipients of the SA Navy itis an anchor, while recipients of theSAMHS will wear the rod ofAesculapius.Additional awards of any of thehonours for bravery will be indicatedby the award of bars of the samemetal as the decoration, to be worn onthe ribbon. Bars will be indicated onribbon bars by miniature replicadevices.Honours for meritoriousconductThere are three levels of merit inrespect of the honours for leadership,meritorious conduct or devotion toduty. Bars also represent subsequentadditional awards of these decorations.In this category our newdecorations will be the iPhrothiyayeGolide, iPhrothiya yeSiliva andiPhrothiya yeBhronzi (the GoldenProtea, the Silver Protea and theBronze Protea). All three decorationsbear the Coat of Arms of the Republicon the reverse. The post-nominalletters for the three decorations arePG, PS and PB, respectively.iPhrothiya yeGolide is a six-pointed,faceted star of silver gilt. In thecentre is a flag blue enamel hexagonon which is a stylised gold proteaflower as it appears on the nationalCoat of Arms. The ribbon foriPhrothiya yeGolide is 32 mm inwidth, national flag blue 13 mm inwidth, gold 2 mm, black 2 mm, gold 2mm, and national flag blue 13 mm inwidth.iPhrothiya yeSiliva is also a sixpointedfaceted star, but of silver. Inthe centre is a flag blue enamelhexagon on which is a stylised silverprotea flower. The ribbon is 32 mmin width, national flag blue 11 mm inwidth, white 2 mm, black 2 mm, gold2 mm, black 2 mm, white 2 mm andnational flag blue 11 mm in width.iPhrothiya yeBhronzi is the samesix-pointed faceted star but of bronze.In the centre is a flag blue enamelhexagon on which is a stylised bronzeprotea flower. The ribbon is 32 mm inwidth, national flag blue 9 mm inwidth, white 2 mm, black 2 mm,white 2 mm, black 2 mm, white 2mm, black 2 mm, white 2 mm andnational flag blue 9 mm in width.The honours for meritorious conductmay be awarded to officers andother ranks of the SANDF, of anyauxiliary service of the SANDF and ofany armed forces serving with theSANDF, who have distinguishedthemselves by leadership or meritoriousconduct and devotion to duty ona single occasion or over a period ofFltr: Iphrothiya yegolide, Iphrothiya yesiliva and Iphrothiya yebhronzi (merit).S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

time in the following ways:For the iPhrothiya yeGolide recipientsmust have exhibited exceptionalleadership or exceptionally meritoriousservice and the utmost devotionto duty.To receive the iPhrothiya yeSilivarecipients must have rendered outstandingleadership or outstandinglymeritorious service and particulardevotion to duty.Recipients of the iPhrothiyayeBhronzi must have distinguishedthemselves by leadership or meritoriousservice and devotion to duty.The award of the decorations forservice in active military operations isto be indicated by wearing on the ribbondistinguishing insignia showingthe Service in which they were servingat the time of the action for whichthe decoration was conferred, in themetal of the particular decoration.The insignia are, for the SA Armyminiature crossed swords, for the SAAir Force a miniature eagle, for theSA Navy a miniature anchor and aminiature rod of Aesculapius for theSAMHS.Additional awards of any of thehonours for bravery will be indicatedby the award of bars of the samemetal as the decoration, to be worn onthe ribbon. Bars will be indicated onribbon bars by miniature replicadevices.Okhankanyiweyo -Mention in DespatchesFor actions demanding not quitethe exceptional levels of achievementrequired for the decorations, there isthe practice of mentioning by namedeserving members of the forces inthe despatches sent by ForceCommanders to the President duringor after campaigns or other operations.Such people would be mentionedfor brave or meritorious conduct,leadership, devotion to duty,praiseworthy service or other distinguishedconduct not meriting decorations.Those mentioned will receive aminiature emblem of the national coatof arms to wear on the ribbon of theparticular campaign medal or a generalservice medal or mounted on aribbon bar covered with the materialof which the service dress tunic ismade when they have no campaignmedal.Tshumelo Ikatelaho -General Service MedalThe first of the campaign medalsto be part of the new series is theTshumelo Ikatelaho - which means"the general service medal". As withmost general service medals, it ismeant to indicate service in briefer or"minor" campaigns and other operationsand it will be used for severalyears. In later years yet another maybe instituted. Note that the pronunciationof the two Tshivenda words is"Tshumero Ikateraho" with the letter"l" sounded as an "r".The medal is an eight-sided medalof silver-nickel. On the obverse,inside a laurel wreath, is a facetednine-pointed star. The medal shall beworn on the left breast from a ribbonnational flag blue 5 mm, white 2 mm,national flag red 6 mm, gold 1.5 mm,black 3 mm, gold 1.5 mm, nationalflag red 6 mm, white 2 mm andnational flag blue 5 mm. The reversebears the Coat of Arms of theRepublic.Medalje vir Troue Diens -Medal for Loyal ServiceThe Medalje vir Troue Diens(Medal for Loyal Service) will beawarded for completion of ten years'service marked by good conduct inthe SANDF. Only one medal is conferred.For each additional period often years' qualifying service, to amaximum of forty years, which maybe interrupted service, during whichthe member's character and conducthave remained irreproachable, recognitionmay be accorded for the serviceby the award of a bar to represent anadditional award.Made of nickel-silver, the medal iscircular with the edge evenly scalloped.The obverse of the medal shallbear the Coat of Arms of the Republicof South Africa. The reverse of themedal will bear, in relief, the words"Vir Troue Diens". The bars are32 mm in length and 6 mm in width,with the Arabic numerals "20", "30","40" or "50" respectively in relief inthe centre. When only a ribbon bar isworn, a miniature silhouette replicaof the medal, 8 mm in diameter, ofthe same metal as the bar, and withthe Arabic numerals "20", "30", "40" or"50" in relief, is affixed to the ribbon.The bars are made of silver for twentyand matt silver for thirty years'service, silver gilt for forty years'service and matt silver gilt for fiftyyears' service.The medal is worn attached to aribbon of the following design: 3 mmof national flag red, 3 mm of white,20 mm of national flag green, followedby 3 mm of white and nationalflag blue 3 mm.For Reserve Force service there isan additional decoration - a monogramof the letters 'RD' that is wornattached to the ribbon of the TroueDiens Medalje. The letters stand forReserve Distinction. The purpose isto accord special recognition for parttimeservice to officers and otherranks of the Reserve Force of theSANDF. They are required to completethe prescribed period of twentyyears loyal service to qualify for theaward of the bar to the Medalje virTroue Diens. They must be consideredworthy and deserving of recognitionfor Reserve Force service.Recipients have to serve in theReserve Force for no less than fiveyears to qualify for the decoration.This may require service in excess of20 years when the recipient has hadlong service in the Regular Force.The entire series came into effecton 27 April 2003. The only currenthonours that will still be awarded arethose still being processed and decorationsand those that were earneduntil 26 April 2003 will continue to beawarded to members and formermembers of the SANDF. All theothers will fall into abeyance.While for the present the oldhonours would continue to be worn,in time, as the old soldiers retire, thechanges will be seen more and more.Eventually, the new honours will bethe only South African honours wornin the SANDF.27J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

28Tribute to a GunnerAn overwhelming silence prevailedat the SA Army Artillery Formationwith the shocking news of the deathof WO1 Faan Viviers, WarrantOfficer ETD at SA Army ArtilleryFormation, who died in a motoraccident in the United ArabEmirates on 9 May 2003. Col PerieFranken, Chief of Staff SA Army ArtilleryFormation, paid tribute to this remarkableGunner at his funeral on 19 May 2003 atPotchefstroom East Congregation, by givinghis last military command: "Gunner Viviers,it was a long and splendid engagement, goodshooting, end of mission. Stand Down". Thelate WO1 Viviers served in the SA ArtilleryCorps for almost thirteen years. He was notonly a professional soldier and Gunner, butalso a father and true friend. Everyone thatknew him experienced him as a warm-hearted,hard-working and friendly person. Hewas always laughing, full of jokes and willingto help where he could. He served invarious posts at 4 Artillery Regiment andwas transferred to the School of Artillery inPotchefstroom as an instructor in FebruaryThe warrant officers of the SAAir Force presented 21wheelchairs to identifiedrecipients at 28 Squadron inWaterkloof, Pretoria, on 7 May2003. This project was initiatedby the then Warrant Officer ofthe SAAF, WO1 Paul Nel, toalleviate the plight faced by disabledpersons. He was also involved with thewarrant officers of other Services in collectingfunds to aid disabled persons.This resulted in the SAAF warrant officersdonating in excess of R6 000-00 tothe representative of Curamus, MajArthur Piercy, to be utilised for theneeds of disabled members of theSANDF. The project has also escalatedto include the International NoncommissionedOfficer Association(INCOA). Altogether 21 applicationsfor the wheelchairs were received, bothinternally and externally. WO1Theuns Holtshauzen, a paraplegic from28 Squadron, suggested wheelchairs asthey are very costly and many peoplewho need them cannot afford them.The INCOA, foreign embassies, such asCanada, Germany, France and the USAwere approached for assistance withthe project. Their enthusiasm to assistresulted in the first four wheelchairsThe late WO1 Faan Viviers,who died in a motor accidentin the United Arab Emirateson 9 May 2003.1998. On 1 March 2002 the lateWO1 Viviers was appointed asWarrant Officer ETD at SAArmy Artillery Formation HQ.The late WO1 Viviers will beremembered by his son, Stefan(4), family, colleagues andfriends. (Article and photo byMaj Marinda Oberholzer,SO2 Communication SA ArmyArtillery Formation)Our Air Force donates wheelchairsbeing donated on behalf of theINCOA. WO1 Holtshauzen managedto persuade the Northcliff RotaryClub to donate a further four secondhandwheelchairs and Bosch andSiemens Household Appliancesdonated three new wheelchairs. Afurther ten second-hand wheelchairswere donated by private individuals.These were received and repaired bya group of dedicated SAAF warrantofficers. People such as Rfn M.Motaung from HarrismithCommando, who was injured whileon duty and paralysed from the neckdown, benefited from this project."We were very fortunate in receivinga total of 21 wheelchairs (new andsecond-hand) from sponsors anddonors. Fortunately or by chance weonly received 21 applications andmotivations, thus enabling us to complywith everybody's expectations,"said WO1 Holtshauzen. Since 2002was declared the Year of WarrantOfficers in the SAAF the handingover of the wheelchairs to the recipientsmarked the closure of the project.The response and assistance receivedindicate that there is still a greaterneed than the willingness to assist.(Article by PO Dennis Ndaba)By Maj Marthie Potgieter,SO2 Corporate CommunicationNodal Point, SAMHSPhoto: Sgt David NomtshongwanaHIV/AIDS Managementin the SANDF is muchfurther developed thanwe actually realise.Having attendedHIV/AIDS workshopswith other statutoryinstitutions, it was aneye-opener to discoverthat our developmentwith regard toHIV/AIDS training,research, prevention and educationwas much further advanced thantheirs.The HIV/AIDS Workshop thatwas held in Pretoria from 7 to 9 May2003 for Nodal Point Officers andMaster Trainers proved that thesewere courageous and dedicatedmembers with great endurance andcommitment to their task.Attendance of members of theHIV/AIDS Advisory Committeeensured an opportunity for greatermutual understanding and a platformfor better co-operation, as they listenedto the presentations from thedifferent areas and could answer andexplain certain practical issues.The SAMHS HIV/AIDS Co-ordinatingCommittee was also present.As the Formation co-ordinatorscommunicate directly with the NodalPoints, it was good for all of them tobe able to attach the faces to the (bynow) well-known names andtelephone voices.In some units the MilitaryCommunity Development Committee(MCDC) does not take place anymore. This matter was discussed thoroughly.The conclusion was that unitsshould pay urgent attention to thismatter and the Nodal Point Officerswere all instructed to return to theirunits to encourage their OCs tocontinue with this important meeting.Another matter discussed was thatthe general health of the soldier wasnot only the responsibility of theSurgeon General and the SAMHS, butof each Commanding Officerthroughout each Service.The SSO Pastoral Services, ColJohan Dill, gave a presentation on theethical framework of the HIV/AIDSS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Managing the deadly virusValue Based Training Programme,which the Chaplaincy is currentlypresenting throughout the country. Ithelped the members to see how thisprogramme complemented the totalMasibambisane project.The feedback given by MajAdrienne van Breda, Head of MilitaryHealth Research Centre (MPI), on theKnowledge, Attitude and Practices(KAP) Survey was rather alarming.When one thinks of the amount ofinformation being distributed, theefforts made to inform people of thisdeadly virus and the prominencegiven to it in politics and the media,then the amount of disinformationand the number of people continuingin irresponsible relationships are toohigh. It may be mentioned that thethree areas with the highest perceivedrisk of HIV are Kwazulu-Natal,Mpumalanga and the Free State. Thepeople with the least knowledge ofHIV seem to be living inMpumalanga, Limpopo Province andKwazulu-Natal.It should to be mentioned that allHIV/AIDS Nodal Points do this workover and above their regular dailywork. It is truly admirable that theymanage to arrange HIV/AIDS trainingcourses, educational programmes,manage their administration and doother HIV projects in their regions.During 2002 alone 40 000 SANDFmembers were exposed to theMasibambisane HIV/AIDS project.Of great value was the fact thattwo members from the United StatesDepartment of Defence HIV/AIDSPrevention Programme (US DHAP),which is the sole sponsor ofMasibambisane also attended theworkshop. And so did Ms NomvulaMarawa, who is the Advisor to theOffice of the Deputy Minister ofDefence. It was a great help to havethem there - right on the floor, so tospeak, as they were able to clarify certainrelevant issues that were identifiedduring discussions. That was oneof the aspects that made thisworkshop very valuable.The greatest, most appreciatedsurprise occurred on the second day,when Dr Dhezi Achery, SSO MedicalStandards, was interrupted. A specialguest was coming to visit and at thesame time photos were to be takenThe Deputy Minister of Defence, Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge (middle, front), and members ofSAMHS attending the HIV/AIDS Workshop.Peer grouptraining is vital.and a video made. The next momentthe members were requested to stand,and in walked the Deputy Minister ofDefence, Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, on an impromptu visit.She was presented with feedbackon positive aspects, and burningissues were discussed after whichmembers had the opportunity to askquestions. In her reply Ms Madlala-Routledge confirmed the importanceof proper support of the brave memberswho came forward to be testedand who disclosed their status. TheDefence Force should also create anenvironment where people feel safeand comfortable to disclose their status.Members should be able to talk toone another, that is why peer grouptraining is so important. We mustsupport our members to live a diseasefree life, because our bodies can failunder severe stress and become ill.She emphasised the idea thatCommanding Officers should betrained as MasterTrainers so thatthey, as the leadersof a military community,shouldlive the message ofa healthy life-style,and join in thefight againstHIV/AIDS.If every memberin the SANDFtook up theresponsibility andcommitment toprevent HIV/AIDS and to supportthose alreadyaffected,HIV/AIDS preventionwill becomean irresistible forcethat will overcomethe disease andfree itself from thisdisaster.29J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

30insightDevelop a total healthcare programme PromotingBy Brig Gen F. Meyer, DirectorOccupational Health ServiceThe components of asuccessful occupationalhealth service consist ofsuitable safety control ofthe working environments,timeous hazardidentification, monitoringand control, as wellas health assessments,treatment and healthpromotion.A person's health can definitelyhave an impact on safety and theability to work. Physical or mentalimpairments, whether inherited oracquired through injury or illness,can affect a person'sability to work safelyand efficiently.Occupational health ismainly concernedwith the prevention ofillness and the promotionof health andPost-deploymentTrainingOperations orworkplaceutilisationencouraging the worker to maintainthe optimum state of physical, mentaland social well-being.Several hazards and risks may bepresent at workplaces, for example:Physical: for example noise, ventilation,dust, asbestos, illumination,vibration, ionising and non-ionisingradiation, as well as heat and coldstress.Chemical: this includes lead andall hazardous chemical substances(HCS) listed in the HazardousChemical Substances Regulations.Biological: includes all pathogenicand non-pathogenic organisms(viruses, bacteria and fungi) as set outDeploymentCommanding OfficerOCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ANDSAFETYCURATIVE HEALTH● Occ HygienistCARE● Occ Health Nurse● Medical● Occ Medicine Practitioner● Nursing● OHS Manager and co-ordinator● Psychological● Occ Safety Inspector● Social●health.RETIREMENT/SEPARATIONOral HealthMULTI-DISCIPLINARYINTEGRATEDHEALTH ANDWELLNESSPROMOTIONPrimary CareSecondary CareTertiary CarePSA EmployeePre-deployment●●Ancillary HealthPastoral ServicesMember and DependentsRECRUITMENTDOD member’s Life Cycle.S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

in the Regulations for HazardousBiological Agents.Ergonomical factors: for exampleconfined workspaces and the identificationand monitoring of all relevantinformation/considerations into systemsdevelopment to improve theperformance and health of individualsat workplaces.Role playersOfficers commanding and supervisorsare playing major roles bymeans of their occupational healthservice (OHS) committee, OHS coordinators,as well as health and safetyrepresentatives. Their annual hazardidentification and risk assessment(HIRA) report is vital for the occupationalhealth team to be effective intheir support to units. The occupationalhygienist, medical officers,nurses and all other health care professionalsform part of the supportingteam to address health problemsrelating to HIRA reports.Occupational hygiene. After unitshave submitted their HIRA reports tothe Regional OHS centres they areutilised as the baseline reference for areport compiled by an occupationalhygienist. The report consists of anoccupational hygiene risk analysisand risk exposure profile of exposedemployees based on the science,which is devoted to the recognition,evaluation and control of physical,chemical, biological and ergonomicalrisks in the workplace, which maycause sickness, impaired health ordiscomfort and inefficiency.In the reports occupationalhygienists apply information fromvarious other sciences, such as chemistry,engineering, biology, mathematics,medicine, physics and toxicologyto enable officers commanding tounderstand the risks. This analysis isalso essential before occupationalhealth practitioners can commencewith the biological monitoring and/ormedical surveillance programmes inunits.Occupational health practitioners.The success and the integrity of therisk assessment - risk managementprocess is heavily dependent on theextent to which occupational hygiene,occupational nursing and occupationalmedicine are integrated. The role ofthe occupational health nurse is mainlyconcerned with the prevention ofillness and the promotion of health,with a lesser emphasis on the curativeaspects of health care. The occupationalmedicine practitioner dealswith diseases related to occupation,including treatment of personnel withchronic diseases, the rehabilitation ofthe sick or injured worker andprimary health care services.The goal is to assist personnel tomaintain their optimal state of physicaland psychosocial well-being. Thisis done in close co-operation with theoccupational nurse by means of biologicalmonitoring, biological effectmonitoring on target organs of thebody, as well as medical surveillanceand clinical diagnosis of occupationaldisease.Functions and activitiesFunctions and activities of theOccupational Health Services in theDOD can be summarised as follows:● The surveillance of the work environmentand working practiceswhich may affect DOD employees.● The identification of health hazardsand assessment of risks in theworkplace.● The medical surveillance of DODmembers' health in relation to theirwork. This may include the initialhealth assessment, placementexamination, periodical examinations,exit examination andpost-employment examination.● Advice on planning and organisationof work, including the designof workplaces.● The choice, maintenance and conditionof machinery weapon systemsand other equipment used inthe workplace. This also includesthe evaluation of the health-relatedaspects of new equipment.● Advice on occupational health,safety, occupational hygiene,ergonomics and safety equipmentfor individuals and groups.● The adaptation of the workplace todisabled members or those withhealth restrictions.● Collaboration in providing information,training and education inoccupational health, as well asoccupational hygiene andergonomics.● Organising first aid and emergencytreatment facilities in conjunctionwith the relevant area militaryhealth unit.● Participation in the analysis ofoccupational accidents anddiseases.Occupational health requires amultidisciplinary team effort to beeffective in dealing with related disciplinessuch as occupational hygiene,nursing and medicine. Health careworkers must liaise closely with OHScommittees, officers commanding andsupervisors to develop a total healthcare programme which best serves theneeds of the DOD and its personnel(Defence Act/PSA).All role players in the team contributeunique skills to the assessment,planning, implementation andevaluation of the total occupationalhealth programme in the DOD.31J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

32Coping with environmentalmanagementDefence inCompiled by Lt Col Etienne F. vanBlerk and Cdr Adri Liebenberg,Chief Joint Support -Logistics DivisionGraphic: Denvin NaidooCoping with environmentalmanagementacross the scope of militaryactivities weknow today couldassume the form of amultitude of isolatedendeavours faced independentlyby differentforce structure elementsin a frantic reactionto any range of prevailing environmentalissues. The Defence Forcecould, on the other hand, follow theproven path of an integrated,systematic approach that anticipatesmanagement intervention and strivestoward continual improvement in theenvironmental management performanceof the organisation as a whole.The Defence Force in South Africahas a history of environmental caredating back as far as 1978 when thefirst internal policies on the environmentwere formally adopted. Anearly focus to this effect on natureconservation or ecological managementhad to make way for the morecontemporary strategy of militaryintegrated environmentalmanagement (MIEM).This approach considers the entirescope of military activities and theirassociated impact on all spheres ofthe environment in a quest for sustainablemilitary use of any area ofland or sea, or the airspace entrustedto the DOD for use in conducting itsmission. Such an ostensibly pervasiveapproach understandably presentsthe DOD with marked challenges inengaging and co-ordinating environmentalmanagement performance inthe absence of any formal orintegrated system. This situation isaggravated by a climate that demandscompliance with the prescripts of proliferatingenvironmental legislation.The First Edition EnvironmentalImplementation Plan for the DefenceForce finally published asGovernment Notice No 249 inGovernment Gazette 22022 of 16February 2001, publicly acknowledgesthe quest for continual improvementin environmental management performancethroughout the DOD. Thefinal chapter in this fundamental documentlists various recommendationsaimed at bridging inadequacies ordeficiencies in both the environmentalmanagement performance and capacity.As a key recommendation, theDOD is urged to develop and implementan Environmental ManagementSystem (EMS) in accordance with theInternational StandardsOrganisation's ISO14000 series, whichis the international standard for environmentalmanagement. Throughthis mechanism it is envisaged ensuringthat controls are in place for a universalunderstanding of the levels ofrequired environmental managementperformance, measuring current performance,identifying improvementpotential, implementing an improvementplan, and controlling andtracking critical military activitiesthat affect the environment.Although the concept of developingan integrated EMS for Defence inSouth Africa would indeed be a novelidea, the Committee for theChallenges of Modern Society(CCMS) of the North Atlantic TreatyOrganisation (NATO), has been doingthis since 1996 through a Pilot StudyGroup on EMSs in the military sector.The final report of the CCMS PilotStudy Group was finally issued inMarch 2000, and to date the militaryin several European countries hasadopted ISO14000 which has resultedSouth Africahas a history ofenvironmentalcare.in advanced progress in the implementationof this system in the militarysector. This is most evident in theEastern European nations. Theacclaimed legacy of the environment inSouth Africa has become widelyknown even in the international arena.The SA DOD was therefore grantedspecial permission in 1996 to participatein proceedings of the CCMS PilotStudy Group even though South Africais not a member of NATO.This privilege was granted on thegrounds of the South African legacy ofcorporate military environmentalresponsibility together with the understandingthat guidelines advocated inthe final report of the Pilot StudyGroup could be adapted as well toapply locally in the development of anEMS for Defence to elevate MIEM tonew levels of performance. Many ofthe fundamental findings in the March2000 final report No 240 of the CCMSPilot Study Group on EMSs in theMilitary Sector were indeed containedin a strategic proposal developed bythe Strategic Environmental WorkingGroup for Defence (SEWing Group).This proposal effectively mappedthe route toward establishing anISO14000-series EMS for Defence inSouth Africa. By July 2000 as a resultof this strategic proposal, theEnvironmental Review Forum forDefence (ERF) was instituted by thePlenary Defence Staff Council (PDSC)in succession to the SEWing Group. Itstask as a working group of the PDSCwas twofold; firstly to design andS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

develop a contextual EMS for Defencefollowing the guidelines of theISO14000 archetype; secondly, oncecompleted, to implement and maintainthe functioning of an EMS withinthe DOD. The ERF was essentiallyconstituted of representatives recruitedfrom Level 2 structures of eachcorporate division and the Services.Together they have convened monthlysince March 2001 to follow a structuredprocess of building the EMSelement by element until the firstdraft was completed by May 2003.The assignment to the ERF was adaunting one that so far has overseenthe development and promulgation ofa Corporate Environmental PolicyStatement for Defence in September2001 in which the Defence Force HighCommand issues the scope andboundaries within which the DODpledges henceforth to address environmentalcare within its uniquedomain of business. In order to fulfilsuch a commitment, the ERF conducteda review of all environmental legislationapplicable to the DOD inorder to determine the fundamentalrequirements for environmental compliance.This review spanned all ofthe 35 national acts and 72 scheduledprocesses that foster some kind ofenvironmental compliance implicationfor the DOD. It included variousregulations and provincial legislationof a similar nature.The ERF then embarked on theprotracted process of an initial environmentalreview. This processentailed a comprehensive survey ofall military activities and determiningthe relationship of each with a seriesof nine environmental characteristics,in order to arrive at a shortlist ofsignificant environmental issues.The scope of military activities wasderived from the core objectives andoutputs in the Level 2 plans of each ofthe corporate divisions and theServices. The nine environmentalcharacteristics used in the initialreview are consistent with sustainabledevelopment and to those appliedextensively by industry in theEnvironmental Impact Assessment(EIA), thus covering all of the physical,biological, social and economiccomponents of the environment. Theshortlist of environmental impactswas ultimately prioritised and condensedto precipitate the seven mostsignificant environmental issues facedby the DOD. The seven most significantenvironmental issues withinDefence, as prioritised by the ERFfollowing the process of initial environmentalreview, comprise wastemanagement, water and soil pollution,contamination of land by unexplodedordnance, EIA planning,cultural resources and veld-fire management.These issues are now beingfurther analysed and assessed fromvarious angles to arrive at a tailoredaction plan or corporate environmentalmanagement programme that willaddress each of the most significantenvironmental issues.The ERF continued to add otherelements, such as environmental education,training and development,environmental communication, environmentalcontingency planning,monitoring and measurement, auditing,reporting, environmental awardsand incentive programmes. Each ofthese elements constitute the EMS andwill manifestquite differentlywhere it isadministered atstrategic levelto where it isimplementedeither at executiveor operationallevelwithin theorganisation.For this reasonthe ERF hasfollowed a lineof thought inwhich threemain productsemerged fromthe developmentphase.The firstproduct was anoverarchingdepartmentalpolicy regulatingprocessassociated withthe implementationof EMSat corporate level that issues specificinstructions and delegations to appropriatecorporate divisions and theServices. The second appears in theform of a manual with clear guidelineson the process of developingand implementing a more conventionalsite-specific EMS. The latterwill apply and be made available toevery primary element identified atoperational level (general supportbases or force structure elements) atwhich a functional EMS could be situated.The third and final product is animplementation plan that considersperipheral issues, actions andresources required to cost, systematicallyintroduce and establish EMSwithin the DOD at a steady pace setby predetermined milestones.From June 2003 the ERF enteredthe implementation phase of its taskwhich entails the introduction andimplementation of the EMS fordefence at base level, which increasedgradually and judiciously, the firstintroductions being limited to trialson a selected sample of bases andinstallations in the course of 2003.Home LoansAdvertpage 3333J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

34insightClarify the uncertainty ontermination of serviceCompiled by Col J.H. du Preez,SSO Service Conditions,and Lt Col J. Marks,SO1 Pension AdministrationNumerous enquiriesare received on a regularbasis by thePension Section at theHuman ResourceSupport Centre (HRSup Cen) fromSANDF members andPublic Service ActPersonnel (PSAP)regarding certain terminationof service aspects, ie uncertaintyregarding the meaning of terminologyin use, as well as the paymentof departmental and pensionbenefits.It is believed that this article, withspecific reference to the terminologyused in the termination of serviceprocesses, will clarify the uncertaintyregarding termination of serviceaspects within the DOD.Terminology and applicationService. The term "service" canhave three different meanings, ie servicein relation to medical benefits,service in relation to severance pay,service in relation to actual service,and service bought back (not necessarilyrelating to pensionable service).Service can thus be the employmentdate, the attestation date or the commencingdate of your contract withthe DOD. This date is not always thepension fund admission date and canbe confusing. Reasons for this confusionare the different types of servicesystems, former National Service,former Non-statutory Forces (NSF)service and specific waiting periodsbefore admission to the pension fundaccording to the rules of the pensionfund.Pensionable Service. This termrefers to the number of years of servicesince your date of admission tothe pension fund (pension fundcontribution commencement date)and may also include service that youhave bought back for pension purposes.The date from which pensionableservice is calculated is not necessarilythe same date as your attestation dateor employment date in the DOD.Pension Fund Contributions. Ifyou are employed in the DOD, youare contributing to the GovernmentEmployee and Pension Fund (GEPF)at a rate of 7,5% of your pensionableemoluments (salary). Your employer,the DOD, contributes to this fund at arate of 15% of your pensionableemoluments.Pension Number. Your pensionnumber, as reflected on your paysheet, is not critical for the purpose ofprocessing termination of service documentation.Rather ensure that yourbar coded ID number is correct on thePERSOL system. Kindly request yourlocal Human Resource SupportSatellite (HR Sup Sat) to determine ifyour bar coded ID number is reflectedcorrectly on the PERSOL system.National Treasury (PensionAdministration) is still busy with aDepartmental Project to audit pensioncontribution commencement datesand pension numbers. Once thisproject is finalised your correctconfirmed) pension number will bereflected on your pay sheet.Retirement Age. If you are a contributingmember of the GEP, youhave the right to retire on pensionand must be so retired on reachingthe age determined by the law governingyour employment contract.The compulsory retirement age is thedate on which you will reach the ageof 60 (SANDF members), the age of 65(PSAP), or such an age as stipulatedPayment ofpensionbenefits.in the terms of conditions of service ofyour individual employment contract.The actual retirement date is the lastday of the month in which you willattain the retirement age. If you areserving in the SANDF with anappointment code of PR, yourretirement date is the date directlyprior to your 65th birthday.Notice Periods. In terms of theGeneral Regulations for the SANDFand the Reserve, all SANDF membersmust give three months notice in writingof their intended or compulsorylast day of service. In terms of thePublic Service Act, 1994, PSAP mustgive written notice of one month,unless specifically otherwise stipulatedin terms of the conditions ofservice of an employment contract.Estimated Pension BenefitCalculations. The HR Sup Cen(Pension Section) is the only sectionauthorised to do estimated pensionbenefit calculations. A pro forma forthis purpose is available at your localHR Sup Sat. Any estimated pensionbenefit calculation, not done by thissection, will not be officially recognisedin cases of dispute, legal actionor interest claims against the DOD.Approval Authority. The term"Approval Authority" refers to theperson/post incumbent responsiblefor authorising a certain type oftermination of service. The approvalauthority for types of termination ofservice where a discretion is notrequired (resignation, death, normalretirement, disciplinary discharge,contract expiry and departmentaltransfer), is the Chief HumanS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Resource Support (Director PersonnelSeparation). The approval authorityfor types of termination of servicewhere a discretion is required (medicaldischarge, administrative discharge,separation (Transformationand Restructuring Package - TRP)early retirement prior to retirementage and non-renewal of an employment/servicecontract), is theMinister of Defence or the Secretaryfor Defence as applicable in terms oflaw prescripts.Completion of the Terminationof Service. A booklet for each type oftermination of service can be obtainedfrom your local HR Sup Sat. It isimportant that this booklet be dulycompleted by you by following theinstructions in the booklet, and mustbe submitted to your local HR SupSat for submission to the HR Sup Cen(Pension Section), at least ten weeksprior to your last day of service.Incomplete booklets, or booklets submittedlate will result in delays in thepayment of your departmental benefitsand also your pension benefits.Bank Particulars. As an integralpart (most important) of the completionof the type of termination of servicebooklet, your bank particularsmust be completed on the form Z894which is included in the terminationof service booklet. Only the originalcompleted Z894 form with the signatureof the banking official who hascompleted the form and the officialstamp of the bank disclosed on theform is acceptable. You must sign theform in the space provided for "signatureof member/pensioner/executor/organisation/other" andyou must also attach your thumbprinton the form in the space provided. Ifyour bank particulars form is incomplete,it will definitely result in delaysin the payment of your pension benefitby National Treasury. The reasonfor the application of your signatureand thumbprint on the Z894 is to preventany possible fraud when yourpension benefits have to be paid out.Certified Copy of identityDocument. The second most importantdocument to be attached to thetermination of service booklet is acertified copy of your bar coded ID.National Treasury has implemented asystem to scan bar coded IDs toensure their validity, and to preventpossible fraud when your pensionbenefits have to be paid out. Only acertified true copy of your bar codedID is acceptable. Copies of bar codedIDs that are faxed are not acceptableas they cannot be scanned.Departmental Benefits. Thesebenefits are the monies that are due toyou upon termination of you serviceand are calculated and paid by theChief Financial Officer, DirectorPersonnel Payments (CFO DPP) intoyour bank account or designatedaccount (estate late account). Yourdepartmental benefits may consist ofthe payment of leave gratuity uponnormal retirement, death and contractexpiry (only partially payable uponresignation or discharge), a pro rataservice bonus (as applicable), sixmonths homeowners allowance (asapplicable) and arrears salary earningsas result of a salary adjustment.If your termination of service booklethas been duly completed, yourdepartmental benefits should be paidinto your bank account directly afteryour last day of service of at leastwithin thirty of your last day of service.The payment of your departmentalbenefits is not an HR Sup Cen(Pension Section) responsibility. Onceyou have left the service of the DOD,enquiries regarding your departmentalbenefits can be directed to theChief Financial Officer, DirectoratePersonnel Payments,(Continued on page 36)35J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

(Continued from page 35)36Private Bag X137, Pretoria, 0001 ortel no: (012) 392 2999.Taxation on DepartmentalBenefits. Departmenta1 benefits arefully taxable and tax implications fordepartmental benefits are determinedby the SA Revenue Services (SARS)by mean of the issuing of a tax directive,an IRP3 form, to the CFO (DPP).To enable the CFO (DPP) to obtainyour IRP3 from SARS in time, it isimportant that your duly completedtermination of service booklet reachesthe HR Sup Cen (Pension Section) atleast ten weeks prior to your last dayof service, so that certain documentsmay be submitted to the CFO (DPP).Departmental Debt.Departmental debt can result fromaspects or circumstances such assalary overpayment, late institutionof salary deductions, outstandingcontractual or study obligations orliabilities, a state guarantee on ahouse loan not settled prior to terminationof your service or the loss ofpersonal or issued equipment.Recovery of such debt is the responsibilityof the CFO (DPP) and must berecovered from either your departmentalbenefits payable to you orfrom your pension benefit, should theamount of your departmentalbenefits not allow for full recoveryof the departmental debt.Different Pension BenefitsPayable. Depending on your type oftermination of service, your pensionbenefits could consist of a gratuity(one-off amount "lump sum") and anannuity (monthly pension) if youhave more than ten years' pensionableservice or only a gratuity(one-off amount "lump sum") if youhave less than ten years' pensionableservice.Calculation and Payment ofPension Benefit. The final calculationand payment of your pensionbenefits are the sole responsibility ofNational Treasury (Chief DirectoratePension Administration). Accordingto section 26(1) of the GovernmentEmployees Pension Law, 1996,National Treasury has sixty daysafter the last day of service of a member/employeeor after receipt of theduly completed pension documentsto calculate and pay such pensionbenefits. Pension benefits are not paidby the HR Sup Cen (Pension Section),or the DOD as your employer. Oncethe sixty days since your last day ofduty have lapsed, and you have notreceived your pension benefits inyour bank account, you can contactNational Treasury, PensionAdministration at the toll-freenumber: 0800 117 669. It is also veryimportant to note that if your pensionbenefits amount exceeds R700 000-00,the payment of such benefits amountmight be delayed as such paymentmust first be cleared by the ReserveBank.Taxation of Pension Benefits.Your pension benefits are, with effectfrom 1 March 1998, taxable in termsof the Income Tax Act, Act No 58 of1962 as amended. Taxation varies forthe different termination of servicetypes. The HR Sup Cen (PensionSection) has no means to calculatetaxation on your pension benefits, asthis calculation can only be done byNational Treasury and is based onyour final payable pension benefitsamount.Spouse's Pension. It is importantto note that in the event of yourdeath, either while serving in theDOD or as a pensioner, only yoursurviving spouse (lawful husband orwife at the time of your death accordingto indigenous law or custom orthe tenets of any Asiatic religion), isentitled to a gratuity and an annuityof fifty percent of the monthly pensionpayable to you, but only if youhad at least ten years of pensionableservice at the time of your death,including the unexpired period ofservice up to the age of normal retirement.If you, either while serving inthe DOD or as a pensioner, had lessthan ten years of pensionable serviceat the time of your death, includingthe unexpired period of service up tothe age of normal retirement, yoursurviving spouse is only entitled to agratuity. A spouse's pension is onlypayable to your surviving spouse andnot to any other person, relative,ex-spouse (divorcee), dependant ororganisation. Your surviving spousehas to apply for a spouse's pension bycompleting the "Death Married" terminationof service booklet, obtainablefrom the closest HR Sup Sat toyour residence. The form to be specificallycompleted is a Z143 and isincluded in the booklet. The paymentof a spouse's pension will not beaffected in the case of a remarriage.Clearing-out Process. This is themost important aspect of the terminationof service process. This physicalaction must take place before or onyour last day of service at your unitor office (place of work). Clearing outconsists of the handing back of yourissued equipment and personal issue,the payment of your telephone andmess accounts, the payment of purchasemoney on resignation (otherranks) and the vacating of your Statequarters or living-in quarters. If youhave not duly cleared out on yourlast day of service, the resultantPERSOL phase 3 transaction cannotbe finalised and will result in a delayin the payment of your departmentalbenefits and your pension benefits.S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Celebrating science, engineering andtechnologyBy PO Dennis NdabaPhoto: Sgt David NomtshongwanaANational Science,Engineering and Technology(SET) Week 2003 was heldover the period 5 to 10 May2003 at the SA Air ForceMuseum in Pretoria. Thiswas an initiative of theDepartment of Science andTechnology. National SET Week hasbecome the premier celebration ofscience, engineering and technologyin South Africa. It features exhibitionsand seminars, and demonstrates theprinciples of science, engineering andtechnology, while also informinglearners of possible careers in this field.The aims and objectives of the NationalSET Week were the following:● To generate an interest in science,engineering and technology,particularly among learners and thegeneral public.● To offer organisations andMembers of various formationshad the opportunityto join the Gunners of SAArmy Artillery Formationfor the 2003 TrainingSeminar on SA ArtilleryEmployment held at 4Artillery Regiment inPotchefstroom over the period 14 to17 April 2003.Col Carel Laubscher, SSO ForcePreparation SA Army ArtilleryFormation, said: "It is ironical thatSouth Africa is currently acknowledgedas a world leader in artillerysystems and competence in the operationalemployment of artillery, butthat a decline in the focus on artilleryand the competence in the employmentof such world class artillery isobserved in the SA Army."Over the past number of years adecline has been observed in knowledgeand general competence in theoperational planning, employmentand command and control of artilleryamong supported unit commandersduring practical exercises in the SACapt Nelisiwe Ditabe and Sgt Tshidi Maroganye with learners during theNational Science, Engineering and Technology Week held at the SAAFMuseum.●●individuals the opportunity ofexposing the public to the impactof science, engineering and technologyon their daily lives.To provide a wide range of stimulatingand interactive experiencesof SET.To develop a culture of SET inBoasting as world leader in artilleryArmy. This decline is attributed to alack of operational experience involvingartillery, as well as a lack ofpractical training opportunities forintegrated forces in the SA Army.Based on these observations, theSA Army Artillery Formation andspecifically SSO Force Preparationhave taken the initiative and responsibilityof providing a tailored trainingseminar in an attempt to rectify thissituation.The purpose of the trainingseminar was therefore to improve theknowledge and competence of SAArmy instructors at common traininginstitutions, as well as infantry andarmour unit commanders and brigadestaff, who are the current supportedcommanders and staff who will beresponsible for the employment ofartillery.During the opening address of theseminar Brig Gen Abe Notshweleka,General Officer Commanding SAArmy Artillery Formation, stated:"We, as the senior artillery officers ofthe SA Army, have therefore takenSouth Africa.A total of nearly 30 000 learnerswho took part in the National SETWeek 2003 visited the SA Air ForceMuseum where they experienced firsthand the principles of flight and theoperation of aircraft and learnedabout the heritage of the Air Force.the responsibility on ourselves to contributeto the development of futurecommanders and staff in the SAArmy to be proud and competentforce employers of our modern worldclass SA Artillery".The training seminar did not onlyinclude the theory of artillery employment,but a static display of newequipment as well as a live firingdemonstration that was included inthe programme. The training seminarwas closed with an evaluation phaseon 17 April to ensure that the attendeeswere sufficiently competent inemploying artillery.The SA Army Artillery Formationwould like to extend our most gratefulthanks to everyone for the hardwork put in to make this seminar ahuge success. A special word ofthanks to Denel (LIW) for its contribution,as without its assistance thisseminar would not have been thesuccess it was. (Article byMaj Marinda Oberholzer, SO2Communication SA Army ArtilleryFormation)37J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

insightWarriors never saygoodbyeArticle and photos byWO1 Manny Gounden,PRO Naval Station DurbanThe ship's company ofNaval Station Durban,friends, families and formernaval members whohave served on the SASADAM KOK gatheredon the main quay atSalisbury Island to bidfarewell to a warrior.Such was the nature ofthis solemn occasion thatthe sun did not even shine and mothernature gave this occasion the kindof weather to delay her departure.The warrior class strike craft of theSA Navy, SAS ADAM KOK, washome ported to Simon's Town underthe command of Cdr Jasper van derWesthuizen. She was the last strikecraft out of nine which formed thestrike craft flotilla in Durban to behome ported to Simon's Town. It wasthe end of a magnificent era.She was given a grand send-offfrom Salisbury Island, which includedthe pulsating beat of Zulu warriors,the SA Army Band Durban's renditionof "I am sailing" and the cheering ofthe people who came to say goodbye.An inshore patrol vessel (IPV) andtwo harbour protection boats (HPBs)accompanied her out of the harbourentrance. A national ports authorityhelicopter hovered above her at theentrance.Since the official announcement ofthe downsizing of Naval Base Durbanto a naval station, the SAS ADAMKOK was the last strike craft to behome ported to Simon's Town. The…they justrelocate.SAS RENE SETHREN was homeported and finally decommissioned in2002 and the SAS ISAAC DYOBHAwas also home ported in June 2002.Many seasoned sailors who arenow serving on the SAS ADAM KOKand who have spent their entirecareers in Durban have to face quite achallenge in making the move to theCape. There were embraces, hugsand handshakes as the ship's companymade their way on board. Therewas a feeling of sadness that strikecraft will not be a permanent sight atSalisbury Island.WO2 Babes Naicker, thecoxswain, said that he viewed themove as an adventure. "I am alwaysup to a new challenge. I have beenwith the Navy for 23 years, so I am38V Adm Johan Retief, Chief of the SA Navy, arrived a day earlier in Durban to visit the ship's company of SAS ADAMKOK. V Adm Retief wished Cdr Jasper van der Westhuizen, Officer Commanding SAS ADAM KOK, a safe passage toSimon's Town.S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Durban naval community giving SAS ADAM KOK a hero's send-off at the quayside.quite used to being moving around.Fortunately I am single, but will missmy parents," he said.LS Clive Mthethwa, who liveswith his family in Umlazi, said themove was part of a sailor's life. "Wehave to take it as it comes. I havebeen expecting to be relocated sincethe Base was downsized to a stationlast year. I will be relocating my wifeand child as soon as I can," he said.The SA Navy has seven strikecraft in Simon's Town. The SAS JANSMUTS is on a synchro-lift inDurban, which will be disposed of asdeemed necessary by the Navy.The SAS ADAM KOK was thethird of a class of nine strike craft tobe commissioned for the SA Navy.She was the last of a batch of three tobe built in the Israel Shipyards inHaifa.Launched in January 1978 she wascommissioned in April that yearfollowing extensive trials and sailedfor South Africa under the commandof Cdr M.A. Rennie. She arrived inSouth Africa in May 1978.The introduction of strike craftheralded a new era in the SA Navy interms of technology, seamanship andwith strategy playing a smaller role,but they were considerably morepotent than the anti-submarinefrigates they replaced as SouthAfrica's primary surface deterrent.The 450-ton vessel is armed withup to eight Skerpioen surface-tosurfacemissiles, two 76 mm generalpurposeguns and a secondaryarmament, which includes 20 mm andsmaller calibre machine guns. Theycan reach speeds of up to 30 knots.Assistance operationsOne of the most important peacetimeroles of the SA Navy is that ofassistance operations. Such operationsin which SAS ADAM KOK has beeninvolved include the search for thewreckage of the SA Air ForceBuccaneer maritime aircraft, whichcrashed off the RSA coast in 1979, aswell as the rescue of a seriouslyinjured Polish seaman off the WestCoast later that year.PeacekeepingIn February 2002 the SAS ADAMKOK sailed with the combat supportvessel, SAS OUTENIQUA, fromDurban to Dar-es-Salaam to take partin a multinational peacekeepingexercise, Exercise TANZANITE, withsixteen SADC countries, includingKenya. The exercise was conductedin accordance with a United Nationsmandate and in compliance with theOrganisation of African Unity.Maritime assistanceIn August 2001 the SAS ADAMKOK was responsible for transportingtwo sub-Antarctic fur seals aptlynamed BLESSINGS and CAMY toCape Recife at the request of SeaWorld, Durban. The seal pups hadbeen beached off the KwaZulu-Natalcoast and were cared for until theywere fit to go home.Finale"This marks the end of a gloriousera. Although you are smaller now(Naval Station Durban), keep thatfamiliar flame of dedication, commitmentand professionalism burningbright as ever. It is these qualities thatwe have inherited from you that willnot make us forget Durban. There willalways be a part of Durban in everystrike craft. Many thanks for thesupport and the magnificent farewell.We are looking forward to our secondvisit," - signal sent by Cdr Jasper vander Westhuizen, Officer CommandingSAS ADAM KOK, on arrival inSimon's Town. Warriors never saygoodbye, they just relocate.39J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

insightMoscow theatre siege40By Col B.P. Steyn, Chemical andBiological Defence Advisorto the Surgeon GeneralPhotos: Courtesy BBC NewsWorld EuropeOn 23 October 2002just after 21:00, astheatregoers in theTheatre Centre onDubrovka headedback to their seats,fifty Chechen rebelsburst into the buildingand took morethan eight hundredpeople hostage. Theywere armed with AK47 assault riflesand pistols and had sufficient explosivesto bring down the whole building.Approximately one third of thegroup consisted of females who allcarried plastic explosives in bags ontheir belts with electric detonators intheir hands, ready to detonate theexplosives immediately. Plastic explosiveswere also attached to pillars,walls and seats in the building withthe intention to collapse the buildingif Russian troops were to storm it.The rebels demanded that Russiawithdraw its troops from Chechnyaand were not prepared to conductany negotiations. They freed 54hostages the following day, but wereprepared to kill themselves with theremaining hostages if attacked andthreatened to start killing hostages iftheir demands were not met by06:00 on 26 October.At 05:30 on Saturday 26 Octoberhostages became aware of a strangeodour and saw gas seeping throughthe air conditioning vents and theauditorium floor. The gas waspumped through the ventilation systemand through holes bored in thefloor by soldiers who had been tunnellingbeneath the building since dayone. As terrorists and hostages alikefell unconscious, several of the femaleterrorists made a dash for the balconybut passed out before they reachedthe stairs.At 06:30, an hour after the gas wasreleased, Spetsnaz soldiers burst intothe auditorium and, in a firefightgunned down those terrorists stillawake. Those who had succumbed tothe gas, including most of the womenwith explosives strapped to theirwaists were killed in their sleep.Battles continued in other parts of thebuilding for more than half an hour.Shortly after 07:00 the threeremaining rebels surrendered.A few hostages were able to stumbleout on their own, but most had tobe carried. They were bundled intoambulances and buses that ferriedthem to hospitals across Moscow.Most hostages received no treatmentat the scene, but only upon arrival atthe hospitals. At this stage the identityof the gas was still unknown tohealth-care workers and sufficientamounts of antidote were not available.Some 450 people were treatedand 118 died, of whom only two diedas a result of bullet wounds, while nosoldiers were killed or injured.To date the Russian authoritieshave refused to reveal the identity orcomposition of the gas used in theattack. Information on this issue isonly available from the media andother unofficial sources. The symptomsand effects on the hostages(including those described by thehostages) and health-care workersalso provided some clues. Therefore,any analysis of the incident must bebased on deductions derived from theavailable information.Initially there was much speculationas to the identity of the chemicalagent(s) used in the rescue operation.Agents that were considered includednerve agents and the incapacitatingagent BZ, which causes central nervoussystem (CNS) depression andhas hallucinating and other atropinetypeeffects. Although there is stilluncertainty about the identity of theagent, the general view amongTo dateRussianauthoritieshave refusedto reveal theidentity orcomposition ofthe gas used inthe attack.experts now is that the opiate analgesic(painkilling) drug, Fentanyl (orone of its derivatives), was used incombination with the volatile inhalationalanaesthetic agent Halothane.FentanylFentanyl is an Opiate analgesic(painkilling) agent similar tomorphine. Some of its derivatives(Alfentanyl, Sufentanyl) are used on adaily basis by anaesthetists in surgicaltheatres for their analgesic effects.Fentanyl and its derivatives exerttheir analgesic effects on the CNS. Inaddition to the analgesic effects theyalso cause depression of consciousness(for which effect it would havebeen used here) and respiratoryS A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

About 750 hostages were released after a gun battle at the theatre.depression. They do have somedepressing effect on the heart, but notsignificantly in clinical doses. In clinicaldoses they have no deleteriouseffects on the kidneys or liver. Allthese effects are reversible.When these drugs are used alone,depression of consciousness occursonly after high doses and after totalrespiratory depression has alreadyoccurred. Therefore to achieve theresults obtained by the Russians thedrug must have been used in veryhigh individual doses, which impliesa very high concentration had to bereleased in the area. The high dosecan explain the loss of consciousness,coma, respiratory depression andcardiac depression experienced byhostages, as well as the duration ofthe effects (some individuals wereunconscious for up to ten hours). Theeffects of the opiate analgesic can bereversed by an antidote, Naloxone.HalothaneHalothane is a volatile inhalationanaesthetic agent used in operatingtheatres. It acts on the brain and causesunconsciousness. It has depressingeffects on the heart and respirationthat are increased in the presence ofother drugs such as opiates. Theseeffects are not dangerous in clinicalconcentrations, but may be deadly inlarge doses. Halothane also has effectsthat are toxic to the liver, which isinsignificant in small doses, but maybe very relevant in large doses. Theduration of the unconsciousnesscaused by Halothane is short and aperson will wake up fairly quicklyafter the supply of Halothane hasbeen terminated. Although the durationof its effects will be lengthenedby very high doses, it should not lastfor hours, as was the case with someof the hostages. There is no antidotefor halothane, the effects must wearoff over time. The concentrationsused by the Russians to achieve therequired effect would cause most peopleto stop breathing fairly shortlyafter exposure. The use of these drugsin this manner was clearly very dangerousand risky and it is surprisingthat the death toll was not higher.AnalysisIn the analysis of this incidentsome questions need to be discussed.Why were chemical agents (or drugs)used at all?The terrorists made it clear fromthe beginning of the siege that theywere prepared to kill the hostages andthemselves by detonating the explosivesset in the building, if attacked.Therefore the Russian forces had tofind a means of preventing the terroristsfrom detonating the explosives orallowing them sufficient time to killhostages or fight back effectively.Considering the number of hostages,the terrorists and the size and complexityof the building, the Spetsnazwould obtain the quickest and widesteffects with chemical agents.Were the agents used the best option?There are several factorsinfluencing a decision on whatagent(s) to use:● The required effect. The effect theRussians required was to incapacitatemost of the terrorists as quicklyas possible after the release ofthe agents and to keep them incapacitatedlong enough to ensurethe least resistance. CNS depressingagents that are fast acting invery high doses would be the bestmeans to achieve these effects.Virtually all CNS depressingagents require a period, which isdose dependent, to reach their fulleffect. The agents used alsorequire a few minutes to reachtheir full effect in normal doses:the shorter the required time toreach maximum effect the higherwould be the dose needed.● The size of the area to be covered.As the agent disperses after discharge,its concentration decreases.The reduction is dependent onthe size of the area in which itdisperses. The bigger the area thegreater the reduction in concentration.A sufficiently high concentrationof agent must be present inthe area to achieve the requireddose. Adequate volumes of agentmust be released into the areafrom as many sources as possibleto reach the required concentrationas quickly as possible. Asstated before, massive doses of theagents used were required toachieve the desired effect.● The people exposed. There usuallyis a wide individual variance inthe effects of CNS depressantdrugs and the reaction by individualsto similar doses may vary significantly.Other factors such asage, general health status, fatigueand hydration status will alsocause individual variance. Thelarger the number of peopleexposed the larger the variance inresponse will be. A sufficientlyhigh dose to cover all possibilitieswould be the only option toensure the required effect on thepersons targeted. Unfortunatelythat would imply that hostageswould also be exposed to veryhigh doses (overdoses).(Continued on page 42)41J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

42(Continued from page 41)It is clear that massive concentrationsof agents would have had to beused to get the effects achieved by theRussians. At such high doses thesafety limits of any drug or agent areexceeded, with resultantunpredictability in terms of sideeffects and complications.Are there other agents that wouldprovide similar effects, but be safer?Other incapacitating agents thatcould be considered would be agentssuch as 3-quinoclidinyl benzilate(BZ), an incapacitating agent developedby the USA, or LSD. Both theseagents provide CNS depression andunconsciousness, but both have dangerousand undesirable side effects.The natural variance in response andthe size of the area and group wouldalso require very high doses andconcentrations.What else could be done to reduce thenumber of casualties?The Russian health-care systemthat supported the attack was notinformed about the type of agent thatwould be used. It is quite clear thatthis health-care system was notinvolved in the planning and preparationfor the operation at the levelthat it should have been. It was notwarned beforehand about the agentthat would be used. Because thehealth-care workers did not know theidentity of the agents they were notprepared to manage the casualties interms of antidotes to Fentanyl andemergency respiratory supportequipment. Their emergency treatmentwas also incorrect because theydid not know what they were dealingwith. If the Moscow health authoritieshad been involved in the planningfor the operation at the correctlevel they would have been muchbetter prepared to manage thecasualties and the number of victimsmight have been lower.Was the use of the agents legal interms of international law?The Chemical Weapons Convention,which is the international agreementthat controls these types ofagents and their use, allows the useof "riot control agents" for lawRussian Special Forces stormed the theatre as officials feared hostageswere being killed.enforcement purposes. However,there are still many debates aboutwhether incapacitating agents (eg BZ)can be classified as "riot controlagents".Fentanyl and halothane areanaesthetic agents and their everydayuse is quite legal.They or similar drugs are also notdescribed orreferred to intheConvention.Therefore, thelegality oftheir usewould beunclear interms of theConventionand open forinterpretationand a causefor furtherdebate.Were theRussian tacticsto end the siegejustified?There maybe disagreementon thisquestion.Some wouldargue that theprice inhuman liveswas too high.Thecounter-argument would be: "Wouldthe outcome be any better if any otheraction was taken?"The one aspect that is clear is thatthe number of casualties could havebeen much lower if the healthauthorities were correctly involvedin the planning and had known howto prepare for it.UNISAAdvertpage 42S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

Field gun goes to itsoriginsExtremere-enactment.Article and photo courtesyCapt (Ret) Charles Aikenheadof the Irish GuardsSwartkop reverberated tothe crunch of ironwheels and the strainingefforts of men raisingthe 1 300 kg guns up therocky hillside on 8February 2003. Theinaugural re-enactmentof the feat of arms fromthe South African Warof 1900 had plenty ofexcitement and sweat in the summerheat of KwaZulu-Natal as thePorstmouth Field Gun Associationand the Natal Field Artillery haulednaval 12-pounder field guns up the1:1 slope to fire them on the summit.Teams of twenty used a system ofblocks and cables to raise the guns ina similar way to their forbears.Starting at the base of the slide,blocks, cables and drag ropes werecarried up to the first strong point,fixed and led downhill so that the gunwas raised up by pulling down. Onreaching the first strong point the gunwas secured and the same equipmentthen carried to the strong point at thetop for the pull to the summit. Thepullers had to climb the hill twice forthe gun haul, and then pull the limberup before firing the statutory threerounds. In the 35 degrees Celsiussummer heat on the hillside that wasa real achievement in times that lastedabout 25 minutes.The Swartkop Challenge Eventhad been created from the hauling ofNaval guns to the summit of thekopje for the battle of Vaalkranz (5-7February 1900) which was one of theseries of battles fought under GeneralRedvers Buller to relieve the siege ofLadysmith. A contemporary diaristrecorded that "when the Engineersarrived to build the track to the top ofthe hill for the Artillery, they foundthe Navy already up there". Thisinter-service rivalry, together with thecrucial role of the naval guns inpreventing the fall of Ladysmith,was a foundation of the Field GunRuns that thrilled crowds at the RoyalTournament until its last performancein 1999.Archive photos showed the gunslide up the impossibly steep slopethat saw the raising of six naval andtwo artillery pieces which went intoaction for the battle, as well as thebattery of six mountain guns thatwent up on mule-back via the gametrails. Historian Steve Watt came toidentify the boulders in the oldphotos with the position in the overgrownbush of today, before clearanceof the slide was carried out by localrancher Mike Bentley and his willingteam. Four puff-adders and a swarmof African bees were evicted and onelabourer, "Weely", was able to prostratehimself to allow a falling boulderto pass over him on its way todestruction at the foot of the hill.The slide was only a part of thepreparations since there was no routeto its base; this had to be clearedthrough virgin overgrown scrub fromthe foot of the hill. Support from theKwaZulu-Natal Tourist Board and theMunicipality of Ladysmith enabledbulldozers to carve a hairpin trackfrom the base of the hill which wasaccessible to four-wheel drive vehiclesand allowed walking spectators toline the slide for the competition.During the construction one bulldozerran out of control down the hill withthe driver hanging on to the controlswith his knuckles matching thewhites of his eyes.Accommodation under canvaswas arranged for the teams by theNatal Field Artillery and the eventwas extended to include otherextreme sports - downhill cycling andwhite water canoeing - which all createda carnival atmosphere. Hereagain road access was marginal andthe development of the track to takesaloon cars was a long-term enhancementto the infrastructure of the area.The Portsmouth Team was supportedby the presence of the Lord Mayor ofPortsmouth, Councillor Elaine Bakerand her entourage, who wereentertained at a civic functionby the Mayor of LadysmithCouncillor Stanley Dladler.The battle of Vaalkranz requiredthe use of pontoon bridges over theTugela River and the organisers weresupported by the South AfricanDefence Force Engineers fromBethlehem who built a pontoonbridge at Skiet Drift to allow vehicularaccess from the main N3 trunkroad to the east, avoiding a lengthyroute through Winterton. The firstvehicle to cross was the mayoralparty; the first to cross dry-shod in103 years.The Swartkop Challenge willbecome an annual event as a celebrationof the feat carried out all thoseyears ago and it is planned that otheroverseas teams from countries thatfought in the South African War willcome and test the same hillside.Increasing numbers of associatedevents will bring real recognition tothis remote valley through which theTugela River winds its convolutedcourse, to make the event a real focusfor visitors interested in the history ofthe area - or just wanting a thrill similarto a Formula One race meeting.Perhaps Hill Gun Hauling will be anew extreme sport - a challenge forthe world's strong men.The next challenge will be overthe weekend of 21 to 22 February2004.43J U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R

44clippingsOld Mutual Two Oceans Marathon 2003By Col Zirk Lourens,PRO for the Two Oceans MarathonBetween mountain and sealies the winding course of21 km and 56 km breathtakingin its beauty - the testingground of speed, strength,endurance and the "tickingclock".This prestigious eventhas become a landmark on the calendarof endurance athletes, for itembodies the spirit that is emergingin our country and DOD at this time,a spirit in which the elements oftogetherness, common purpose,perseverance and endurance areall complemented at the end by asense of personal achievement andsweet fulfilment.A total of 11 960 athletes completedthis year's race. Altogether 226DOD runners of whom 25 wereladies, completed the race. Amongthem were "Blue Numbers" runners(athletes who had finished ten TwoOceans Marathons) and one athlete,Jimmy Forbes of SANDF WP, whocompleted his 20th Two OceansMarathon (Double Blue). Thirteenathletes of the Defence Reserve Forcesfinished the race. They were all fromNatal Carbineers Marathon Club.In the 56 km race the first SANDFathlete to cross the finishing line wasJoseph Motlhabane from the SANDFFree State Athletic Club. His overallposition out of 11 960 competitorswas 66th in a time of 03:37:11. In thesecond position was Frans Motsamaialso from SANDF Free State AthleticClub, with a time of 03:37:27 and anoverall 70th position. Efese Peterfrom SANDF Eastern ProvinceAthletic Club was the third SANDFathlete to finish, in a time of 03:39:31and an overall 85th position. The firstwoman running for the SANDF wasSandy de Beer from SANDFKwazulu-Natal Athletic Club with atime of 04:16:50 in an overall 427thposition.In the 21 km race the first SANDFDevelop tennis playersTBack row, left: Col King Nonco and members of the Thaba TshwaneTennis Development Programme.he veteran tennis champion,Col King Marshall Nonco ofChief Directorate Army ForcePreparation, has dedicatedhis spare time to the tennisdevelopment of previouslydisadvantaged children inThaba Tshwane.He started a coaching project on25 June 2002 with a view to impartingtennis skills to the previously disadvantagedcommunity. He stronglybelieves that the involvement of theparents and school teachers in sportsdevelopment will minimise criminalactivities in both schools and thewider community, taking into considerationthe old saying that "an idlemind is the devil's workshop". On12 April 2003 Col Nonco held a successfultennis tournament for juniorsat the Pretoria Military Tennis Club inThaba Tshwane. Gold, silver andbronze medals were awarded to thechildren in the different age groups.The tournament was sponsored bySAFI Spar in partnership with Mega-Sport Shop, both in Thaba Tswane."People with knowledge andexpertise must share these with otherswherever they are, especially in theour military organisation, because noathlete to cross the finishing line wasNeive Dlamini from the SANDF FarNorth Athletic Club. His overall positionout of 5 681 athletes was 134thposition in a time of 01:19:09. Thefirst woman for the SANDF wasPaulina Njeya of SANDF Free StateAthletic Club with a time of 01:34:32.Some statistics of the organisationinvolved in this year's race were:Water sachets 702 000 (87 tons)Plastic bottles 250 000Powerade sachets 150 000Coca-Cola 25 000 lIce20 000 kgTrestle tables 420Col Zirk Lourens, PRO for theTwo Oceans Marathon, completed his6th Two Oceans. He was interviewedlive on television during the race withregard to the DOD/SANDF involvementand participation in this roadrace, and other race fixtures held inSouth Africa. At the University ofCape Town in the finishing area theSANDF had a stand where all SANDFathletes and families gathered.man is an island. People develop andprosper because of what the communityinvests in them," said Col Nonco."The most selfish people in life arethose who take to their graves theirknowledge, skills and expertise. Theyneed to know that the more you shareknowledge with others, the more Godmultiplies your talents and skills. Thefuture strength of any nation dependson how much it invests in its youth."He endorses the saying that: "Achild in sport is a child out of court".He urges parents to encourage theirchildren to be involved in sport at anearly age, as sport is a very goodthing for keeping everyone involvedhealthy, strong and well-disciplined."I want to make an appeal to allthe members of the SANDF to takesport seriously. They must rememberthat you do not stop exercisingbecause you grow old, but you growold because you stop exercising,"said Col Nonco."I sincerely thank the managementof SAFI SPAR Thaba Tshwane,Gauteng North Tennis AssociationDevelopment, Mega-Sport ShopThaba Tshwane and Pretoria MilitaryTennis Club for their co-operationand support."S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

46clippingsWishes do come trueLS Victor Ramakuela, who wasserving on board SAS ADAMKOK, wished that his formerschool, Dzondo Primary inLwanmondo, LimpopoProvince, would visit SASADAM KOK based onSalisbury Island. It became areality for LS Ramakuela when hereceived a call from his formerPrincipal, Mr N.A. Tshikovhi, inwhich the latter stated that the learnersof Dzondo Primary would visitDurban during the school holidays.The request for a tour wasapproved. LS Ramaquela and thePublic Relations Section of NavalStation Durban planned a programme.Mr Tshikovhi, twelveteachers and 120 learners arrived onSalisbury Island in February 2003.There was great joy as hands wereshaken and more serving membersfrom Dzondo Primary came forwardto see if they could still recognise theirformer teachers. LS Ramaquela prepareda presentation on the Navy wayof life, which was a far cry from thetime when he was a schoolboy. Headdressed the educators and learnersin the Jalsena Cinema Hall and spokeof his experiences in the Navy, especiallysoccer, as he used to coach thesuccessful Naval Base Durban side tomany victories.The SA Army Band under theBy Nomonde VuthelaPhoto: Sgt Eddie SmithDivided into four tribalgroups, members of theSA Army IntelligenceFormation set off toenjoy an afternoonfilled with culturaldiversity at FountainsValley in Pretoria on 13April 2003.It was a day set aside for theTswanas, Swazis, Xhosas andBoere to come together and sharein each other's culture. The fact that"experience is the best teacher" couldnot have been more applicable thisday.Following orders from Brig GenLt Popo Mathabathe welcomes Mr N.A. Tshikovhi, thePrincipal of Dzondo Primary School, on board the SASADAM KOK.baton of the Director of Music, LtThomas Witten, gave a command performanceto the learners. Lt Wittenexplained the function of the Bandand for what purpose it is utilised bythe SANDF. The sheer joy of listeningto the music of the Band could notkeep the audience seated. Dancing bythe Principal, teachers and learnersdrew calls for more music. In closing,the principal requested that thelearners sing the National Anthemin both official languages.LS Derrick Mboyisa gave a presentationon the role of a diver in the SANavy. A practical demonstration wasgiven in the dive tank and the decompressionchamber. It drew a lot ofquestions from the learners. TheBridging the cultural divideMlandeli Kula, the OfficerCommanding SA Army IntelligenceFormation, members were expected tolearn to understand each other bybeing participant observers. Thereamazement on seeingLS Mboyisadiving into thetank was greetedwith tumultuousapplause. Withgreat eagerness LSRamakuela elaboratedon the SASADAM KOK. LtPopo Mathabathewelcomed thePrincipal andalthough the shipwas in the processof being cleanedthose presentwanted to wait and experience thefeel of going on board a warship.On conclusion of the tour MrTshikovhi said: "It was a great pleasureto come from so far to experiencea naval tour. To see such thingsfor the first time was an eye-opener.To see my former learners in theNavy makes me feel proud. Toreceive their respect, and not forgettingtheir roots, has made my day.May God bless this Station to becomebigger and stronger in the future."With sadness and a sense offulfilment they departed, havingmade LS Ramakuela's wish comestrue. (Article and photo byWO1 Manny Gounden,PRO Naval Station Durban)was feasting with a menu that rangedfrom dumplings to "umqombhothi"African beer. The different tribes outdancedeach other and shared storiesof a long time ago.Members of the SA Army Intelligence Formation enjoying their cultural day.S A S O L D I E R l J U L Y 2 0 0 3

47Chief of Joint OperationsJ U L Y 2 0 0 3 lS A S O L D I E R