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eyes, neck and face. New versions <strong>of</strong> the toy contain batteries to make the toy flash; thesebatteries can tear through the toy easily, posing a choking hazard if swallowed.In <strong>June</strong> 2005, Illinois became the first state to ban this toy. At the federal level, the CPSCshould ban all sales <strong>of</strong> yo-yo water balls and similar toys in the United States.LOUD TOYSAlmost 15 percent <strong>of</strong> children ages 6 to 17 show signs <strong>of</strong> hearing loss, according to a 1998 studypublished in the Journal <strong>of</strong> the American Medical Association. In November 2003, ASTMpromulgated a new acoustics standard for toys, setting the loudness threshold for most handheldtoys at 90 decibels; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reportsthat prolonged exposure to sounds at 85 decibels or higher can result in hearing damage.PIRG researchers found: Several toys currently on toy store shelves may not meet the ASTM standards forappropriately loud toys. Several toys currently on toy store shelves exceed 100 decibels when measured at closerange.CPSC should enforce the ASTM acoustics standards for loud toys and consider strengtheningthe standards to reduce the sound threshold for hand-held toys from 90 decibels to 85 decibels.Toy manufacturers should go above and beyond the standards and not make hand-held toysthat produce sounds louder than 85 decibels.TOXIC CHEMICALS IN TOYSSome toys can pose hidden hazards, exposing children to dangerous chemicals that are linkedto serious health problems. PIRG researchers found: Manufacturers are selling play cosmetic sets that include nail polish containing toxicchemicals, such as toluene and xylene. Since children <strong>of</strong>ten put their hands in their mouths,nail polish applied to fingernails <strong>of</strong>fers a direct route <strong>of</strong> exposure. Even though the European Union has banned or imposed wide restrictions on the use <strong>of</strong>six phthalates in toys and childcare products, some manufacturers <strong>of</strong> children’s productscontinue to use phthalates in toys for the U.S. market. Phthalates, a class <strong>of</strong> chemicals used to“plasticize” or s<strong>of</strong>ten otherwise hard PVC plastic material, have been linked to reproductivedefects and other health problems. In response to consumer concern about phthalates, some manufacturers are labelingtheir products as “phthalate-free.” The U.S. government, however, does not regulate the“phthalate-free” label or ensure that products labeled “phthalate-free” actually do notcontain phthalates. To test the reliability <strong>of</strong> the “phthalate-free” label, PIRG commissionedlaboratory tests <strong>of</strong> eight s<strong>of</strong>t plastic toys labeled as not containing phthalates. Of the eighttoys tested, six contained detectable levels <strong>of</strong> phthalates.CPSC should ban phthalates in toys and other products intended for children under five andwork with the Federal Trade Commission to take immediate action to ensure that toysTrouble in Toyland 5
Effective control <strong>of</strong> aircraftA while ago I took part in ExerciseDRAGON, the main purpose <strong>of</strong>which was to practise our forcesfor a possible airborne mission intosub-Saharan Africa.This exercise took place from 24 to28 February in the training area <strong>of</strong> 6SAI Bn, Grahams-town. Aspects suchas air-assault landings, watercrossings and heliborne assaultswere tested.Although I believe we do not havethe aircraft to conduct a large-scaleoperation, I realise now that once thedoctrine is in place we will beprepared for whatever may happenin the future. We can always buythe aircraft, but getting the doctrinein place is not that easy.To get there, however, we have toprove the concept works, so I willventure as far as to say that until wehave executed a successful missionwe will be fighting all the way againstthe naysayers.It is more than carrying gunsBroederstroom Commando held afunction for the local learners inMarch 2004, which was organisedby Sgt Motholo, the communication<strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> the Commando.Other guests were representativesfrom Spoornet and the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong>Welfare, who brought clothes for thechildren as gifts and they alsoarranged a braai for that afternoon.Both parties were inspired by a youthcamp, which was presented to thelocal farms' youth by BroederstroomCommando in July 2003.It was my first experienceI now share the views <strong>of</strong> a rathersmall group <strong>of</strong> people who believe inthis new concept, not only for interventionmissions into Africa, but alsoon the home front. We do not knowwhat will happen in ten years. If weare attacked, our defence will relyheavily on a highly mobile type <strong>of</strong>warfare.Who better to spearhead this thanthe airmobile forces. We can delay ordestroy flanking forces and, togetherwith the mechanised forces, surpriseand destroy this possible futurethreat.One <strong>of</strong> the most important pointsto remember about airmobile forces istheir fast turnaround time. We canproject force over a very wide theatre,attacking two forces within hours.Those <strong>of</strong> you who are still unsure <strong>of</strong>the feasibility <strong>of</strong> this new doctrineshould perhaps consult your trainingmanuals again and look up the basicsconcerning the principles <strong>of</strong> the attackattending an occasion for youth fromdisadvantaged communities.The weather was very bad. I wasvery touched, especially when I sawsome <strong>of</strong> the children in tatteredclothes and some not even wearingshoes.I planned to ensure that all commandosunder command <strong>of</strong> Group 15follow the same route in contributingtowards disadvantaged communities,and that being a soldier is not allabout carrying guns -Capt G.S. Nyezi, SO3 CommunicationOfficer Group 15 HQ.R200-00 prize for the best letterSA SOLDIER welcomes letters to the Editor. Short letters are more likely to bepublished, and all letters may be edited for reasons <strong>of</strong> style, accuracy or spacelimitations. Letters should preferably be typewritten and double-spaced. Allletters must include the writer's full name, address and home telephone number.The volume <strong>of</strong> letters we receive makes individual acknowledgement impossible.Please send your letters to: The Editor, SA SOLDIER Letters, Private Bag X158,Pretoria, 0001. Letters may also be faxed to (012) 355-6399 or sent via email tosasoldier@mil.za. We would like to hear your comments or ideas, particularlyabout matters affecting members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Defence</strong>. Regrettably,anonymous letters cannot be answered <strong>of</strong>ficially or published - Editor.and <strong>of</strong> war. Note things such as"<strong>of</strong>fensive actions", "surprise" and"the maintenance <strong>of</strong> morale".Look what happened during"Operation Thunderbolt", the Israeliraid on Entebbe, Uganda, to rescuetheir nationals who found themselvesthere after their aircraft had beenhijacked.They achieved success because <strong>of</strong>surprise and national pride andmorale went sky-high. Good luck tothose who are pioneering this newconcept and who understand that theairmobile concept is not just an airtransportoperation, but the effectivecontrol <strong>of</strong> aircraft and being able tothink at 250km/h -Capt W.G. Klokow, 6 SAI Bn.Woman and childabuseBoth women and children are victims<strong>of</strong> this terrible tragedy. This is whathappens any time, anywhere. It hurtsso much to see women and childrentreated as though they are not part<strong>of</strong> society. This is caused by humanSatanism and hatred. It will mostlikely see women and childrenturning into hobos and street kidsbecause <strong>of</strong> physical and sexual abuse.It is immoral to see men doing this totheir families or loved ones.Abuse inhibits the victim's feelingand emotions. The victim becomesmentally weak. Mostly they feel sickat heart, alone, afraid and powerless.If someone's life has been filled withabuse for a long time, that personreaches a point where he or she nolonger feels anything. Nothing seemsto matter anymore. Nothing seems tohurt. It is a disgrace.It is terrible to live in a world thathas turned into a heartless monster.Fellow Africans, let us be ashamed <strong>of</strong>ourselves.Let us show love. Let us showthat we are a caring nation. Let us notabuse our women and our children.Let us fight against their abuse -Rfn T.J. Motlokoa,Harrismith Commando.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R7
Are we that short-staffed?Today I witnessed something ratherodd in the Naval Dockyard inSimon's Town. Call me old-fashioned,but I felt it my duty, as a WarrantOfficer and gentleman, to enquirefrom two Able Seamen SWANS(female sailors) why they were taskedwith what seemed to be heavylabour. Let me explain: A ten-tontruck was parked at the ChapmanSouth Recreation Hall, fully ladenwith plastic chairs. The two SWANS,petite as they were, including aLeading Seaman (male), who Iassumed was the driver, constitutedthe labour force responsible for theloading. Upon my approach andenquiry, I was told that they weremembers <strong>of</strong> the ship's company (SASDRAKENSBERG), stores section, andthat it was their job as storekeepers totransport and load these chairs andreturn them to the ship. They wereactually tasked by their commanderto do so. These two females were soexhausted I could not help but feelsorry for them. Surely, despite manyan argument that women in the DODare given equal opportunities, and assuch should tackle any job at hand, Istrongly believe that a person in managementshould use his commonsense and initiative to delegate tasksto members who are suitable for thetask at hand.Any "buffer" on a ship wouldgladly spare a few "hands" in assistingwith the unpleasant task which, Ifeel, though they may be sailors, theyare still women. No wonder the abuse<strong>of</strong> women (and children) is nowadaysthe norm. As I said… are we thatshort staffed? - WO2 T.S. Fish,Simon's Town.* Cdr Susan Denman, SO1 HRPlans at the Navy Office providedthe following comment - Ed:"Thank you for your letter andyour concern for your fellow sailors.The SA Navy's approach to EqualOpportunities is stated in theAffirmative Action/Equal Opportunitypolicy. In layman's terms this meansthat everybody has a choice. Thisdoes not mean that women shouldtackle any job at hand, but that theycould do so.However, you are quite right, asmanagers we need to ensure that oursubordinates are not utilised abovetheir physical, or other limitations andthey should have enough trust in usto speak up if need be. Unfortunatelythe SAS DRAKENSBERG is currentlydeployed and we could not refer thematter to the Commander for input.By the way, there are no SWANSin the SA Navy. The abbreviation <strong>of</strong>the South African Women's AuxiliaryNaval Service, SWANS, is no longerin use.”Keeping up with international trends8Just a few suggestions regarding uniforms,in keeping with internationaltrends.Firstly, the US and Europeanarmies have added to their uniform(for some time now) smallstripes/bars worn on the lower leftsleeve <strong>of</strong> the service dress (step-outs).Each bar denotes three (four in theUS army) years <strong>of</strong> service in thearmed forces. (Refer to pictures inany history book <strong>of</strong> GeneralEisenhower.)The stripes are the same colour asthe stripes <strong>of</strong> the NCOs, usually yellow.When red stripes are added theydenote service in combat or overseas.The old Union <strong>Defence</strong> Force hadsuch a system during World War II.This, if introduced, will be worn withpride by members <strong>of</strong> the SANDF forall to see the years <strong>of</strong> dedicated servicethey have given to their country.A different colour stripe could beadded, denoting years <strong>of</strong> service inthe armed struggle.Secondly, the British and Austrianarmies have, as we have now adopted,bars to service medals. Theirs,however, are the service medal for 5Years <strong>of</strong> Exemplary Service and a barfor every five years after that up t<strong>of</strong>orty years' service. Why not adoptthe same system <strong>of</strong> years in theSANDF. Come on - reward someonewho has been an example for fiveyears. This will make the medal moreobtainable and will serve as an inspirationto do better, knowing that onedoes not have to wait for ten years forone medal and another ten years forone bar - Sgt John Mathubane, email.* Lt Col Eddie Watson, SO1Heraldry at DOD Heraldry Sub-Directorate, commented as follows - Ed:"Sgt Mathubane is quite correctwhen he states that a number <strong>of</strong> foreignarmed forces manifest good conductor long service on the uniform <strong>of</strong>a rank by means <strong>of</strong> chevrons, stripes,stars or by some other means.It is also the case that combat serviceis normally indicated by means <strong>of</strong>another colour used to manufacturethe device, as compared to peacetimeservice.The Sub-directorate Heraldryhas a number <strong>of</strong> reference worksthat illustrate this practice as it isimplemented internationally.It is, however, not generally thecurrent practice within the DOD toadd anything to the standard uniformto indicate good service for a period<strong>of</strong> less than ten years. The soleexception is that the SA Navy still hassuch a system <strong>of</strong> good conductchevrons in place for petty <strong>of</strong>ficers orbelow.The question <strong>of</strong> changing theperiod <strong>of</strong> service before a memberreceives a service medal or barpossibly warrants consideration. Thiswould mean, however, that the subdirectoratewould have to deal withmedals and decorations as thewarrant authorising the award <strong>of</strong> the"Troue Diens Medalje" would have tobe redrafted. Any such change wouldalso have to receive Presidentialapproval.I trust this information is adequatefor your needs. Colour copies <strong>of</strong>material illustrating this matter can besupplied if needed."S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
We must dealwith lawbreakersIt is a pleasure to me as a proudSouth African to voice my sadness,frustration and confusion about thehigh crime rate; crimes are takingplace every second in our belovedcountry. All the peace-loving SouthAfricans celebrated their freedom in1994 with dignity and an aspirationfor their future, knowing that at lastthey were going to live a free life.Great strides have been made in areassuch as housing, basic education andaccess to primary health care so thateverybody can live a better life in thisbeautiful country <strong>of</strong> ours. We havethe most enabling laws you can think<strong>of</strong> on a range <strong>of</strong> issues and I believethere is still more to come.Notwithstanding the country'sachievements, I am very frustrated bythe level <strong>of</strong> crime, which has reachedan unacceptable level. South Africahas become a haven for crime syndicatesbecause criminals are takingadvantage as they think that it is theirright to break the law, having alsovoted. In addition, our Constitutionis more concerned about the criminals'rights than those <strong>of</strong> law-abidingcitizens. As we are all proud <strong>of</strong> ourrainbow nation, I think if we can allstand up and work together byassisting the soldiers and police andreporting all the crimes that we see,we can cure this disease. That will beour first clear national strategy todeal with this problem, and with thehelp <strong>of</strong> the community at large, andthe Government, I believe we willthen have both the capability andcapacity. The unfortunate thing isthat we are going to experiencevigilantism if nothing is done and, asit is, people have had enough. I urgeall peace-loving South Africans to say"Enough is Enough" and go out thereand do away with crime because wefought so hard to be where we are.Let us not forget that what we harvestin our minds we will manifest inour lives. To those who are addictedto breaking the law I say - you mustchoose to live your lives in peace orchoose to live your lives in pieces -Rfn P.H. Damente, Grahamstown.Building links across SADC bordersOur organisation, the MUASA<strong>Defence</strong> Support Committee (MDSC),would like to thank you very muchfor sending us the SA SOLDIERmagazine, and the new 2004 calendar,they are so educative.After you sent us more informationabout the SANDF through yourmagazine, SA SOLDIER, our executivecommittee called a Lekgotla to discusscurrent issues raised in the magazine,and it came with an initiative tolaunch a new direct project, whichwill support the SANDF, lobby,advocate and promote it within ourcommunities and the government.Hence we renamed the MuasaSafety and Security to Muasa <strong>Defence</strong>committee. Ms Pienaar, our projectsupport Project Phoenix is aimed atrejuvenating and transforming theReserve Force <strong>of</strong> the SANDF.I would like to quote Maj Gen RoyAndersen: "Although Project Phoenixis showing pleasing results, a lot stillneeds to be done in the area <strong>of</strong> recruitment,training and transformation toensure a guaranteed representativeand combat ready Reserve Force.Plans are, however, developed toensure that we succeed."Let me quote Maj Gen M. KeithMokoape again: "We stand on theverge <strong>of</strong> sluice gates about to open.Charity begins at homeLately I have noticed that otherGovernment departments areadvertising through their personneldepartments, eg T-shirts and caps,which their personnel wear duringcasual events.Why does the DOD not do likewiseas I have noticed that such itemsare only used as souvenirs, mostly byforeigners? I think we have to berealistic: charity begins at home.I know an obvious questionwould be the budget, but then whynot sell this clothing, making it acompulsory task for all members andThe passion <strong>of</strong> yesterday is going tobe harnessed, without compulsion, topopularise the army as an institutionfor discipline and honour, not just forthe sake <strong>of</strong> it, but precisely because itis an instrument for the defence forour earth and our surroundings.Workers and the people in the countryside,should as one, master the art<strong>of</strong> <strong>Defence</strong>, and should the enemycontemplate attacking, they shouldnot hesitate and must not allow theenemy to attack." What powerfulwords from the Major Generals.Our organisation will lobby veryhard within our communities tomake sure these two Major Generalswords are turned into reality. Ourorganisation will come on board asMaj Gen Mokoape invites us, as civilsociety, to act collectively to populariseour army.We would also like to sayfarewell to the former Chief <strong>of</strong><strong>Defence</strong> Reserves, Maj Gen IanDeetleefs.Lastly, we would like to <strong>of</strong>fer oursincere condolences to the family <strong>of</strong>the Minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>Defence</strong>, Mr MosiuoaLekota, whose mother passed away,may her soul rest in peace - Meshack"Smokey" Mei, Executive Co-ordinator,Muasa Projects and CommunityDevelopment, Naledi, Soweto.employees? Besides, a lot <strong>of</strong>second-hand material/goods (exceptuniforms) are sold to the publicwithout our knowing about it. Whynot inform us? We also want tobuy them.It is actually easy because theDOD can introduce an accountingsystem for its members. I mean, weare all aware that Governmentdepartments cannot compete withprivate incentives. In a way thiswould be another incentive to upliftthe morale <strong>of</strong> the members <strong>of</strong> theDOD - S.P. Mashaba, Soshanguve.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R9
clippingsDeceased soldier decoratedIt is not an everyday scenario tocommemorate deceased memberswith medals. The General SupportBase Ministry <strong>of</strong> <strong>Defence</strong> (GSB MOD)had such an opportunity at a medalparade held at the Armscor sportsground in Pretoria on 31 March 2004.Men and women were celebrated whohad exceeded themselves over theyears in the SANDF. They were honouredfor their devotion and excellentservice. The wife <strong>of</strong> the late Pte EssauM. Motloung, Mrs Martha Motloung,attended the parade with all the otherrecipients to receive the Good ServiceMedal (Bronze) on behalf <strong>of</strong> her latehusband. The Officer Commanding <strong>of</strong>the GSB MOD, Col Jan Theron, handedthe medal to a very proud andstrong wife. The late Pte MotloungMrs Martha Motloung, the wife <strong>of</strong> the late Pte Essau M. Motloung, andCol Jan Theron, Officer Commanding GSB MOD.was a member <strong>of</strong> the ProtectionServices at the GSB MOD for twoyears. It was an honour to commemorateMrs Motloung on behalf <strong>of</strong> herMay their souls rest in peacehusband. We trust that his dedicationwill carry over to his <strong>of</strong>fspring.(Article by Lt Chimoné Lambrechts,SO3 Corp Comm GSB MOD)1214 April 2004 was a sad day for the SANDF, South Africa and the entire nation when the bodies <strong>of</strong> the deceasedsoldiers arrived in our country. Members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Defence</strong> Force and the families <strong>of</strong> the deceased were gathered atWaterklo<strong>of</strong> Air Force Base and watched in sorrow when the deceased arrived. Six South African soldiers lost theirlives while serving in the peacekeeping operations in the DRC at Goma. The deceased soldiers had drowned in LakeKafu when their Casspir swerved <strong>of</strong>f the road and accidentally fell into the lake. They will be remembered for the goodwork that they did in representing the country during the peacekeeping operation. The names <strong>of</strong> the soldiers who losttheir lives are: Sgt Mashape Frans Maake, Cpl Sello Christopher Pilusa, Rfn Joseph Samsonyane Bauque, Rfn TirhaniSolomon Rikhotso, Rfn David Chewe Raphasha and Rfn Mamet JA Hendrick Marakalala. The six deceased soldiersreceived a full military or semi-military funeral, depending on what their families requested.(Article and photo: Sgt David Nomtshongwana)S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
A statue was erected tohonour their heroic deedsBy Lt Col P.M. Motlhabane,SO1 Opcom 46 SA BrigadePhoto: WO2 C. JordaanIn the spirit <strong>of</strong> humanity (ubuntu)and comradeship 46 SA Brigademembers extended their invitationto families <strong>of</strong> the memberswho passed away while on activeduty in the brigade. The wreathlayingceremony was held on 16April 2004 as a tribute to the fallenmembers <strong>of</strong> the brigade, who hadbeen called to higher duty. The ceremonycan also be viewed as a genuinemilestone for the brigade, whichforms part <strong>of</strong> the greater achievementduring the ten years <strong>of</strong> democracy.The General Officer Commanding(GOC) 46 SA Brigade, Brig Gen J.N.J.Roets, in 2003 unveiled, the brainchild<strong>of</strong> WO1 W. van Onselen viz a statue<strong>of</strong> a Roman soldier at the entrance tothe brigade. The GOC 46 SA Brigadeled the brigade in an age-old traditionthat started at the beginning <strong>of</strong> theChristian era when heroic elementswere introduced into history.Monuments and statues were erectedfor those who had performed heroicdeeds, and therefore the unveiling <strong>of</strong>the statue <strong>of</strong> a Roman soldier at theentrance to the brigade is a breakthroughthat enhances ubuntu.The statue <strong>of</strong> the Roman soldier inthe brigade conveys a message to anyperson, whether military or civilian,who enters its premises, that membersin uniform at some stage wereand are still part <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Defence</strong> Forceand will be remembered by ournation in a spirit <strong>of</strong> devotion. Thisspirit is in line with the Greek andRoman school <strong>of</strong> thought in erectingmonuments.This enhances the comradeship <strong>of</strong>the brigade which forms a defensivesociety as seen in their motto: "Shield<strong>of</strong> the Nation". This society aspires tobe recognised as an interwoven unitin life, sickness and in death. Thecontribution <strong>of</strong> these members to thesuccesses <strong>of</strong> the brigade will beremembered every year with thismomentous ceremony, and theirloved ones will recognise how themembers touched the lives <strong>of</strong> theircomrades in this special ceremony.The ceremony consoles thebrigade members and the bereavedfamilies and friends. It enhances thefeeling <strong>of</strong> gain in loss by its placatorynature. The synopsis <strong>of</strong> the ceremonycommenced with the posting <strong>of</strong> sentries.Then followed scripture readingand prayer by Cpln B.L. Johnson, theChaplain <strong>of</strong> 46 SA Brigade, who readfrom Psalm 103: 11-16, followed bythe Last Post, the Reveille, wreathlaying,and the National Anthem.Among other highlights <strong>of</strong> thisceremony was a speech by Brig GenRoets who used the scripture readingas his point <strong>of</strong> departure. He statedWe willrememberthem.that this ceremony coincided with thebirthday <strong>of</strong> the brigade and that itwas in line with the tradition <strong>of</strong> thepromise <strong>of</strong> the brigade to honour thefallen last year. He ended his speechby thanking all the participants andpresented the bereaved families withceremonial tokens as a compliment.The roll <strong>of</strong> honour commencedwith the tributes <strong>of</strong>:94682515NA Lt Col P.D. Nkosi.80544364NA Maj O.J. van Vuuren.94069472NA F Sgt S.L. Peege.94839776NA Sgt K. Motsiri.84703792NA Cpl S.M. Matseliso.96839907NA Cpl M.D. Tebello.82711433NA Rfn E.M. Mpiyakhe.84809045NA Mr L.P. Molekwa.Wreaths were laid at the statue <strong>of</strong> the Roman soldier at 46 SA Brigade.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R13
14S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
eventsUnited as a nationBy Nomonde VuthelaPhotos: Sgt David Nomtshongwanaand PO Eddie KgomoIt is done! President Thabo Mbekiis president yet again. ThaboMvuyelwa Mbeki, son <strong>of</strong> the lateMr Govan and Ms EpainetteMbeki, took the oath to serve thenation with everything he has gotfor the next five years to come.27 April 2004 was a good day toinaugurate the one who is "God'sanointed", may he be blessed withwisdom for he carries on his shouldersan entire nation.Our President was born great,born to lead. Later in life greatnesswas thrust upon him for his presidencyhad come, ready or not. It is a factthat former President, Mr NelsonMandela, handed over the reigns toMr Mbeki, his heir apparent wellbefore stepping down.And then <strong>of</strong> course PresidentMbeki undeniably achieved greatness- Mr Mandela's silver slippers werealmost impossible to fill; yet, in the2004 national elections, PresidentMbeki took the country where it hasnever gone before.What a victory!Lettingfreedom shinethrough.The world came to the UnionBuildings in Pretoria; people werebussed into the driveway <strong>of</strong> the massivestructure as early as 03:00, beforedawn. Ten years into our democracyand there was a certain urgency andfever about making it to the UnionBuildings. The inauguration bee had(Continued on page 16)15Above: Thundering echoes from the 21-gun salute marked the beginning <strong>of</strong> more history to be made.Left: On the red carpet, front to back: President Thabo Mbeki and the First Lady, Ms Zanele Mbeki, usheredto the podium by Gen Siphiwe Nyanda (the Chief <strong>of</strong> the SANDF), Lt Gen Godfrey Ngwenya (Chief CJOPS) andLt Gen Gilbert Ramano (Chief <strong>of</strong> the SA Army).J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R
(Continued from page 15)Members from the SAHMS give a helping hand to formerPresident, Mr Nelson Mandela, with his wife, Ms Graca Machel,following at his side.Capt (SAN) Kesaval Naidoo (right) and Col EllenRiekert were the two senior <strong>of</strong>ficers who acted asaides-de-camp to the President.16stung the nation; those who could notmake it beyond the walls <strong>of</strong> thisfortress happily picnicked against itsfences. The many that did not get toPretoria faithfully watched theproceedings on television.The nation and South Africa'snumerous friends from far beyondour borders witnessed PresidentMbeki take his oath. Representativesfrom foreign countries attended theinauguration, including heads <strong>of</strong>state and royalty. Also in attendancewere parliamentarians, businessmen,representatives from civil society,other dignitaries and the SouthAfrican masses in full force.In his address President Mbekisaid that it was almost impossible toimagine a non-democratic SouthAfrica. He also said, "South Africabelongs to all who live in it, blackor white."Vowing to complete work alreadyS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4started President Mbeki said, "Thework to create a country that wasdemocratic, peaceful, non-racial, nonsexistand prosperous had alreadybegun and would continue into thesecond decade <strong>of</strong> freedom". ThePresident continued: "The struggle toeradicate poverty has been and willcontinue to be a central part <strong>of</strong> thenational effort to build a new SouthAfrica." The President also stated thatSouth Africa would continue to play avigorous role in achieving the goal <strong>of</strong>an African Renaissance.If it did not dazzle or stand out,then it was the wrong outfit for theoccasion: there were all kinds <strong>of</strong> hatsto suit all types <strong>of</strong> faces. The crowdseated on the lawns <strong>of</strong> the UnionBuildings was a spectacular sight,closely resembling the inside <strong>of</strong> ananthill. Everything was systematicallyarranged, so that there were veryfew hitches.But most <strong>of</strong> all a party is not aparty without the South AfricanNational <strong>Defence</strong> Force. The SANDFbegan, drove and ended the celebrations.The organisation has become acelebrated ice-breaker, every other actsimply follows suit.Our safety and security forceswere on full alert throughout the day.The whole <strong>of</strong> Pretoria was a no-flyzone. Various roads were closed <strong>of</strong>fto ensure the safety <strong>of</strong> everyonecelebrating this momentous occasion.Wetting the large crowds' appetiteand bringing them to an excitedfrenzy in preparation <strong>of</strong> thePresident's arrival, the NationalCeremonial Guard did a short number,as if to say, "hear ye, hear ye".Altogether 21 motorcyclists <strong>of</strong> theMilitary Police escorted PresidentMbeki to the Union Buildings.Leading the four Chiefs <strong>of</strong> thedifferent Services, the Chief <strong>of</strong> the
SANDF, Gen Siphiwe Nyanda,guided his team and ushered thePresident and our First Lady,Ms Zanele Mbeki, onto the podium.The action was later repeated whenMr and Ms Mbeki left the ceremony.There was a resounding echo likethunder when the 21-gun salute wasfired after the President took his oath,which announced the beginning <strong>of</strong>more history to be made. Then threeSANDF Oryx helicopters eachcarrying big national flags, carriedout a flight in salute over the UnionBuildings in honour <strong>of</strong> PresidentMbeki. Then a fly-past <strong>of</strong> ten PilatusAstra training aircraft depicting afigure "10" formation followed.Thereafter a Cheetah fighter jet paintedin the colours <strong>of</strong> the South Africanflag did a fly-past.Altogether 4 000 soldiers representingall four Services <strong>of</strong> theSANDF, including Reserve Forcemembers, as well as several militarybands, formed part <strong>of</strong> the activities onthis historical day.The SANDF further demonstratedits allegiance to our Commander-in-Chief by means <strong>of</strong> a military paradedown Church Street. The demonstration<strong>of</strong> power included a cavalcade <strong>of</strong>armoured vehicles, while in the skyabove aircraft from the SA Air Force,such as the Rooivalk attack helicopters,flew past. What an impressiveshow <strong>of</strong> fire! Col André Retief,Officer Commanding <strong>of</strong> the School <strong>of</strong>Armour, talked the whole nationthrough the military parade duringthe live broadcast on SABC2.Occasions such as these can nevertake place were it not for the manypeople who work behind the scenes,eg members who worked odd hoursat Waterklo<strong>of</strong> Air Force Base toreceive all the dignitaries flying infrom all over the world, and securitypersonnel, drivers and militarypolice stationed at their posts at alltimes. Last but not least, SouthAfrican Military Health Servicepersonnel were deployed toguarantee an instant response to anyhealth hazards.All this from a nation that seeks tomake democracy a part <strong>of</strong> SouthAfrican culture with President Mbekiat the helm.In perfect tune.Military presence at the inauguration.Motorcyclists <strong>of</strong> the Military Police escorted the President.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R17
eventsSouth Africa goes tothe pollsBy Nomonde VuthelaPhotos: Sgt David NomtshongwanaWhile the different partieswere preoccupied withcampaigning for the2004 National Electionsthe Mobile DeploymentWing was at anadvanced stage <strong>of</strong>making sure that everything wentsmoothly with the power supply.Free and fair elections start with thoroughpreparation; that is why F SgtBert Oberholster and Sgt Frans vander Merwe, under the command <strong>of</strong>Col Chris Delport, hauled the 400KVA cabin mobile power supplygenerator a week before the electionsto the IEC Centre in Pretoria. Thatwas to make sure that if there was apower failure, they would be able toprovide the whole centre with power.The two power generators wereintended as a back-up to provide theIEC Centre with power, and a thirdgenerator was placed at ElectionHouse in Sunnyside. This was similarto what had happened in the 1999elections.What distinguished the morning<strong>of</strong> 14 April 2004 from any othermorning is that all South Africanswere <strong>of</strong> one mind, namely to go andvote. Only on rare and incrediblyspecial occasions can an entire nationhave a single goal for the day. SouthAfricans have proved to be a conscientiouspeople, a nation that hasinternalised the joys <strong>of</strong> living in ademocratic state.Soweto residents woke up to thesounds <strong>of</strong> helicopters hovering above.They were circulating around theIn support <strong>of</strong>the country'sdemocraticprocess.area and making sure that there wereno obstacles between the voters andthe voting stations. In a Soweto villagewhere I stood at a street cornerwatching people go by, movementwas in one direction and goingtowards a local school where thevoting booths had been placed.Voters walked leisurely towardsvoting stations, chatting along withouta care in the world. Yes! This is anew South Africa, nice and easy, and18Patient voters standing in long winding queues at the Pretoria City Hall.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
Front, right to left: Pte Laban Huma, Sgt Louis Sathekge andSgt Enock Makoso waiting and ready to cast their votes.to keep it that way citizens went tothe polls in large numbers. We havebecome mature and patient voters.Voting took place from the earlyhours <strong>of</strong> the public holiday till late atnight or well into the early hours <strong>of</strong>the following morning in extremecases. Those who were unable to voteon the 14th had cast their special voteon the eve <strong>of</strong> the election.Col Koos Liebenberg, SSOConventional Operations at theDivisional Headquarters <strong>of</strong> the CJOPSresponsible for conventional operations,who handled big events anddisaster management, was one <strong>of</strong> thevery few people who voted on the13th.While everybody went to the pollsCol Liebenberg was part <strong>of</strong> theSANDF body that was to providestandby support for the South AfricanPolice Service (SAPS) throughout theelection period. All SANDF membersdeployed on standby during electiontime were able to cast their specialvotes on either 12 or 13 April."The <strong>Defence</strong> Force's responsibilitythis year for elections and alsoduring the two registration weekendswas basically to be on standby insupport <strong>of</strong> the SAPS," said ColLiebenberg. The SAPS is the mainrole player in regard to safety andsecurity.According to Col Liebenberg,because <strong>of</strong> the low level <strong>of</strong> violenceand the very stable threat scenario inSouth Africa, the SANDF took thedecision not to deploy physically."We planned then on different contingenciesand it was decided that weshould have two infantry battalionson standby," continued ColLiebenberg. The two battalions were21 Battalion in Johannesburg and5 SAI Battalion in Ladysmith, onfour hours standby. Members <strong>of</strong> theSAMHS were on standby to providemedical support if and when needed.Two immobile companies, a companyfrom 6 SAI Battalion and theParachute Regiment in Bloemfontein,were also placed on standby. "If therewas a problem anywhere in thecountry, then it was possible for the<strong>Defence</strong> Force to intervene anddeploy," stated Col Liebenberg."We also had a number <strong>of</strong> vehiclesplaced, pre-positioned throughout thecountry. There was enough air supportin the form <strong>of</strong> helicopters andC130 aircraft to deploy and redeploy,"Col Liebenberg said. On theday <strong>of</strong> the elections and the day after,every commando in the countryphysically deployed a section insupport <strong>of</strong> the SAPS in the "outerperimeter" context."There was never ever at anypolling station a problem reported tous," said Col Liebenberg. "It wasnever necessary to deploy; I thinkour elections went well, althoughone company from 5 SAI Bn wasdeployed late on the evening <strong>of</strong>14 April in KwaZulu-Natal in support<strong>of</strong> the SAPS," concluded ColLiebenberg.Lt Col Nicky Maphosa at JointOperations Tactical HQ GautengProvince at Doornkop Military Basein Johannesburg, also cast his specialvote on the eve <strong>of</strong> the elections.Speaking to SA SOLDIER ColMaphosa explained why he was busyon the day <strong>of</strong> the election.He said, "Fourteen members fromeach Area Territorial Reserve unit orcommando were deployed from 13 to16 April to safeguard the elections."Joint Operations Tactical HQGauteng Province has 24 AreaTerritorial Reserves (ATRs) sectionsunder operational command."The planning was joint with theSAPS in all seven areas <strong>of</strong> Gauteng,starting from the provincial level andup to area level," mentioned Lt ColMaphosa. "It went very well thanksto the joint planning and the nonproblematicstructures that were inplace; the Deputy NationalCommissioner <strong>of</strong> the SAPS alsocommended everybody," he added."All our members were purelydeployed in assistance to the SAPSand the IEC to make the electionperiod a success," emphasisedLt Col Maphosa.The SANDF was also involvedduring the elections in the joint structures,such as the Joint Operationaland Intelligence Structures, theNational Joint Operational Centre,the National Joint OperationalCommittee, the Provincial JointOperational Committee and the AreaJoint Operational Committee. Thesejoint structures were comprised <strong>of</strong> theSAPS, the SANDF, the IEC, the NIA,the NICOC and other relevant roleplayers. Although the SAPS was thelead department regarding safety andsecurity, each department hadautonomous line functional commandand control <strong>of</strong> own elementsdeployed.When he spoke to SA SOLDIERPte Laban Huma said that he wasonly interested in exercising his rightto vote. Sgt Louis Sathekge said hehoped that the Government wouldcreate more jobs and prevent crime.Sgt Enock Makoso agreed with him.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R19
eventsWelcome to ourthink-tanksBy Matshidiso PilaPhoto: Sgt David NomtshongwanaThis was not the first inaugurationin the history <strong>of</strong> theGenerals <strong>of</strong> the SA Armyand certainly not the lastone. But it is indeed the verylast one to be honoured bythe presence <strong>of</strong> Lt GenGilbert Ramano as the Chief <strong>of</strong>the SA Army.This event was held in theParatus Club at the SA Army Collegein Thaba Tshwane on 22 April 2004for the inauguration <strong>of</strong> twenty-oneGenerals."For better or worse, it is required<strong>of</strong> you to act as a role model tosubordinates. Do not fail yoursubordinates. Lead from the front,"said Lt Gen Ramano.Looking back, one could say thatwe have made major strides in creatinga new <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Defence</strong>and, especially a new SA Army. LtGen Ramano said: "It was not an easyprocess when we started way back inApril 1994 at Wallmannsthal. Tentswere set alight and many people werekilled. It was no joke," said Lt GenRamano. "It was a very difficult timein our military history and many <strong>of</strong>you will recall the pain we had to gothrough to make integrationa success."The Chief <strong>of</strong> the SA Army continued:"Today we can look back andsay that what happened was notsomething insignificant, but it was anLead fromthe front.event that has laid a solid foundationin the creation <strong>of</strong> a democracy inour country."Lt Gen Ramano advised theGenerals that the military Code <strong>of</strong>Conduct and the value system <strong>of</strong> theDOD should be the anchor intheir lives."You have reached the topmanagement echelon <strong>of</strong> the DOD andas such you are now part <strong>of</strong> adistinguished group <strong>of</strong> the pride <strong>of</strong>lions. I therefore urge you not to failthe SA Army, but to do all in yourpower to strive for ultimate excellence,"Lt Gen Ramano concluded.20The twenty-one Generals who were being inaugurated with Lt Gen Gilbert Ramano, the Chief <strong>of</strong> the SA Army (middle,front), and WO1 Edward Sykes, the Sergeant Major <strong>of</strong> the SA Army (far right, back).S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
Strengthening relations with foreignersBy PO Dennis NdabaPhoto: Sgt David NomtshongwanaThe 2004 Joint Senior Command andStaff Programme (JSCSP) conductedat the SA National War College hasseven international students fromUganda, Germany, Rwanda,Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya andNigeria. The Chief <strong>of</strong> the SANDF,Gen Siphiwe Nyanda, signed aMemorandum <strong>of</strong> Understanding withvarious defence forces to permit anexchange <strong>of</strong> students and instructorson military courses as a means <strong>of</strong>expanding relations with defenceforces <strong>of</strong> other countries.<strong>Defence</strong> Foreign Relations <strong>of</strong>ficiallywelcomed the international studentsto a function held at the SANational War College on 17 March2004. The guest <strong>of</strong> honour wasBrig Gen Michael Mdletye, DirectorBrig Gen William Nkonyeni, the Commandant <strong>of</strong> the SA National War College(middle, front, with a Madiba shirt), and the international Directing Staff andinternational students.SA Army Human Resources, whowished the international students apleasant stay in South Africa.He explained the importance <strong>of</strong>defence forces <strong>of</strong> the world workingtogether, specifically in this era inwhich the world is threatened by thescourge <strong>of</strong> international terrorism.A representative <strong>of</strong> the internationalstudents reciprocated by assuring theGeneral that they were already settledin and were looking forward to experiencingmore <strong>of</strong> the South Africanhospitality.Union members explore militaryunits in KwaZulu-NatalBy Matshidiso PilaEvery year Directorate <strong>Defence</strong>Corporate Communication on behalf<strong>of</strong> the DOD fulfils its communicationaims and objectives. Thus a visit tothe various military units in Durban,KwaZulu-Natal, was scheduled and agroup <strong>of</strong> representatives <strong>of</strong> labourand trade unions was invited for atwo-day visit on 11 and 12 March2004. This was to create an opportunityto inform the guests about the roleand tasks <strong>of</strong> the DOD, as well as togive them a comprehensive overview<strong>of</strong> the SANDF's capabilities.For the very first time in thehistory <strong>of</strong> the union's visits the Chief<strong>of</strong> the SANDF, Gen Siphiwe Nyanda,addressed the delegation and wishedthem well on their departure fromWaterklo<strong>of</strong> Air Force Base to Durban.He told the delegation that theyshould go and witness the role thatthe SANDF played in Durban andhow transformed the organisation hasbecome. Gen Nyanda also told themthat while they were visiting the variousunits they should acknowledgewhat the units were doing so thatnext time when they see the <strong>Defence</strong>Budget they should not think it is toomuch. With the blessing <strong>of</strong> the twoGenerals the trip went well, and thefirst unit that they visited was AirForce Base Durban. Acting OfficerCommanding AFB Durban, Lt ColG.C.L. Barr, welcomed the delegationand presented an overview <strong>of</strong> thestructure and described the role <strong>of</strong> theunit. Thereafter Group 10 was visited.Col J. Blaauw, the OfficerCommanding <strong>of</strong> Group 10, did apresentation for the visiting group.The unit is totally involved withProject Siyandisa, which is to empoweryoung black people from the community.Area Military Health UnitKwaZulu-Natal (AMHU KZN) wascongratulated on the good work thatthey were doing and their involvementwith the Phidisa and Batho Peleprojects. According to the representatives<strong>of</strong> the unions AMHU KZN,under the command <strong>of</strong> Col A. Mbiza,was rated as the most transformedunit in Durban.The last unit to be visited on thefirst day was the Natal Carbineers, aReserve Force unit in Pietermaritzburgunder the command <strong>of</strong> Lt ColK.M. Lowe. Afterwards everybodywas invited for a tour around themuseum and for snacks.The next morning was marked byvery cold and rainy weather, but thisdid not affect the visit, and just whenthe people were adapting to theweather, the SA Army Band Durbanwarmed everybody up with goodmusic, which certainly got everyonecarried away. This all happened atNaval Station Durban where the delegationtook a maritime tour in navalcraft around Durban harbour. Thelast two pit stops <strong>of</strong> the visit were atthe Naval Armament Depot Durbanand the Strike Craft Training Centre.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R21
eventsInternal auditors maintainhigh ethical standards22By PO Dennis NdabaPhoto: PO Eddie KgomoThe Inspector General <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Defence</strong> (IGDOD), Maj Gen VejaynandRamlakan, awarded the IGDOD Pr<strong>of</strong>iciency Badge totwenty-seven members <strong>of</strong>the <strong>Defence</strong> Inspectorateduring a parade held at the LibertyLife Building in Pretoria on 2 April2004. The members have pr<strong>of</strong>essionallydemonstrated their adherence tothe principles and rules <strong>of</strong> conduct <strong>of</strong>the Institute <strong>of</strong> Internal Auditors.The Code <strong>of</strong> Ethics serves to promotean ethical culture in the pr<strong>of</strong>ession<strong>of</strong> internal auditing. This code isfounded on the trust placed on theobjective assurance regarding riskmanagement, control and governance.Internal auditors are expectedto maintain high ethical standardsand uphold the principles and Rules<strong>of</strong> Conduct <strong>of</strong> the Institute <strong>of</strong> InternalAuditors. The symbolism <strong>of</strong> theS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4Inspector General Pr<strong>of</strong>iciency insigniaconsists <strong>of</strong> three parts, namely: The golden sword is a symbol <strong>of</strong>military power and representsjustice and military honour; The golden fasces are composed<strong>of</strong> a military axe, which symbolisesthe execution <strong>of</strong> military duty,and is enclosed in a bundle <strong>of</strong>wooden rods tied together with astrap. It was historically a symbol<strong>of</strong> the authority <strong>of</strong> Romanmagistrates and today representscivil authority; The silver or chromed leaf wreathties the sword and fasces togetherand is a symbol <strong>of</strong> academic andintellectual achievement.The motto <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Defence</strong>Inspectorate is ‘Vigilans’, which is aLatin word denoting the quality andcharacter <strong>of</strong> being watchful, alert andcircumspect in closely monitoring asituation. The colours <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Defence</strong>Inspectorate are black, gold andsilver. Gold represents elevation <strong>of</strong>mind, silver represents sincerity andMaj Gen Vejaynand Ramlakan, the Inspector General DOD, congratulatesR Adm (JG) Dr Gerhard Engelbrecht at the IG DOD Pr<strong>of</strong>iciency Parade.They mustcorrect many…black represents constancy.Officiating in this milestone event,Maj Gen Ramlakan said the <strong>Defence</strong>Inspectorate had come a long way ineventually having an approved symbolthat displays the authority vestedin each <strong>of</strong> the inspectors, auditors andforensic investigators. This willculminate in activities that provideindependent, objective assurance andconsultation, which add value andimprove the operations <strong>of</strong> the DOD."With this, we seek to continuepromoting an ethical culture in thepr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>of</strong> internal auditing andinspection, objective assurance aboutrisk management, control and governance.Rules <strong>of</strong> conduct that describebehaviour norms expected <strong>of</strong> internalauditors are an aid to interpretprinciples into practical applicationsand are intended to guide the ethicalconduct <strong>of</strong> internal auditors."Furthermore, internal auditorsare expected to apply and uphold theprinciples <strong>of</strong> integrity, objectivity,confidentiality and competence,"added Maj Gen Ramlakan.He added that the wearing <strong>of</strong> thepr<strong>of</strong>iciency caduceus can only beachieved once there is a sufficient academicexperiential qualification withan appropriate ethical commitment."As the Inspectorate Organisation,we have to provide the DOD and therest <strong>of</strong> the South African people withobjective assurance about the realvalue added in defence. This is ourtrue purpose, aim and responsibility.My sincere congratulations to all ourrecipients <strong>of</strong> the 'Vigilans'. Accept thechallenge <strong>of</strong> wearing the IG caduceuswith pride. Honour it with thequality <strong>of</strong> your work performance,"concluded Maj Gen Ramlakan.
Democracy is indeedaliveBy Matshidiso PilaPhoto: Sgt David NomtshongwanaYou will be surprised whatten years <strong>of</strong> democracymeans to people. Yes, peoplenow have rights and thereare many privileges to enjoy.To them it is not just aboutthe different rights that areavailable to enjoy, but the hardtimes they have been through up totoday. You should have seen peoplecelebrating ten years <strong>of</strong> freedom at1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwaneon 2 April 2004. The morale was veryhigh and the integration betweenthem was amazing.Altogether thirteen departments<strong>of</strong> the hospital entered the competitionto celebrate ten years <strong>of</strong> democracy.The 10 Years <strong>of</strong> DemocracyCommittee was chaired by Maj KarenStander. Each department decoratedand demonstrated how they interpretedand understood ten years <strong>of</strong>democracy. The three judges: BrigGen Aubrey Sedibe, the CommandingOfficer <strong>of</strong> 1 Military Hospital, ColVeronica Burger from the InspectorGeneral Office <strong>of</strong> the SAMHS,and Lt Col Mpho Sibanyoni fromthe SAMHS CorporateCommunication Nodal Point,evaluated the competition.Do you remember toyi-toyi? Doesit not bring back many memories?Surely bad ones too, but fortunatelythis one was not about bad memories.It was about celebrating ten years <strong>of</strong>democracy. All the members <strong>of</strong> thevarious departments that participatedin the competition toyi-toyied to thelapa <strong>of</strong> the hospital were the winnerswere announced. No matter howtough the competition was, as one <strong>of</strong>the judges confessed, at the end <strong>of</strong> theday the best group had to win.The <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nursingwalked away with the third prize <strong>of</strong>R200-00 with their amazing demonstration<strong>of</strong> Democracy at Seas. Theyhad a small Masibambisane pot symbolisingthat all people were nowunited and that all their differenceshad been cooked away in the pot.The second position was sharedby the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> PatientAdministration and the <strong>Department</strong><strong>of</strong> Chaplains. The two groups eachwon R300-00. The <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong>Chaplains celebrated Ten Years <strong>of</strong>Christianity in Democracy and PalmSunday. The Logistics <strong>Department</strong>was awarded the first prize <strong>of</strong> R500-00. Capt Nokuthula Qwabi, SO2Logistics, said she knew they weregoing to win because they coveredeverything from strikes and beggarsto persons with disabilities. Theywere very creative, especially withtheir impersonation <strong>of</strong> formerPresident Nelson Mandela, whodelivered his speech after his longwalk to freedom.A surprising category for the day,something nobody expected, was the"Best Effort <strong>of</strong> the Day Award", whichwas awarded to the Depart-ment <strong>of</strong>Occupational Therapy. Brig GenSedibe said it was to thank theMembers toyi-toying to the lapa <strong>of</strong> 1 Military Hospital.toyi-toyi forfreedom.members <strong>of</strong> this department theirefforts considering that no matterhow busy they were, they still managedto come up with somethingamazing. Capt Cecilia Sello, OccupationalTherapist <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong>Occupational Therapy, admitted thatthis prize came as a surprise, but itmade them proud and will keep theirmorale high. "I think we reallydeserve it," she said. They won aplastic rake. Do not laugh, it is somethingthat they can definitely use.Mr Solomon Malewa, a cleaner inthe <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Physiotherapy,said that he started working at1 Military Hospital in 1982 and tenyears <strong>of</strong> democracy was somethingreally to be celebrated. Looking backat what they went through before1994, he said life was tough and oneneeded to be strong and havepatience to survive the situation. BrigGen Sedibe was very impressed withthe interaction between the membersand said that democracy was indeedalive.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R23
eventsTaking over the reinsHe believes insuccess.26Brig Gen Luvuyo Nobanda (foreground) and Brig Gen David Masters.By Lt Seani Neluheni,SO3 CommunicationSA Army Engineer FormationPhoto: Sgt Eddie SmithBrig Gen Luvuyo Nobandatook over command <strong>of</strong> theSA Army EngineerFormation as the GeneralOfficer Commanding fromBrig Gen David Masters.The change <strong>of</strong> commandparade was held at the Military BaseDunnottar on 30 January 2004.Brig Gen Nobanda firmly believesin success as the basis <strong>of</strong> every individual'sprivate life. He also specifiesdiscipline and personality as importantin a portrait <strong>of</strong> how people dress,talk, behave and perform tasks. BrigGen Nobanda urged people not tolose their focus and always to understandthe reason for their existence.He also urged people to refrainfrom stealing Government propertyS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4as a way <strong>of</strong> enriching themselves. Hebelieves in loyalty, trust and communication.The Engineer Formation isone <strong>of</strong> the largest contributors <strong>of</strong> soldiersbeing deployed for externaloperations to Burundi and theDemocratic Republic <strong>of</strong> Congo. Inspite <strong>of</strong> Brig Gen Nobanda's shorttime at the Engineer Formation, hehas already had to bid the Sappersfarewell who risk their lives in support<strong>of</strong> the Government's initiatives toensure that there is peace in Africa.Brig Gen Nobanda was born on 18<strong>June</strong> 1959 in Ngqeleni in the EasternCape. He matriculated in 1977 atChief Henry Boklein High School. Hecompleted a B Admin Degree atUNISA in 2002. He joined the Transkei<strong>Defence</strong> Force (TDF) in 1978, andwas commissioned as Second Lieutenantin 1980. Thereafter he served at1 Transkeian Battalion as a PlatoonCommander in the Mounted Platoonand was later transferred to Infantry.In 1981 he joined the Transkei SpecialForces and, after successfully completingthe selection course, he wasappointed as Troop Commander atGroup 1. In 1988 he became Second inCommand <strong>of</strong> the Special ForcesRegiment. In 1990 he was promotedto Lieutenant Colonel and served asthe Officer Commanding SpecialForces Regiment (TDF) until 1993.In 1994 he was appointed SSOTraining in the TDF and was laterappointed Deputy Director SpecialForces. After integration Brig GenNobanda was transferred to SpecialForces Brigade in Pretoria. From 1998until 2001 Brig Gen Nobanda servedas a military attaché in Gabon.On his return from Gabon heserved as SSO Strategic Control in2002 at the SA Army Office until 2003.He was promoted to Brigadier Generaland appointed as General OfficerCommanding SA Army EngineerFormation on 1 January 2004.Brig Gen Nobanda completed allthe relevant military courses successfully,viz Officer Cadet, AdvancedTraining Course for Junior Officersand Platoon Commanders at theTranskei School <strong>of</strong> Infantry. He alsocompleted the Special Forces SelectionCourse in 1982, the Infantry WeaponsCourse in 1983, the CompanyCommanders Course in 1984,Parachute Dispatchers Course in 1987,the Parachute Instructors Course(Static Line Instructor) in 1988, theJunior Staff and Warfare Course at theSouth African Naval College in 1990,the Senior Command and StaffCourse at the Ghana Armed ForcesStaff College (Accra) in 1993, theJunior Command and Staff Course in1996, the Junior Command and StaffPractical Course, also in 1996, theSenior Command and Staff Course in1997 and the Executive NationalSecurity Programme in 2001.
Children enjoyinga military campBy Lt Col Julanda Coetzee,Air Force OfficeMakhado Air Force Base(through the efforts <strong>of</strong> 515Squadron and associates)has hosted an Air Forcecamp for children withdisabilities for the pastseventeen years.The camp started with three childrenin 1987 and grew to 72 childrenin 2003, almost doubling the numberin 2004 with 140 children attending.The children included a wide spectrum<strong>of</strong> boys and girls representingall population groups <strong>of</strong> SouthAfrica.The idea <strong>of</strong> the camp was to createan environment for the childrento express their physical abilities andexperience the life <strong>of</strong> a "soldier".This year's camp was held from10 to 14 March 2004. The programmeincluded, among other things, a flipin an Oryx helicopter, military dril,morning "PT" sessions, adventureskills, musketry training, animal andnight sounds, bundle sport activitiesand self-defence.The camp culminated in a medalparade, where each learner received amedal, and recognition was givenin selected disciplines through theawarding <strong>of</strong> trophies. Teachers fromthe respective schools assistednineteen dedicated instructors andmembers from 515 Squadron, andthe results obtained by these specialchildren <strong>of</strong>ten amazed all involved.Feedback from teachers, who havebeen involved with the camp for upto ten years, included only successstories.A new attendee teacher remarkedthat the camp opened his eyes to acompletely new approach towardsthe children. He was amazed at thephysical strength the children displayedand that their involvementwith other children boosted theirself-esteem.The instructors taught the learnersto come to attention, to march out <strong>of</strong>a squadron, to halt, to salute, toreceive a medal, to salute again andthen to march back to the squadron.For most <strong>of</strong> these children this wasmore consecutive action to rememberthan what they have ever beentaught, yet they achieved it withsuccess.What the exact recipe for thesuccess is, is still to be determined,but surely the team activity and thechanged attitudes <strong>of</strong> the instructorsplayed a role. Since the camp hasalways been directed towards the funand participation <strong>of</strong> the children, nospecialist psychological evaluation orobservations were obtained. It has,however, been suggested that a psychologistobserver be invited to thenext camp to provide some specialistChildren taking part in group sport.Receivinglearners’salutes ...advice on improving the learningopportunity for the children."In this Air Force where you areeither a 'Captain' (wearing gold rankinsignia) or a 'Sergeant' (wearing bluerank insignia) as the learners interpretthe ranks, I had the proud honour <strong>of</strong>receiving some <strong>of</strong> the learners' salutesand I have to confess, it made alasting impression in my life," saidLt Col Julanda Coetzee.A word <strong>of</strong> thanks is due to Lt ColJurie Davel, his team and everybodythat contributed to making these fewdays the tremendous success thatit was.Information regarding disabilitymatters in the SA Air Force may beobtained from the following <strong>of</strong>fices:Air Force Office, Lt Col JulandaCoetzee, at tel no: (012) 312 1019; orAir Force Office, Capt Nosi Gcanga,at tel no: (012) 312 2421; or DisabilityEquity Section at the DOD, Mr KobusSwart, at tel no: (012) 355 5972.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R27
Never ever fail to tryBy PO Dennis NdabaPhoto: Cpl Elias Mahuma"You have been appointed because <strong>of</strong> your personalabilities and performance. Take the challenge, follow thefootprints <strong>of</strong> your predecessor and make a success <strong>of</strong> yourtime at the DOD Technical Service Training Centre." Thosewere the words <strong>of</strong> Brig Gen Schalk van Schalkwyk, GeneralOfficer Commanding JSB Garrisson to Col Nehemia "Oupa"Bapela, when he <strong>of</strong>ficiated at the handing and taking overparade at the DOD Technical Service Training Centre on10 December 2003. The post had been left vacant after thepassing away <strong>of</strong> Col Dirang Phakalane.Col Bapela was born on 21 March 1965 in Evaton (VaalTriangle), Gauteng. He started his schooling at AtlehangPrimary School in 1971 and matriculated at Tshepo ThembaHigh School in 1982. He later enrolled with TechnikonNorthern Transvaal (Soshanguve) in 1983, where hestudied chemical engineering until 1985 when he left thecountry.He answered the call to join the military wing <strong>of</strong> theAfrican National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) inLesotho in September 1985 and left for Angola, where hereceived his basic military training. In 1987 he was selectedto obtain a diploma in mechanical engineering in the USSR(Ukraine) and completed it with honours in 1991. ColBapela has had various responsibilities in MK, includingthat <strong>of</strong> Officer Commanding <strong>of</strong> the camps in Tanzania, untilhe was called back to the RSA in January 1994 to join theNational Peacekeep-ing Force (NPKF) in Bloemfontein. Hewas there until its demobilisation in <strong>June</strong> 1994. Col Bapelaintegrated into the SANDF in <strong>June</strong> 1994. He did all his militarycourses, the latest being the Joint Senior Command andStaff Programme (JSCSP) in November 2002.Handing over thesword <strong>of</strong> commandBy Maj M.P. Morake,Corp Comm SAAF HQ UnitThe SA Air Force Headquarters Unit held a change <strong>of</strong> commandand medal parade at the Air Command in Pretoria on2 April 2004. Brig Gen P.N. Sibiya handed over command toLt Col R.F. van Wyk, and presented twelve medals to AirForce members.Brig Gen Sibiya thanked them for their continuous goodservice and encouraged them to lead by example and showmembers that they were eager to share their experiencewith them or those in need <strong>of</strong> such experience.In reflecting on the past year Brig Gen Sibiya said it wasa challenging and a busy year filled with great opportunitiesand outstanding achievements. She said that it wassometimes difficult to look back on a path already travelled,and even more so to convince oneself <strong>of</strong> the importantachievements and challenges that still lay ahead. The unitwent through some changes during the past couple <strong>of</strong>years, the latest being in 2003 when the name changed fromAir Command Unit to its present name <strong>of</strong> SAAF HQ Unit.Brig Gen Sibiya handed over the sword <strong>of</strong> command toLt Col Van Wyk and requested the members <strong>of</strong> the unit tosupport the new Officer Commanding pr<strong>of</strong>essionally so asto achieve the goals <strong>of</strong> the unit. She expressed the necessitythat the members adhere to the motto <strong>of</strong> the unit: "GloriaSine Labor Nulla", no glory without labour.Maj Gen C. Gagiano, Chief Director Air Policy andPlans, Maj Gen N.J.L. Ngema, Chief Director NationalAviation Academy, and various senior <strong>of</strong>ficers attendedthe parade.28Fltr: Brig Gen Schalk van Schalkwyk, General OfficerCommanding GSB Garrisson, Col Nehemia Bapela andWO1 Mario Martin Ragovan, RSM DOD TechnicalService Training Centre.Brig Gen P.N. Sibiya handed over the sword <strong>of</strong>command to Lt Col R.F. van Wyk.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
Foundation securelyguards your benefitsBy Maj Elize Lizamore,PRO and Communication OfficerSA Army FoundationThe year 2004 started <strong>of</strong>f like aG6 gunshot with the SAArmy Foundation's restructuringprocess in full swing,the cessation <strong>of</strong> theFoundation's co-operative,Sakhile, as well as the handingover <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice by General ManagerBrig Gen Reg Deyzel (Ret) to Maj GenKeith Mokoape (Reserve Forcemember).It is therefore a pleasure to givemore detailed information about theactivities mentioned. Owing todecreasing numbers in the SA Armyand the cessation <strong>of</strong> the trading wing<strong>of</strong> the Foundation's co-operative,Sakhile, it was felt necessary for theSA Army Foundation to restructureits organisation in order toconcentrate its operational activities.The restructuring <strong>of</strong> the SA ArmyFoundation will produce and ensuremore sustainable and caring servicesat all times for its members and theirloved ones. Achieving a sustainablecaring service structure for membersrequires dedication and hard workfrom each and everyone at the foundation.The SA Army Foundation is,as always, committed to serving itsmembers in the spirit <strong>of</strong> Batho Pele toachieve higher standards <strong>of</strong> livingand quality <strong>of</strong> life. Members can restassured that all their benefits are stillin-tact and securely guarded underthe umbrella <strong>of</strong> the SA ArmyFoundation.After ten years as the skipper <strong>of</strong>the SA Army Foundation Brig GenDeyzel <strong>of</strong>ficially retired on 31 March2004. He started his military career atthe SA Army Gymnasium and attendedthe Military Academy in Saldanhawhere he obtained the B Mil degree.Having been in the service <strong>of</strong> theSADF for thirty years, includingOfficer Commanding <strong>of</strong> several units,for example 10 Anti Aircraft Regimentand Artillery School, as well asDirector Planning <strong>of</strong> the SA Army,he became General Manager <strong>of</strong> theSA Army Foundation in April 1994.As from 1 April 2004 the GeneralManager's chair has been filled by MajGen Mokoape, who holds a B.Sc. andMaster <strong>of</strong> Management degrees. Hewas Chief <strong>of</strong> Intelligence <strong>of</strong> the ANC'sMaj Gen Keith Mokoape.military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.Maj Gen Mokoape qualified as amanager in developmental studies inthe fields <strong>of</strong> co-operatives and ruraldevelopment at the Pan-AfricanInstitute for Development in Zambia.After chairing the Drought ReliefProgramme <strong>of</strong> the IndependentDevelopment Trust in 1992, he joinedNampak, Africa's largest packagingcompany and became Nampak's firstdirector <strong>of</strong> Corporate Affairs.In 1998 Maj Gen Mokoape establisheda black empowerment consortium,Katleho Linkages, consisting <strong>of</strong>the Returned Exiles Association, theSoweto Chamber <strong>of</strong> Commerce andIndustries and the women's groupLibambeni li'ngashoni. Maj GenMokoape is the Chairperson <strong>of</strong>Log-Tek Engineering Solutions andCyberSim. Prior to his appointmentas Chief Director <strong>of</strong> Army Reserves,he was Co-chairperson <strong>of</strong> the ReserveForce Council and also became in2002 the Chairperson <strong>of</strong> the tradingwing <strong>of</strong> the SA Army Foundation'sSakhile Co-operative.The SA Army Foundation hasachieved another goal - its new logo.The new logo, in the form <strong>of</strong> the"Pride <strong>of</strong> Lions", is in line with therestructuring <strong>of</strong> the SA ArmyFoundation. The decision to adopt anew logo was recommended by theSA Army Foundation's Board <strong>of</strong>Control and approved by the ArmyCouncil on 1 March 2004. It is thereforesignificant that the foundationpresents its new logo after a decade<strong>of</strong> South African democracy.The outgoing General Manager,Brig Gen Deyzel, expressed his gratitudeto all the members for their loyalsupport and wished them the verybest for the future. The foundationis looking forward to a prosperous2004 under the new leadership <strong>of</strong>Maj Gen Mokoape.Contact the SA Army Foundationfor further information on theservices, products and benefits <strong>of</strong> theSA Army Foundation at tel no:(012) 673 9440/1 or visit theSA Army Foundation's website at:www.@army-foundation.co.za.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R29
insightOur Navy boasts <strong>of</strong> itssuccessful women30Articles and photoscourtesy Navy NewsAnumber <strong>of</strong> journalists salliedout into the ships and <strong>of</strong>fices<strong>of</strong> the SA Navy in Simon'sTown to examine life in thispreviously maledominatedenvironment and asked thewomen in Naval uniformfor their take on their place in theSA Navy.Leading Seaman Pretty Nkosimatriculated in 1994 at UmlaziCommercial High in KwaZulu-Nataland joined the SA Navy in 1997. AfterBasic Training she went to WarfareSchool, where she passed seamanship,electronic warfare and theCarbillan Course, which resulted inher becoming a qualified radar operator.She is currently working in theS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4Situation Room, preparing for andmonitoring the movement <strong>of</strong> navalships."I find working in a maledominatedenvironment not a problem, butvery motivating because I want toexcel! I have to disagree with the generalisedand unscientific conclusionthat women are psychologicallystronger than men, it all depends onthe particular individual one is dealingwith." Leading Seaman Nkosi didagree, however, that men are generallyphysically stronger than women.To Leading Seaman Nkosi, theSA Navy is not just a source <strong>of</strong>income, but also an institution wherematurity in all aspects <strong>of</strong> her life isnurtured. Her biggest dream is to bean <strong>of</strong>ficer and to ensure that herdream is achieved, and to this endshe is now studying FinancialLS Pretty Nkosi (right) and LS Judeel September in the Situation Room.Serving at sea.Management through the PeninsulaCollege.Asked how she felt about servingunder a female Officer Commanding,she replied, "For representivity purposesit would be good, but there isno guarantee that it wouldnecessarily be better".To young women outside theSA Navy she says encouragingly:"The SA Navy can be your home,especially if you pass matric withmaths, science and English"!Exercise self-disciplineAble Seaman Jeanette Wrigleyjoined the SA Navy in 2002. SinceBasic Training she has worked onboard the SAS GALASHEWE as astoker in the mechanical department.She was motivated by her mother,who has always been supportive <strong>of</strong>her pursuing this career. AbleSeaman Wrigley says that as the SANavy is in fact a maledominatedenvironment, she sees it as an idealplace for women to establish themselves.Although she feels that bynature women are psychologicallystronger than men, she also feels thatthis places a responsibility on womento show their male counterparts howto use their physical superiority constructivelyrather than destructively!She was quick to add that she doesnot find working in a field dominatedby men a problem, as her colleaguesare most helpful and supportive.Able Seaman Wrigley's face shineswith vision and a commitment towhatever she does. She intends to goon to obtain a degree some time inthe future because, as she says, "The
SA Navy <strong>of</strong> today requires highlyeducated women". Her advice toyoung women wanting to join theSA Navy is to exercise self-discipline,particularly in view <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS.LS Annelize Heyster is a Gunner'sYeoman aboard SAS OUTENIQUA.S Lt Kerstin Pitterman joined theSA Navy in 1998."It is important because once you areinfected no institution can effectivelyemploy you, no matter how goodyour qualifications are." She pointedout that for her, a job in the SA Navyis important because it exposes her topeople with different skills. In addition,she has had the opportunity totravel to different places, which hasbroadened her horizons. Herphilosophy in life is - failure is notfailure, but a step towards greaterachievement."Let go the anchor…"Leading Seaman Annelize Heysteris a Gunner's Yeoman aboardSAS OUTENIQUA. Only the secondfemale to complete the gunnerycourse, her initial challenge was thephysical exertion required for this<strong>of</strong>ten harsh work. As a woman,Leading Seaman Heyster receivedno concessions or special treatment.With five years <strong>of</strong> naval experience,training and sea-time, LeadingSeaman Heyster has three sailorsunder her supervision. She also usesthe phrase: "Let go the anchor…",masterfully directing her crew <strong>of</strong> riggers.Her expert performance <strong>of</strong> thistricky, dangerous job has earned hermuch respect among the crew. She ishappy and fulfilled doing what shedoes best, being a sailor."Get what you give and givewhat you get!"S Lt Kerstin Pitterman joined theSA Navy in 1998, and completed a3-year B Mil (BSc) degree in NauticalScience and Military Technology atthe Military Academy. After threemonths' <strong>of</strong> Basic Training and ninemonths <strong>of</strong> Officer's Training atGordon's Bay, and becoming a combat<strong>of</strong>ficer, she now serves on thestrike craft, SAS GALASHEWE, asOfficer <strong>of</strong> the Watch under training -standing the bridge, navigating andmaking sure the ship is safe.Her next goal is to get her BridgeWatchkeeping qualification, whichwill mean her type endorsement(Strike Craft Badge). When the patrolcorvettes arrive, her horizons willexpand even further.When asked her philosophy in amaledominated environmentS Lt Pitterman said that it is to have asense <strong>of</strong> humour. "If not, you willnot survive the ship. We rag eachother, but it is all in a good spirit.If you have the right attitude and arewilling to work, you earn the respect<strong>of</strong> others. Make sure you can getwhat you give and give what youget!"No room for mistakesYoung Namibian born CombatOfficer (Wet), S Lt Nicci le Roux, iscurrently serving on board the SANaval support vessel, SAS OUTENI-QUA. Looking for a challenge, shejoined the SA Navy after completingher matric (maths and science beingessential). She completed her B MilDegree at the Military Academy atSaldanha.S Lt Le Roux says that there isno room for mistakes. "It can costyou the ship and the lives <strong>of</strong> yourshipmates. You need to have a coolhead, relevant skills and the capacityto pay attention to detail underany circumstances."It is an awesome responsibility fora petite young woman, and one she iswell aware <strong>of</strong>. S Lt Le Roux hasserved on SAS OUTENIQUA foreighteen months and loves her lifeat sea.Taking a ship out to seaLeading Seaman Motsai fromTzekera Park in Johannesburg is awoman who dreams <strong>of</strong> taking anSA Naval ship out to sea. She joinedthe SA Navy three years ago. Thissailor says she feels that there are notenough women at sea and she wouldlike to encourage more women to joinand serve on board the ships.She will never forget her firstdays on board a strike craft when shewas terribly seasick, but as thetelecommunication operator (radio),she had to force herself to get welland communicate in order for theship to sail. She works easily with themen on board and appreciates thesupport they give her - not as awoman, but as a colleague.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R31
insight32More than a militarythreatBy Capt Sethu Lubisi, Centrefor Military Studies, GautengBranch, University <strong>of</strong> StellenboschPhoto: Sgt Mercia EngelbrechtCentral to the NewPartnership for Africa'sDevelopment (Nepad) isthe development <strong>of</strong> people -human development. AsSouth Africa is one <strong>of</strong> theprincipal drivers <strong>of</strong> Nepad,it will be to the advantage <strong>of</strong> theregion if its strategic neighbourhoodcan follow suit and embrace thehuman centred notion <strong>of</strong>development.Although light conflict cannot beruled out, a most probable short andmedium-term scenario for theSouthern African DevelopmentCommunity (SADC) region would bethat <strong>of</strong> severe starvation and disease(especially malaria, tuberculosis andHIV/AIDS) in most states (ie Angola,the Democratic Republic <strong>of</strong> Congo,Lesotho, Mozambique, Swazilandand Zimbabwe), if not the entireregion. This means that in the shortand medium-term future the regionwill have to brace itself for a totallydifferent war - a humanitarian crisis,which is even more deadly.Unemployment and a shortage <strong>of</strong>food easily lead to high levels <strong>of</strong>crime and a soaring incidence <strong>of</strong> diseaserespectively. Crime and diseasemake people insecure and result inmass human migrations. This couldfurther plunge the region deeper anddeeper into a humanitarian crisis <strong>of</strong>starvation.The current socio-economic situationin the SADC region (ie Angola,the Democratic Republic <strong>of</strong> Congoand Zimbabwe), is unacceptable andclearly shows that the humanitarianS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4threat is even more pressing than themilitary threat. The entire regionneeds to embrace the security conceptbeyond its military definition, and totake into account the modern notion<strong>of</strong> a human focus. It is only in thisway that any possible regionalhumanitarian crisis can be overcome,if not prevented. As far as humaninsecurity in the region is concerned,Angola and Zimbabwe are two casestudies in insecurity, which are dealtwith briefly.AngolaAngola's civil war claimedthirteen million lives. Although thewar might be over, the country is sittingon a time bomb. According to theUnited Nations DevelopmentProgramme, since the end <strong>of</strong> the war(brought about by the death <strong>of</strong> JonasSavimbi in February <strong>of</strong> 2002) nearlyone hundred people have been dyingevery day <strong>of</strong> disease and starvation.…ahumanitarianthreat isimminent inthe SADC.Nearly three million people in thecountry are dependent on food aid,less than forty percent <strong>of</strong> the populationhas access to safe drinking water,sixty percent <strong>of</strong> the population livesbelow the poverty line and lifeexpectancy is only 44 years.According to the BritishBroadcasting Corporation's Africanetwork, about 70 000 Angolans areamputees and another 30 000 minevictims. On top <strong>of</strong> this, malaria andmalnutrition are hitting the poor population<strong>of</strong> nearly eleven million. Butironically, social services and health
spending by the government accountfor a mere two percent <strong>of</strong> the totalbudget in a country where twelvepercent <strong>of</strong> the population is HIVinfected and a third <strong>of</strong> the populationis displaced. According to the HumanRights Watch, US $4bn in oil revenues,which vanished between 1997and 2002, cannot be accounted for, letalone traced. Angola used to be thefourth largest c<strong>of</strong>fee producer in theworld, but now has less than threepercent <strong>of</strong> arable land under cultivation.These facts paint a bleak pictureregarding the country's future. Someobservers think the worst is yet tocome as they feel this oil-rich countrymay spiral back into civil war.ZimbabweSocio-economically Zimbabwe isfailing and resembles its otherAfrican counterparts like Liberia,Sierra Leone and Somalia. Had thecountry conducted a transparent landre-distribution based on economicgrowth and food security, this wouldhave stimulated international investorconfidence, something the countryurgently needs for economic rescue.The country is slowly heading forcollapse and delays in this regardincrease the waves <strong>of</strong> mass action andcivil disobedience. At the moment thecountry's unemployment is soaring atseventy percent, while the country'sinflation stands at 599 percent.Unabated levels <strong>of</strong> crime and foodshortages are reaching unacceptablelevels. From a humanitarian perspective,this is not good news for theregion, particularly South Africa.Firstly, this does not make SouthAfrica a secure country for foreigninvestment. In 2003 the ZimbabweResearch Initiative found that SouthAfrica was paying dearly for the crisisin Zimbabwe - it found that the costto South Africa (2001-2003) wasR15bn and nearly 40 000 jobs (ie dueto a mere 1,3% growth in grossdomestic product, instead <strong>of</strong> 3,2%),and also on account <strong>of</strong> the negativeeffect the crisis had on the Rand inthe same period. The effect on theSouth African real economy comesthrough reduced South African goodsand services exports, unacceptablelevels <strong>of</strong> crime, a drop in tourism, andZimbabwe's failure to service its debtOur protection in the Eastern CapeBy Maj Merle Meyer,SO1 Communication,SA Army Infantry FormationDuring the late 1940s a convener forthe commandos was required and theAlgoa Group consisting <strong>of</strong> Albany,Humansdorp, Uitenhage, Kirkwood,Jansenville and Port Elizabeth wasestablished.On 6 <strong>June</strong> 1969 Group 6 wasformally established in the old SouthEnd Base and by 1988 it was a fullyfledgedgroup with six commandounits and three Citizen Force units. InSeptember 1991 Group 6 moved tothe Algoa Military Base. Today fifteencommando units from areas as farapart as East London, Aberdeen,Middelburg, etc falls under thisgroup. A landmark in Port Elizabethis the Algoa Battery situated on theGroup 6 grounds. The need for a batteryobservation post was identifiedin 1940. This observation post formedpart <strong>of</strong> the forte observation poststhat were built in Amsterdamhoek,Seahill (Cape Recife peninsula) andSchoenmakerskop. All the observationposts consisted <strong>of</strong> a doublestoreybuilding with a flat ro<strong>of</strong> thatcould be reached with a steel ladder.The Algoa Battery, as it wasknown, has free-form parapets surroundingthe flat ro<strong>of</strong>, angle buttresses,wing walls and traces <strong>of</strong> camouflagepaint on the fish-scale plasterwalls. These features are designed tobreak up the straight-line appearancefrom the sea and air and to blend it inwith the bush landscape. Group 6 hasmanaged to preserve the battery andplans to establish a small coastalartillery and military museum in it.As Group 6 is situated in PortElizabeth's Golden Mile it maybecome one <strong>of</strong> the popular attractions.The commandos <strong>of</strong> Group 6have been very active in 2003. Theyprovided protection during the ICCto South African companies such asEskom (R80m) and Telkom (R60m).International investors will also beconcerned about a possible similarimitated "land-grab" culture by thedesperate and landless people <strong>of</strong> thiscountry.Secondly, the country willstrongly feel the strain severely asZimbabwe is slowly collapsing; thiscountry will be the first stop forZimbabweans. This will bring alongincreased crime, food shortages andthe spread <strong>of</strong> disease among SouthAfricans, thus crippling the localeconomy.The challengeThe challenge facing the SADCregion, therefore, in the light <strong>of</strong> thetwo mentioned examples, ie Angolaand Zimbabwe, is to focus on humansecurity threats and not only onmilitary threats or military issues.The fact is, the humanitarian crisis inthe region is serious and is likely toexplode at any time and, if takenlightly, can devastate the entireregion and take years to repair thedamage.World Cricket Competition and everyyear they support the SAPS to ensurethat tourists visiting this beautifulpart <strong>of</strong> the country have a safe andenjoyable holiday.The present Officer Commanding<strong>of</strong> Group 6 is Col Richard Majola. His08:00 tea is a discussion and feedbackevent, which has ensured that it isone <strong>of</strong> the best informed groups inthe Infantry. In 2003 during theroadshow to the area by the Chief <strong>of</strong>the SA Army, Lt Gen Gilbert Ramano,Col Majola indicated that thecommandos were very active incurbing stock theft, preventing attackson farms and ensuring that the areawas safe.The Group's emblem carries thepicture <strong>of</strong> an elephant, a well-knownsymbol <strong>of</strong> the Eastern Cape. Themotto is "Don't Assume" and like theelephant do not assume that it isfriendly: it is dangerous and veryefficient.33J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R
34eventsClimbing the ladder<strong>of</strong> academicsBy Alpheus DzivhaniPhoto: PO Eddie KgomoFlorence Nightingale is mostremembered as a pioneer <strong>of</strong>nursing and a reformer <strong>of</strong>hospital sanitation methods.Unknown to many, however,was her use <strong>of</strong> new techniques<strong>of</strong> statistical analysis,such as during the Crimean Warwhen she plotted the incidence <strong>of</strong>preventable deaths in the military.Soldiers called her "The Lady-in-Chief" because she played a vital roleon their behalf as a banker to remitthe men's wages home to theirfamilies. The spirit <strong>of</strong> FlorenceNightingale, "The Lady-in-Chief",continued to live on at the Diplomaand Pledge <strong>of</strong> Service Ceremony <strong>of</strong>the SAMHS Nursing College, inassociation with the University <strong>of</strong>South Africa (Unisa). The ceremonytook place on 3 March 2004 atUnisa in Pretoria.Cpln V.P. Nkonyane opened theceremony with scripture reading andprayer while Maj Gen M. Radebe,Chairperson <strong>of</strong> the College Council,welcomed all the guests <strong>of</strong> honourLet the oil <strong>of</strong> knowledge and <strong>of</strong> love always ensure thatyour lamps burn brightly.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4and well-wishers. Lt K.T. Zuma, theChairperson <strong>of</strong> the LearnersRepresentative Council (LRC) <strong>of</strong>SAMHS Nursing College, who wasnominated as Poet <strong>of</strong> the Year for2004 by the International Society <strong>of</strong>Poetry, ushered the recipients to thestage with a multi-lingual poem.Gone are those days, whensoldiers where seen to be selected byvirtue <strong>of</strong> their physical strength whilenegating or ignoring their mentalability. Members <strong>of</strong> SAMHS NursingCollege showed that they had drunkfrom the fountain <strong>of</strong> knowledge whenthey received their diplomas, certificatesand trophies and also pledgedto serve in the enhancement <strong>of</strong> healthtransformation in the DOD and theRSA in general. Gauteng HealthMEC, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, extendedwarm congratulations to the graduates."The unique function <strong>of</strong> thenurse is to assist the individual, sickor well, in the performance <strong>of</strong> thoseactivities contributing to health or itsrecovery (or to a peaceful death) thathe would perform unaided if he hadthe necessary strength, will or knowledge,and to do this in such a way asto help him regain independence asFlorenceNightingale'slamp burnson…soon as possible," said Dr Ramokgopa.Col L. Rose read the "Nurses'Credo" and the graduates followedafter her in unison: "I solemnlypledge myself to the service <strong>of</strong>humanity and will endeavour to practisemy pr<strong>of</strong>ession with conscienceand with dignity. I will not permitconsiderations <strong>of</strong> religion, morality,race or social standing to intervenewith my duty and my patient…"Dr U.U. Alberts read the meaning<strong>of</strong> the lamp and said: "The lamp inyour hand is the symbol <strong>of</strong> those whokeep vigil over the sick. It is the symbol<strong>of</strong> the philosophy <strong>of</strong> the nursingpr<strong>of</strong>ession that those who nurseshould be a light unto others. Sheended by saying that she was givingthem the reveille <strong>of</strong> nursing: Let theoil <strong>of</strong> knowledge and <strong>of</strong> love alwaysensure that your lamp burns brightly.Pr<strong>of</strong> D.M. van Ede, Vice-Dean:Sub-faculty Social Sciences <strong>of</strong> theFaculty <strong>of</strong> Arts <strong>of</strong> Unisa, congratulatedall the graduates and Lt Col E.M.Joseph, Officer Commanding SAMHSNursing College, did likewise. TheSAMHS Band and SAMHS NursingCollege Choir gave splendid performances.Maj Gen Radebe dissolvedthe Assembly and the NationalAnthem was played by the verytalented SAMHS Band.We hope that the graduates are inthis pr<strong>of</strong>ession because they arecalled by God, like their pioneer,Florence Nightingale, who had whatshe described as her "calling". Wehope that they always remember thatthe total health <strong>of</strong> their patientsshould be their first consideration.
Civil-military unity during trainingBy Lt Pieter Potgieter,School for Military Health TrainingProgramme Co-ordinator DisasterMedicine TrainingNetcare hosted a function for theSurgeon General, Lt Gen Rinus Jansenvan Rensburg, and members <strong>of</strong> theSchool for Military Health Training toshow its appreciation <strong>of</strong> training indisaster medicine presented by theSchool for Military Health Trainingon 1 March 2004. On this occasiondonations were <strong>of</strong>ficially handed overfor the training rendered to theSurgeon General. Guests attendingwere Mr Michael Sacks, Chairperson<strong>of</strong> Netcare, Pr<strong>of</strong> Dion du Plessis,Regional Manager <strong>of</strong> Tshwane Region(Netcare), Ms Daleen Nel, ManagerRisk Management, and Ms MandéToubkin, National Trauma Co-ordinator.Netcare was introduced to disastermedicine training through theEMERGO training concept. This practicaltraining system is a very costeffectiveway <strong>of</strong> training participantsin all facets <strong>of</strong> disaster managementand disaster medicine. The USAdonated the EMERGO system to theSAMHS and specifically to the Schoolfor Military Health Training to facilitatethe training <strong>of</strong> participants fromcountries within the SADC region.The ultimate aim <strong>of</strong> this training is t<strong>of</strong>acilitate trauma system developmentand co-operation between civilmilitarycounterparts and all SADCcountries during major disasters.In 2003 the SAMHS and NetcareFltr: Mr Michael Sacks, Chairperson <strong>of</strong> Netcare, Pr<strong>of</strong> Dion du Plessis,Regional Manager <strong>of</strong> Tshwane Region (Netcare), and Lt Gen Rinus Jansenvan Rensburg, the Surgeon General. (Photo: Sgt David Nomtshongwana)entered into a public-private-partnershipwith the aim to provide disastermedicine training to personnel <strong>of</strong>Netcare in the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape regions. During 2003altogether 268 personnel <strong>of</strong> Netcarereceived this training. Participants inall regions ranged from hospital managers,nursing managers, personnelfrom all hospital departments andalso members from Netcare 911.The total cost <strong>of</strong> the three trainingsessions amounted to R137 000-00.For this training Netcare donatedtraining aids to the SAMHS to thevalue <strong>of</strong> R81 704-00. The training aidswill be used in conjunction with theEMERGO system and will enable theSchool for Military Health Training toimprove the standard <strong>of</strong> the trainingand to train more participants pertraining session. Netcare indicatedthat this training initiative wouldcontinue in the future.Water washing away povertyBy WO2 S. Chengan, ASB DurbanArmy Support Base Durban commemoratedNational Water Week inthe form <strong>of</strong> an exhibition, stalls and apoetry and art competition. The eventtook place at Salisbury Island MilitaryBase on 25 and 26 March 2004.The theme for National WaterWeek was "Water - Bringing a BetterLife for All" and the slogan was:"Water Washing Away Poverty". Theaim and mission <strong>of</strong> this event were toeducate members <strong>of</strong> the DOD andlearners from the schools on theimportance <strong>of</strong> managing our waterresources wisely and to createawareness <strong>of</strong> ways to save water.This was definitely achieved.Approximately 2 500 learners,20 teachers, 50 civilians and manyDOD personnel attended.Mr James Perkins from the<strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Water Affairs was theguest speaker. The <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong>Agriculture and EnvironmentalAffairs sponsored 10 000 stickersand handbills and Unique Catererssponsored a tent. The exhibitorswere Umgeni Water, the <strong>Department</strong><strong>of</strong> Agriculture and EnvironmentalAffairs, WESSA, Emergency ServicesArmy Support Base Durban andNaval Station Durban.Army Support Base Durban hasbeen actively involved in water savingand has achieved an enormousmonitory savings <strong>of</strong> R1.6 million forthe year 2003.35J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R
A new lion in the pride36By Capt T.N. Snyman,Communication OfficerSA Army Combat Training CentreThe SA Army CombatTraining Centre bid farewellto Brig Gen Sam Komane andwelcomed the new leader <strong>of</strong>the Kalahari pride <strong>of</strong> lions.Brig Gen Teddy Nqapayiaccepted <strong>of</strong>fice after aprestigious mechanised change<strong>of</strong> command parade held on26 February 2004.The parade commander, Lt ColKwet van der Merwe, accompaniedthe dignitaries to inspect the mechanisedcolumns <strong>of</strong> 61 MechanisedBattallion on board two Elandarmoured vehicles without turrets.Thereafter the mechanised columnsdrove past in revue order in front <strong>of</strong>The Parade Commander, Lt Col Kwet van der Merwe (standing left, secondvehicle), accompanied by the two dignitaries, Brig Gen Sam Komane(standing right, second vehicle) and Brig Gen Teddy Nqapayi (standingback, second vehicle), inspecting the mechanised columns <strong>of</strong>61 Mechanised Battallion from two Eland armoured vehicles.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4the podium, paying compliments themechanised way to the two generals.Witnessing this courteous, almosthumble gesture by these majesticRatels resulted in a proud shiverrunning down the spine <strong>of</strong> every truesoldier serving the SANDF withintegrity.Numerous esteemed civilian andmilitary guests attended the parade.Among the spectators at the paradewere members from all the units atLohatlha and students attending theISUC Course and the NCOOperational Duties Course, whichwere being presented at the time atthe SA Army Combat TrainingCentre.Sixty-two year old Brig GenNqapayi joined Umkhonto we Sizwe in1962 and started his military career inMamre. He held several logisticalAnotherchapter closed.posts during his distinguished militarycareer, such as Chief <strong>of</strong> Transportand Chief <strong>of</strong> Logistics. In 1994 he wasplaced at the Western ProvinceCommand where he held severalposts, namely that <strong>of</strong> Stores Inspector,Project Co-ordinator and Chief <strong>of</strong>Staff.In November 1999 he wasappointed Officer Commanding <strong>of</strong>Operation MALUTI in Lesotho.After the successful completion <strong>of</strong>OP MALUTI in May 2000, he wasappointed Officer CommandingArmy Support Base Bloemfonteinuntil February 2004.Brig Gen Komane is retiring afterhis successful military career <strong>of</strong> 41years as a logistical functionary. Hestarted his <strong>of</strong>ficial military career as amember <strong>of</strong> Umkhonto we Sizwe inCuba, after which he receivedtraining in urban guerilla warfarein East Germany.During his time in exile he completedtwo tertiary studies in Zambia.He qualified in Business Managementand completed a degree in philosophyat the University <strong>of</strong> Zambia. In1994 he did the Junior Staff Coursein Zambia prior to the integrationprocess <strong>of</strong> the SANDF.Upon his return to South Africahe completed various courses andheld numerous posts at the LogisticCommand Headquarters. Brig GenKomane accepted his final assignmentin his military career in February 2002when he was appointed as theCommandant <strong>of</strong> the SA ArmyCombat Training Centre.
Beware <strong>of</strong> the shark's biteBy Capt Corné Gründlingh,ASB DurbanArmy Support Base Durban wasestablished on 1 April 2000 to rendergeneral support to all other unitswithin its geographical area. Part <strong>of</strong>any unit's tradition is to have a sloganunique to that unit and its missionand vision.After the new OfficerCommanding <strong>of</strong> ASB Durban, ColJ.P.M. Kobbie, took over command,he initiated a unit slogan competition.The competition was also to identify aunit drink. All the members <strong>of</strong> theunit participated in the competition.The adjudication took place atMerebank Military Base on 5 March2004. The competition was tied and itled to three entries being combined toproduce the new slogan for ASBDurban - "Purpose driven supportbeyond excellence". The winnerswere: Capt J. Marx (Adjutant), WO1R.J. Belelie (BSM) and Sgt N.R. PillayMaking training an adventure(Procurement Service Centre).The members <strong>of</strong> the unit are veryproud <strong>of</strong> the new slogan and will becommitted to living up to it.The drink <strong>of</strong> WO1 De Kok (NPF)won the Unit Drink Award and"Shark's Bite" was <strong>of</strong>ficially acceptedas the drink <strong>of</strong> ASB Durban. Thisdrink consists <strong>of</strong> Red Sambuka,Vodka and 2 to 3 drops <strong>of</strong> Tabascosauce. (The total number <strong>of</strong> dropsdepends on the strength <strong>of</strong> the"Shark's Bite"!)By Lt Col C.J. Bornman,SO1 Training 1 Regiment de la ReyPhoto: Lt San BronkhorstRegiment de la Rey, named afterGeneral Koos de la Rey, is a traditionalregiment that was established in1934. The Unit has a magnificent history.It is one <strong>of</strong> only six mechanisedunits in the SANDF (Reserve Force).In the new dispensation since1994, the Unit has met the changeswith a positive attitude. Duringtraining the emphasis is focussed onthe training <strong>of</strong> junior leaders and therecruitment, selection and training <strong>of</strong>potential junior leaders.The Unit has presented varioustraining exercises locally, duringwhich junior leaders were refreshedin combat techniques. Great successeswere also obtained during theexercises at the SA Army CombatTraining Centre in Lohatlha.Notwithstanding restricted funds theUnit presented various courses withgreat success and relied on its ownability, for example in basic training,subject training and motorisedsection commanders.Nine members who had beentrained by the Unit attended a formalcourse at 1 SAI Bn. The first threeplaces were obtained by members <strong>of</strong>Aim and shoot!Regiment de la Rey - Pte F. Nieman,Pte M. Moloi and Pte R.Z. Sohoma.For the first time in thirteen years amember <strong>of</strong> the Unit and ReserveForce, Sgt A. Kleynhans, obtainedfirst place in the Company QuarterMaster Sergeant Course (PF course) atthe Infantry School. Cpl A.R. Götzecame first in the OperationalPhotography Course (PF course) atthe School <strong>of</strong> Tactical Intelligence,while Rfn Z.A. Fusane and Rfn F.L.Jack obtained first and third places inthe Mechanised Orientation Courseat 1 SAI Bn. L Cpl T.J. Mosikoeobtained first place and L Cpl J.T.Moloi second place in the A Driver'sCourse at 1 SAI Bn. Pte D.E. Seopelaobtained first place in the Gunneryand Signal Operator's Course at1 SAI Bn.In order to refresh members andto maintain a high standard <strong>of</strong> preparednessthe Unit also participatesin exercises in conjunction with4 Artillery Regiment.Because there is a great need foradventure and companionship, especiallyamong young members, theUnit concentrates on making trainingas interesting as possible. The youthare presented with the opportunityto satisfy their urge for adventureand at the same time to forge closebonds <strong>of</strong> companionship.Because the Unit took the trainingresponsibility upon itself and carriesit out with so much enthusiasm, it isanticipated that the needs <strong>of</strong> the Unitregarding junior leaders will be up tostrength in the years 2005/2006.37J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R
insightSoldiers and theircommanders facingchallenges38By Brig Gen Lindile Yam,Director <strong>of</strong> Physical Training,Sport and Recreation“Amiracle" shouted the internationalcommunity whenthe advent <strong>of</strong> the newSouth African democracywas realised, without thedifferent armed belligerentforces plunging the countryinto bloodshed as the prophets <strong>of</strong>doom had prophesied.South Africa proved to the wholeworld that it had leadership withcharacter and super attitudes, anelement very rare in the present-daymaterialistically oriented world.The military leaders also rose tothe occasion despite a highlyemotional environment calculatedto make them act otherwise. It wasindeed a miracle when the NonstatutoryForces chose to abide by theinstructions <strong>of</strong> their leaders despitethreatening, well-orchestrated ThirdForce violent actions and open brutalstate violence at the time and thethreat <strong>of</strong> divisions as a result <strong>of</strong> differentviews as to how the situationshould be approached. One can confirm,especially from the side <strong>of</strong> theformer Non-statutory Force membersat the time, that never had one seensuch determination from the ranksnot to pursue the violent optionto the end.One also noticed the consciousmilitary discipline based on commonpurpose and mutual understanding<strong>of</strong> the situation as the soldierspainfully abided by the very clearS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4directives from the leadership: "stayput". It does not need a rocket scientistto know that there was a lot atstake, which led to immense tensionsand fear on the part <strong>of</strong> the StatutoryForces. It was again militarydiscipline and visionary leadershipthat would be put to the test in themilitary milieu <strong>of</strong> this, our belovedcountry.Brig Gen Lindile Yam.It is also important for one to statethat this discipline that led to the necessaryobedience <strong>of</strong> the soldiers at themost crucial period in our history wasnot just accidental. It was the confirmation<strong>of</strong> hard work focussed on thenurturing <strong>of</strong> real soldiers over manyyears <strong>of</strong> conflict. This discipline wasnurtured on the "holy ground" - thePride <strong>of</strong>soldiering.parade ground - the only tested reliablemother <strong>of</strong> all those who pridethemselves on being true soldiers.They are indeed seen to be this bytheir seniors, fellow compatriots andthe South African people who havewillingly invested in them as theirultimate unique insurance concerninglife and death.It is now ten years since our new<strong>Defence</strong> Force was born. One has thusto ask oneself whether we have developedand sustained good military valuesto make our people proud and toact as a deterrent. It is these realitiesthat impel one to discuss the reasonsthat may be the main cause <strong>of</strong> thechallenges we face today.AimThe aim <strong>of</strong> this topic is to stimulatediscussion within the SANDFmilieu that would lead to a generalmood <strong>of</strong> self-introspection andconstructive self-criticism, leadingto practical voluntary initiativesand actions to the advantage <strong>of</strong>the SANDF.Cultural integration:Non-statutory elementsThe tensions that characterised theconvergence <strong>of</strong> Non-statutory Forcesin Assembly Areas (Wallmannsthal)were a true reflection <strong>of</strong> the mistrust<strong>of</strong> the integration process. The factthat SADF bases, systems and even
<strong>of</strong>ficers and soldiers were to be usedin administering the process smacked<strong>of</strong> absolute betrayal in their view.A number <strong>of</strong> factors influencedthis thinking: The soldiers who were preparingmeals for them were simplythe "enemy" who couldnever be trusted overnight. The arrests by the SADFMilitary Police and SAP <strong>of</strong>members in the assembly areason the pretext <strong>of</strong> alleged previouscrimes and possible espionageas previous members <strong>of</strong>state security forces seemed toundermine diplomacy in thenegotiation process. The situationactually proved to be ashow <strong>of</strong> strength and flexing<strong>of</strong> muscles by the "enemy" inthe eyes <strong>of</strong> the soldiers. The criteria <strong>of</strong> selection used,with the approval <strong>of</strong> theJMCC, and monitored byBMATT, was regardedwith immense suspicion.This required that certaineducational standards and acognitive level <strong>of</strong> thinking beutilised and some be given atime limit to qualify accordingto their rank levels. Soldiers did not have their militaryqualifications with them,as they were never allowed totake them after qualifying inexile, for obvious reasons. Theprocess then seemed not torecognise their courses. Therewas a feeling <strong>of</strong> dissatisfactionas the ranks given to individualswere downgraded. TheStatutory Forces were notgoing through this pain and itwas therefore seen as a forcedpure absorption into aEurocentric culture. Violent eruptions were experiencedas the SADF soldiersused tear gas in the mess toexercise "control" and establish"order". As the tensions grewsome "MK" combatants actedin a highly undisciplined andmutinous manner, and theybegan to carry placards. The suspicions, however,seemed not to be unfounded,as some files <strong>of</strong> the memberswould frequently be found industbins. There was wild talkby the white media andbetween SADF members at thetime as to how the "integrating"forces, with their informalway <strong>of</strong> doing things, wouldcope with the classical "pr<strong>of</strong>essional"discipline <strong>of</strong> the SADF.This, deliberately or not, createdan impression that the NonstatutoryForce members werehalf-baked soldiers, incapable<strong>of</strong> integrating as a true pr<strong>of</strong>essionalentity and that theywere therefore obliged toconform to the culture <strong>of</strong> theSADF. I must admit that onefound it strange that the SADFmilitary intelligence was"unaware" that the NonstatutoryForce memberswere trained both as guerrillafighters and highlypr<strong>of</strong>essional soldiers.These guerrillas, like the SADFand other Statutory Forces,were born out <strong>of</strong> rigorousdrilling on the parade groundand more so on hostile foreignterrain where they underwentimmense deprivations.The making <strong>of</strong> a non-statutorysoldierNon-statutory soldiers weretrained as true cadres according to theprinciples <strong>of</strong> mission command, andwere able to survive and grow by providingreal-time leadership on theirown without guaranteed sustainablemoral or logistic support.They were trained like all otherpr<strong>of</strong>essional regular military forces inthe world and participated in manybattles outside the RSA borders, some<strong>of</strong> which were conventional battles. Itshould also be mentioned that womenwere also part <strong>of</strong> the sharp end, andwere thus required to equal thestandards <strong>of</strong> their male compatriotsin soldiering.It is a known fact that the doctrinesused and the provision <strong>of</strong> trainingin some cases was conducted bymilitary superpowers with far greaterresources and experience than theSADF in many respects.I personally regarded these soldiersas having much more disciplinethan the SADF members and theStatutory Forces at the time. This wasbecause the members <strong>of</strong> non-statutoryelements never had any financialcontractual benefits with own motherbodies. They in fact had signed withtheir lives. They earned no salarieswhatsoever. They had no guarantee<strong>of</strong> decent meals and sometimes noneat all. They were far from home andvirtually with no communicationwith their families. They never hadleave or holidays and had to be contentwith bloody battles in hostile foreignterrain, tropical diseases, heavydemands to do their best in trainingdespite all the challenges and so on.These soldiers had to survive foryears without sex, as there were no,or very few female compatriots. Itwas a crime to commit sodomy andtreason to be involved in rape. Thestandard <strong>of</strong> show discipline was veryhigh at all levels. All were required tostand to attention whenever the mostsenior rank entered the camp, and notonly those that he could see. Youngleaders at section level had absoluteauthority and were also well respectedby their subordinates. They werereally proud <strong>of</strong> belonging to a family<strong>of</strong> true soldiers.These soldiers were proud <strong>of</strong>being seen in military uniform, fightingside by side in military uniform,acting in public as soldiers in themanner a soldier is expected tobehave, both in and out <strong>of</strong> uniform.They had immense pride in beingSouth Africans and not a bunch <strong>of</strong>disoriented and divided tribes andraces. They scorned those whojudged others according to the languagethey spoke, their area <strong>of</strong> originin South Africa or the mere colour <strong>of</strong>their skin. I am not implying that theinequalities <strong>of</strong> the past were notaddressed, but am merely spellingout how the Non-statutory Forceswere shaped in their homogeneity asa present-day SANDF entity.They understood the honour andconspicuousness <strong>of</strong> being a soldier asthat <strong>of</strong> a leading patriot amongmultitudes <strong>of</strong> other patriots and as acalling. They were very aware <strong>of</strong> their(Continued on page 40)J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R39
40(Continued from page 39)duties, more than they were consciousand preoccupied with theirrights. They understood and werecommitted to the fact that althoughthey were fighting for democracy toprevail in their society, there couldnever be democracy in the military assuch. They were committed to thefact that the military was and mustalways be autocratic in nature if itis to survive as a credible anddisciplined force to fight warsfor the country.They were conscious <strong>of</strong> the factthat theirs was a business involvingthe possible supreme sacrifice <strong>of</strong> theirmost treasured possession, which waslife. They were also conscious <strong>of</strong> theadverse consequences <strong>of</strong> a lack <strong>of</strong>discipline, as that could involve littlemetal balls meant to break humanbones and terminate treasured humanlife. They were also very aware thatdiscipline in the military was shapedand nurtured on the parade groundthrough pride in drilling.True factsIt is also true that the SANDF isfacing the real effects <strong>of</strong> elements <strong>of</strong>the Non-statutory Forces that do nottruly originate from the "ParadeGround", in the true sense <strong>of</strong> theword. (Refer to SA SOLDIER, Vol 10No 9, Part II, par 3, p 34, Attention allWarrant Officers <strong>of</strong> the Army byMaj Gen J. Jooste for a definition <strong>of</strong> aparade ground.) These membershave, however, never been regardedas second-class soldiers by theirrespective Non-statutory Forces. Thetruth is that they were trained eitheras individuals or small groups in andout <strong>of</strong> the country for differentmissions, such as the following:intelligence collection, sabotage,mass mobilisation, couriers andsmall groups <strong>of</strong> strike units.These elements were trainedeither in safe houses or in militarybases in the bush, but isolated fromthe rest <strong>of</strong> the Full-time soldiers. Thiswas for security reasons as they wereto operate behind enemy lines andthen return to their normal civilianenvironment in a short space <strong>of</strong> time,without raising any suspicions.It is true that when the memberswere integrated into a Full-timeRegular Force, this aspect became animmense challenge. These wereindeed genuine combatants who hadnever gone through the intense,rigorous and difficult part <strong>of</strong> beingtrained as an obedient soldier, withthe element <strong>of</strong> selfish consciousnesseradicated from the mind.I personally equate this with thetype <strong>of</strong> what I regard as would-behalf-baked soldiers through the wellintended outcome based curricula weintend to introduce to the SANDFtraining institutions today. These tome sound dynamic and cost-effectiveas they are presented with very obviousgood intentions by the authors,but it seems as if we negate one mostcrucial fact, namely that we have toshape a soldier who is psychologicallyfit for tough and deadly combat.We even negate the fact that some <strong>of</strong>the recipients <strong>of</strong> these courses are justraw civilians recruited as pr<strong>of</strong>essionalsfrom the civilian ranks to joinmilitary <strong>of</strong>ficer ranks and are thusrequired to be involved laterin operations.The only difference between thetwo is that the initial group wouldgenerally be more disciplined andcommitted, as it is a direct product <strong>of</strong>underground structures trained duringwar. This is also meant to send acaution to the SANDF authorities atall levels, that in correcting whateverwrongs get done in the process <strong>of</strong>work, including possible abuses <strong>of</strong>power, not to lose sight <strong>of</strong> the mainreason for our existence as a militaryforce. This also goes to the lawmakers,including legislators <strong>of</strong> this country,to be sober and mindful <strong>of</strong> theirintentions to retain and sustain theirmilitary force. This has to be pursuedeven if it means minor amendmentsto the country's constitution that maybe used to undermine the achievement<strong>of</strong> the aim for the existence <strong>of</strong>the country's ultimate insurance,the SANDF.Not taking the soldier through theelements <strong>of</strong> the parade ground onlyproduces civilians who wear militaryuniforms and have military rank byvirtue <strong>of</strong> their intellect and association.It means wasting resources andwasted effort to train pr<strong>of</strong>essionalgunslingers with no pride and respectfor the military pr<strong>of</strong>ession. There maybe many exceptions to this, but ingeneral the gap will always show. Mycompany commander, Nome' deguarra, "Moscow", a seasoned battletested soldier from the battles <strong>of</strong>Zimbabwe at the time, once warnedus that one <strong>of</strong> the platoon 4 soldierswould easily be captured in battlebecause <strong>of</strong> his civilian ways <strong>of</strong>behaving. In fact this happened nearCacuso in Angola, on the EasternFront in 1983.This is a bitter pill to swallow andremedial action strategies by allcommanders with deep involvement<strong>of</strong> the non-commissioned <strong>of</strong>ficers areurgent and essential. This will savethe SANDF from adding to the numbers<strong>of</strong> what one would affectionatelybe referred to as "Sis', "S Sgt", "Boet","Capt, "Bro Major", "Mam'u-SgtMajor" and so on. It is amusing forme to remember that, when one wasin the camps in Angola, those whomwe regarded as behaving unsoldierlyused to be called "ama-PARTISAN",actually translated from Russianmeaning "militia". They were alsocalled "POVO", from Portuguesemeaning "just a citizen within themasses", or "ISAKHAMUZI, INTOENGENAMUMO", meaning rawdisoriented civilian/citizen tryingto play a soldier's role. In the BarneyMolokoane Main Training Centre inCaculama, 15 km from Malange, weused to pride ourselves on the factthat we enforced discipline to such anextent that we even made the treesfall in a straight line. Indeed webelieved and were committed to this.The dedication <strong>of</strong> the young <strong>of</strong>ficerseven earned them the title: "THECOMSOMOL", by their colleaguesfrom other camps who reallyappreciated the commitment andsoldierly environment.This one hopes will help providesome insight into what is probablyregarded as missing in respect <strong>of</strong>standards <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism withinthe Non-statutory Forces. I therefoream <strong>of</strong> the opinion that any commanderor authority who justifies one'sfailures to maintain and raise standardsbecause <strong>of</strong> the so-called informalways <strong>of</strong> the ex non-statutoryS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
informal ways is a "liar". The samegoes for any member <strong>of</strong> saidbackground who justifies his ownlaziness, non-performance andflabby soldiering.It must be seen as a red light if wecontinue to behave with what Iregard as "leaders busy withdrawingfrom leading" by continuing to producesoldiers who have no pride inthemselves as soldiers, irrespective <strong>of</strong>difficult challenges they may be facing.History may not be kind to us ifwe continue down this path. This situationwill go on as long as we continueto have flimsy excuses when itcomes to the commitment to pr<strong>of</strong>essionalismand military discipline inrunning our military organisation.We see them every day looking flabbyin uniform and do nothing aboutit, while there are clear regulationsintended to address this.They are at bottle stores wearinguniforms, and it is becoming normal.They are sometimes not sure whetherMeeting on cultural groundsBy Capt Corné Gründlingh,ASB Durbanto salute or not and when some do, itis as if they are pulling clothes fromthe washing line and we blame it ontheir perceived previous force culture.Their uniforms are not up to standardand we blame it on the top hierarchyand the new system <strong>of</strong> GSBs and inthis way we do not act and mostprobably do not even care. We alsosee commanders failing to respond tothe statements or requests <strong>of</strong> theirsubordinates for months on end, onlyto respond within hours when thequery comes from the union and wepostpone action again and again.We even fail to treat the matter aspure subversion, which is exactlywhat it is.We see managers who are notexpected to belong to unions in theprivate sector, but allow not only<strong>of</strong>ficers but also senior <strong>of</strong>ficers in theSANDF to become labour union <strong>of</strong>ficials,and fail to call it by its name:"conflict <strong>of</strong> interests". I suppose theyare so incorruptible that they cannotsabotage the system in order toincrease faith in the interventionmeasures <strong>of</strong> their unions and areprobably immune from falling preyto the attractions <strong>of</strong> being politicalanimals in uniform with own agendas.Who is to make this man aware<strong>of</strong> the commander's intent, the labourunion leaders?I wish to state here that, yes, it istrue that there will always be someform <strong>of</strong> abuse <strong>of</strong> power. Our historyas a military force is not immune tothis.I, however, want to caution thedecision-makers that in redressing thesituation <strong>of</strong> those abuses, we shouldnot lose sight <strong>of</strong> the fact that we haveto remain a credible military force. Iam saying, lock up the man who triesto block the system, but do not generalisethe situation. To be specific here,you cannot replace a military prosecutoror a judge with a civilian one.(Part II will be published in the July2004 edition <strong>of</strong> SA SOLDIER.)The members <strong>of</strong> Army Support BaseDurban consist <strong>of</strong> members from theprevious Natal Command, NatalCommand Maintenance Unit andNatal Command Workshops. A smallpercentage <strong>of</strong> members came fromother military units.With this background in mind,most <strong>of</strong> the members had known eachother for a number <strong>of</strong> years. It was,however, the first time that all members<strong>of</strong> Army Support Base Durbanmet on cultural grounds on19 March 2004.A Cultural Day was presentedwhere all members had the opportunityto display their culture. Each sectionhad a specific culture to represent.It was not important what cultureyou were in reality, for that dayyou were a specific culture. It then sohappened that we had white Zulus,white Indians, African and IndianBoere. Even the Chinese were represented.Cultural events presentedincluded Zulu dancing, Indiandancing, Indian instrumental musicand singing, stick fighting demonstrations,"Boeresport", such as egg run,egg throw, sack races and tug-<strong>of</strong>-war.During all these events eachsection prepared their cultural foodand enjoyed it during lunch. Theday ended in a good spirit andeveryone enjoyed the day.The knowledge gained can neverbe erased from our memories or ourhistory.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R41
insightArmy College adaptsits training approachBy Col E.F. Drost, ActingCommandant SA Army CollegePhoto: Sgt David NomtshongwanaThe SA Army College, anesteemed institution recognisedfor its training excellence,has a proud historydating back to its inceptionin 1902. The SA ArmyCollege has always beenrenowned for training, especially <strong>of</strong>senior <strong>of</strong>ficers serving in the SAArmy, the broader SANDF, and eventhe international community. Anexample is Gen J.E. Cheyre Espinosa,who was a student on the SeniorCommand and Staff Duties Course in1981, and who was appointed as theCommander in Chief <strong>of</strong> the ChileanArmy in 2002. What led to this trackrecord, which started in 1902?The answer is short and simple -the SA Army College has demonstratedits flexibility and agility in adaptingto constant change in a highlyvolatile, uncertain, ambiguous andcomplex environment. It has, furthermore,made a concerted effort toaccept responsibility for solvingfuture problems in a creative andinnovative manner by planning"Breaking theold moulds."now; in short accepting current andfuture challenges and solving theminnovatively.The SA Army College is only tooaware <strong>of</strong> the fact that military leaderswho ignore, or fail to see clearly, thechanges in warfare brought about bytechnological advances and changingcircumstances and who fail to adapt,risk their men and their cause.It was, therefore, an imperative42Members in front <strong>of</strong> the SA Army College - fltr: WO1 D.S. Levendal (Sergeant-Major <strong>of</strong> the SA Army College),Maj I. Schultz, Maj Q.F. Cartwright, Maj M.T. Leketi, Col E.F. Drost (Acting Commandant SA Army College),Col J.J. Wessels (Chief Instructor JCSD Branch), Maj L.M. Manganyi, Maj C.Y. Lee (member <strong>of</strong> the South KoreanArmy), Lt Col P.C.Z. Fongoqa (Mufasa JCSD Course) and Lt Col G.B. Pharo.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
for the SA Army College to adapt itstraining approach in order to facilitatethe training and preparation <strong>of</strong><strong>of</strong>ficers for their leadership roles inthe 21st century.For this reason the andragogicalapproach has been instituted.According to Malcolm Knowles, andragogicsis the "art and science <strong>of</strong> helpingadults learn". At the SA ArmyCollege this approach is referred to asthe Adult Training Approach.The reason for this approachshould be obvious as the SA ArmyCollege trains adult learners whohave needs that differ from those <strong>of</strong>their younger counterparts for whomthe pedagogic approach is relevant.Adult learners have a definite selfconceptand will therefore not learnunder conditions incongruous withtheir self-concept.They have accumulated such arich fund <strong>of</strong> experience that they canshare with their fellow learners. Theyalso have definite time constraintsand would therefore prefer to put touse immediately what they havelearned and make their knowledgeapplicable to current problems. It isfor these reasons that the SA Army"Change is a constant fortoday's armed forces. With frequentshifting requirements, aswell as advancing technology,it is imperative that anyreforms contribute to a force'sability to operate on the battlefield,"said Gen Donn A. Starry,US Army.College now focuses on aspects, suchas why specific training should bedone, utilising all learners' experience(especially in small group discussions),emphasising that learnersshould be self-directing, that trainingactivities are life or task centred, thatlearners should accept responsibilityfor their own learning, and thatintrinsic motivation serves as thepower source for all learning.From January 2003 this approachhas been implemented with greatenthusiasm and the positive resultsand advantages have already becomevisible. This was made possible onlyafter a substantial number <strong>of</strong>Directing Staff had qualified in highereducation and training practices atvarious academic institutions, whichwe view as co-partners in our newventure.It should be stated that the SAArmy College is committed to a constanttraining evolution to ensure that<strong>of</strong>ficers are moulded to ensure thatthey will be capable <strong>of</strong> "creating" afuture instead <strong>of</strong> reacting to it. TheCollege therefore strives to live up toits slogan: "Breaking the old moulds".For more detail please visit theSA Army College website at:armycol@lantic.net or the intranetat: www.army.mil.za:8080/armycol.Tuberculosis (TB) is curableBy Mr Bongani Maphumulo for theKhomanani TB Campaign Becoming short <strong>of</strong> breath. Feeling tired all the time. Sweating at night.Tuberculosis (TB) is a major problemin South Africa. Some people believe Getting a fever which comesand goes.that you can only get TB if you arepoor or if you are an alcoholic. This isnot true. Anyone can get TB. TB isone <strong>of</strong> the leading causes <strong>of</strong> death inSouth Africa although it is a curabledisease. One <strong>of</strong> the primary ways <strong>of</strong>stopping the spread <strong>of</strong> TB is througheducation. 24 March is WorldTuberculosis Day - the governmentmade TB, alongside HIV/AIDS,a priority disease in the country.What do I do if I thinkI have TB?Get checked by a health worker ifyou think you have TB.You should go to your nearestclinic or doctor as soon as possible.The sister or doctor will ask youexactly how you are feeling and whatyour problems are. They willexamine you.They may ask you to cough yourHow do I know if I have TB?You will probably have some <strong>of</strong>the following symptoms if youhave TB:spit into a small bottle for two morningsin a row. The nurse will thensend this spit to a laboratory. Peoplein the laboratory will look for TB Coughing for more than twoweeks.germs in your spit. You may alsoneed to have an X-ray <strong>of</strong> your chest. Coughing up blood.The health worker will tell you when Not wanting to eat.to come back for the X-ray results. If Feeling pains in the chest.you have TB, the people you live withneed to be checked.TreatmentPeople who have suffered fromTB say that taking the medicine everyday for six months is difficult. So it isa good idea to get somebody to helpyou take your medicine. This personis called a Directly ObservedTreatment Short (DOTS) Course supporter.Ask at the clinic about gettinghelp with taking your medicine. Youcan choose your helper - the personcan be a neighbour, a shop steward atwork, a local teacher or a nurse at aclinic. It is important that the personis nearby and easy to get to everyday. Your helper will keep yourmedicine and give it to you everyday. Your helper will also encourageyou to carry on with the treatmentwhen you get tired <strong>of</strong> it. It isimportant to take your medicineevery day even when you feel better.If you require more informationabout TB, phone the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong>Health at tel no: (012) 312 0000 or theDirector <strong>of</strong> the TB Directorate at telno: (012) 312 0106.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R43
insightEducating air powerBy Brig Gen Des Barker, OfficerCommanding Makhado AFBOne <strong>of</strong> the stated objectives<strong>of</strong> the SA Air Force is that<strong>of</strong> achieving Excellence inAir Power. At the highestlevel, one <strong>of</strong> the manybuilding blocks to achievethe stated objective isknowledge, particularly <strong>of</strong> air powerhistory, doctrines, operations, tacticsand technologies. At the lower level,however, each individual withinthe SA Air Force must possess aworking knowledge <strong>of</strong> air powerprinciples and have at least aminimum understanding <strong>of</strong> the roleand functions <strong>of</strong> an air force and itsvarious capabilities.During 2004 Makhado AFBintends to implement a three-yearplan to upgrade the knowledge base<strong>of</strong> its personnel and provide the basicbuilding blocks required and understandingthe principles <strong>of</strong> air powerin all its different contexts. Such aneducation mechanism will attempt to"Air power isthe Architect <strong>of</strong>Victory" - JanSmuts, 1917.stimulate an interest in air powerdown to the lowest level and alsoprovide the background to themembers <strong>of</strong> Makhado AFB for eventualair power courses at SA Air ForceCollege. Last but not least, it will permitthe members <strong>of</strong> the SA Air Force'scombat base to understand better thecore business not only <strong>of</strong> MakhadoAFB, but also <strong>of</strong> the SA Air Force.Ultimately, the aim will be to produceAir Force members who are able todiscuss issues <strong>of</strong> air power intelligentlyfrom a basis <strong>of</strong> sound knowledge.44ProgrammeThe education exercise will betwo-pronged, ie biannual lecturesfrom the Air Power DevelopmentCentre at SA Air Force College andsupplemented on a monthly basis bylectures, presentations and demonstrationsat base level by squadronand unit commanders on base trainingdays according to a pre-plannedschedule. Such presentations will takethe form <strong>of</strong> thirty-minute lectures orpractical demonstrations, videos andbriefings, or whatever is more relevantto the particular aspect. In thiseducation process the intention willbe to make the learning experienceinteresting and enjoyable.Grippen.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4Appointment <strong>of</strong> air powerrepresentativesAll cases need a champion and arepresentative from each section onthe Base will be appointed to act as anodal point for all matters relating toair power in the unit; an analogy maybe drawn to a flight safety or sports
<strong>of</strong>ficer. Obviously, any education programmeshould be assessed to determinethe success <strong>of</strong> this programmeand, as such, the learning experiencewill be assessed to determine the success<strong>of</strong> this programme. The learningexperience will be assessed by means<strong>of</strong> a qualitative questionnaire inNovember each year. In 2004 the testwill be conducted to determine howmuch knowledge each member <strong>of</strong>the base possesses on the role andfunctions <strong>of</strong> the various units on thebase in their mission to providecombat operation support to theSA Air Force.Future programmesIdeally in 2005 it would be desirableto lift the level <strong>of</strong> informationtransfer to include air power history,and in 2006 take a more detailed lookat particular campaigns to be able toconsider operational aspects <strong>of</strong> airpower and to analyse the lessonslearned. The ultimate vision wouldbe to undertake ten persons on a oneweekair power tour <strong>of</strong> the UnitedKingdom on an annual basis. Sucha block tour for Makhado AFB personnelwould include a study <strong>of</strong> theBattle <strong>of</strong> Britain, visiting the BritishWar Cabinet, the Battle <strong>of</strong> BritainOperations Room at Uxbridge,Fighter Command Headquarters atBentley Priory and Duxford (home <strong>of</strong>the first Spitfire Squadron during thebattle). In addition, visits to BigginHill, (former front-line fighter base),the Imperial War Museum (London),the RAF Museum at Hendon and avisit to the Royal Air Force's AirWarfare Centre, would complementthe theoretical study <strong>of</strong> air power.Can you imagine the effectiveness<strong>of</strong> a base in which members <strong>of</strong> theProtection Squadron have a fineunderstanding <strong>of</strong> what pilots do, <strong>of</strong>supply support personnel who understandwhat an air traffic controllerdoes, and even chefs who understandtheir importance in providing efficientcombat operation support? Theability to understand the core business<strong>of</strong> an air force is the responsibility<strong>of</strong> each airman, and by means <strong>of</strong>this educational programme it ishoped that this objective for the members<strong>of</strong> Makhado AFB will be realised.Best Air Force engineeringstudent honouredCourtesy SA Air ForceCorporate CommunicationStanley Leslie Walters was an acepilot in the Royal Flying Corps duringWorld War I. He scored at leastsix confirmed kills, and actuallyfought an indecisive air duel againstthe famous "Red" Baron vonRichthoven.After the war, during which hewas awarded various medals, hepioneered air routes and shortenedothers over Africa for the VacuumOil Company. At the onset <strong>of</strong> WorldWar II he joined the SA Air Force andserved as base camp commandant inEgypt and Officer CommandingCape Command.He left the Union <strong>Defence</strong> Force in1945 as a lieutenant colonel andremained a reserve <strong>of</strong>ficer until 1956.After World War II he formed acompany which dealt with aviationequipment and components.Stanley Walters passed away in1989 and bequeathed a substantialamount <strong>of</strong> money to theJohannesburg branch <strong>of</strong> the SA AirForce to introduce a floating trophyawarded annually to the engineeringstudent <strong>of</strong> the SA Air Force who performedon average the best academicallyin the four years <strong>of</strong> study. Thepurpose <strong>of</strong> this trophy is not only tomotivate SA Air Force engineeringstudents, but also to ensure thatStanley Walters, with his impishsense <strong>of</strong> humour and a twinkle inhis eye, will never be forgotten.Last year the floating trophy was,for the first time ever, awarded to afemale student. Lt Ilse du Toitcompleted her course in industrialengineering at the University <strong>of</strong>Pretoria with an average <strong>of</strong> 80%over four years <strong>of</strong> study.Lt Du Toit was born in BeaufortWest and matriculated with six distinctionsat Nelspruit High School.Lt Ilse du Toit.She joined the SAAF in 1999, afterwhich she was introduced to themilitary culture.She initially started her studies asa mechanical engineer, but soonrealised that industrial engineeringwas more suited for her. She thanchanged to industrial engineering.During her studies she assisted with aproject on the Oryx helicopter andundertook an anthropometrical study<strong>of</strong> all the aircraft in the SA Air Force.She is currently enrolled for herhonours degree in industrial engineeringat the University <strong>of</strong> Pretoria.According to Lt Du Toit theopportunity that the SA Air Forceafforded in the form <strong>of</strong> a bursarymade an immense difference to herlife and she thanked the personsinvolved for their support. She alsoadded that the students currentlyinvolved in this programme can seethemselves as advantaged and shoulduse this opportunity to the best <strong>of</strong>their ability.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R45
clippingsSoldier launched areggae albumBy Nakedi PhashaOn 7 March 2004 Cpl GilbertMushanganyisi launched his firstalbum. "Chippa", as he is affectionatelycalled by his colleagues, started hismusic career in 1987 and was inspiredby reggae artists, such as Bob Marley,Peter Tosh and Harley and theRastafarians.Cpl Mushanganyisi, who is also acomposer, sings in both Venda andEnglish. The new album, Babylon,consists <strong>of</strong> eight tracks, and dealswith culture, struggle and socialissues. In a way Babylon celebrates theten years <strong>of</strong> freedom.Cpl Mushanganyisi promotes hisalbum by performing at live shows inGauteng. His brother assists him inpromoting and distributing his musicin Venda. The album is also givenairplay by radio stations, such asUkhozi and Phalaphala.For Cpl Mushanganyisi the sky isthe limit and he hopes to release asecond album in July. He is currentlyworking at the MOD GSB HumanResource Support Centre at the Bank<strong>of</strong> Lisbon Building in Pretoria.DOD versus Two Oceans marathon46By Col Zirk Lourens,PRO for Two Oceans MarathonBetween mountain and sea lies thewinding course <strong>of</strong> 21 km and 56 km,breathtaking in its beauty - the testingground <strong>of</strong> speed, strength, enduranceand the "ticking clock".The 56 km ultra-marathon routeincluded Chapman's Peak for the firsttime since 1999. The Chappies route isfamiliar to participants and is referredto as the original "Oceans" route.This prestigious event has becomea landmark on the calendar <strong>of</strong>endurance athletes, for it embodiesthe spirit that is emerging in ourcountry and the DOD at this time.A spirit in which the elements <strong>of</strong>togetherness, common purpose,perseverance and endurance are allcomplemented at the end by a sense<strong>of</strong> personal achievement and sweetfulfilment.Altogether 14 815 athletes completedthe 21 km and 56 km race.Altogether 236 runners <strong>of</strong> the DOD,<strong>of</strong> whom 25 were women, completedthe race. Among them were "BlueNumbers" runners (athletes who hadalready finished ten Two Oceansmarathons) and one athlete, EdwardJohnson <strong>of</strong> SANDF WP, whocompleted his 20th Two Oceansmarathon (Double Blue). Elevenathletes <strong>of</strong> the Reserve Force finishedthe race. They were all from NatalCarbineers Marathon Club.In the 56 km race, the first SANDFathlete to cross the finishing line wasIsaac Mokhobo from the SANDFFree State Athletic Club. His overallposition out <strong>of</strong> 6 180 competitors was70th,in a time <strong>of</strong> 03:35:43. In thesecond position was Paul Julian fromthe SANDF Western ProvinceAthletic Club. His overall positionwas 93rd, in a time <strong>of</strong> 03:39:29. It wasalso his 12th consecutive silver medal.Andries Hendrics from SANDFFree State Athletic Club was the thirdSANDF athlete to finish, in a time <strong>of</strong>03:43:54 and an overall 114th position.The first woman running for theSANDF was Sandy de Beer fromSANDF KwaZulu-Natal AthleticClub, in a time <strong>of</strong> 04:43:46, herposition 1 128th overall.In the 21 km race, the first SANDFathlete to cross the finishing line wasColin Witbooi from the SANDFWestern Province Athletic Club. Hisoverall position out <strong>of</strong> 5 681 athleteswas 32nd in a time <strong>of</strong> 01:10:42. Thefirst woman for the SANDF wasPriscilla Makwela <strong>of</strong> SANDF WesternProvince Athletic Club, in a time<strong>of</strong> 01:47:39.An ugly surprise awaited themarathon runners on the homestraight - they had to drag theircramping legs for over 250 m in energy-sappingmud. The race took placein incessant rain, and ended at theUniversity <strong>of</strong> Cape Town's rugbyfields, which had been churned into abog. Race organisers were forced todump a mass <strong>of</strong> sawdust at the beginning<strong>of</strong> the final straight to stoprunners from slip-sliding away. Itwas the 35th presentation <strong>of</strong> the TwoOceans marathon in Cape Town.Col Zirk Lourens, PRO for theTwo Oceans Marathon, completed his7th Two Oceans. Col Lourens had alive TV interview during the race onthe DOD/SANDF involvement andparticipation in this road race, andother race fixtures held throughoutthe RSA. At the University <strong>of</strong> CapeTown (UCT) in the finishing area theSANDF had a stand where all SANDFathletes and their families gathered.Some statistics <strong>of</strong> the organisationinvolved in this year's race: 702 000water sachets (87 tons), 250 000 plasticbottles, 150 000 Powerade sachets,25 000 litres <strong>of</strong> Coca-Cola, 20 000 kg<strong>of</strong> ice and 420 trestle tables.Take note: On 16 <strong>June</strong> 2004 watchout for our DOD members competingin the Comrades Marathon.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
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