April - Department of Defence

events
28
Pride of Lions celebrating
together
Guarding our
By PO Dennis Ndaba
Photo: Sgt David Nomtshongwana
The SA Army, the "Pride
of Lions", were united in
song, in their quest to
celebrate the fifth annual
Festival and Award
Ceremony in November
2003 at the Thaba
Tshwane Town Hall.
This event consisted of a
medal parade, change of
post between Maj Gen
Roy Andersen and Maj Gen Keith
Mokoape as the Chief Director Army
Reserves and awards presented to
various achievers.
Throughout the day the spectators
were entertained by the music of the
five SA Army bands and several
choirs. At the medal parade, the Chief
of the SA Army, Lt Gen Gilbert
Ramano, presented the South African
Army Cross to Maj Zirk Coetzee
(posthumous). It was received by his
wife, Capt Laetitia Coetzee. Another
recipient was WO2 Aldo Mattheus.
Awards presented included the following
categories: shooting, special
sport awards, communication excellence,
Chef of the Year, physical fitness,
Sergeant Major of the SA Army
Awards and the Best Band and Choir.
Lt Gen Ramano also launched the
new SA Army Journal.
During his address Lt Gen
Ramano urged the pride to continue
with their good work as they have
achieved many milestones during the
past year and also thanked each and
every member for his or her role in
achieving these milestones. "We have
progressed from the burning tents of
Wallmansthal, the shooting incidents
at Tempe and Phalaborwa, to our
great achievements in contributing to
the noble values of the African Union
S A S O L D I E R A P R I L 2 0 0 4
and Nepad through participating in
peace support operations in the Great
Lakes Region in Central Africa. This
achievement has gained us enormous
international recognition,"
Lt Gen Ramano said.
He continued: "When I look back
on the activities of the year there is
perhaps one major achievement that
stands out above the rest and that
was our ability to deploy almost three
battalions in the DRC and Burundi.
This deployment will remain the
focus or main effort for some time
and it is the Government's contribution
to creating conditions for peace
and stability in the region. As the
Chief of the SA Army I am proud
today that we, as one integrated
army, have come so far and that we
have learned so many lessons in the
past year."
Lt Gen Ramano reminded them
that discipline was the cornerstone of
any nation, and that when discipline
fails so does a nation. He pleaded
country.
with everyone to look around and
observe the situation and ask themselves
if they want to be part to the
collapse of the SA Army and their
country. If we want to become a credible
military role player on the continent,
we have to start taking our business
seriously. We must stop paying
lip service to what we are doing. We
can only be a credible combat ready
force if we are all physically and
mentally fit, are subject to strict military
discipline, live out the expectations
of the Code of Conduct and
develop our intellectual abilities.
"Let us all as the 'Pride of Lions'
take hands and start to make a meaningful
contribution towards nationhood
by developing ourselves into a
well-trained, highly disciplined and
combat ready force of which our
people and country can be proud,"
concluded Lt Gen Ramano.
Lt Gen Gilbert Ramano, Chief of the SA Army, and Col Horst Schobesberger,
SSO Army Corporate Communication, displaying the new SA Army Journal.