April - Department of Defence

40
A farm attack simulated to support
rural safety
By Capt E. van Staden,
SO3 OPCOM Tac HQ WC
Swellendam Commando and
the SAPS Boland Area in
McGregor simulated a farm
attack on 13 November
2003. The aim of this exercise
was to test contingency
plans to inform those
involved in rural safety and to exercise
rural safety support systems.
The main role players were members
of the Swellendam Commando,
the SAPS Boland Area, the SAPS
Robertson Region, the SAPS
McGregor Region, the McGregor
Farm Watch, a farmer and his workers
(including his family) and a
representative of the Farm Workers'
Korea donated Taekwondo uniforms
By Nomonde Vuthela
Photo: Cpl Elias Mahuma
On behalf of the Embassy of
the Republic of Korea Lt
Col Nah Yoon-Yub, the
Korean Defence Attaché,
donated uniforms and
equipment to the Pretoria
Military Taekwondo Club
at a handing over ceremony held at
68 Air School in Lyttleton in
December 2003.
The SANDF adopted Taekwondo
as one of the its official sporting codes
in 2002. In the same year the Korean
Embassy donated books and
videotapes on the sport.
During the handing over ceremony
Col Nah Yoon-Yub said he was
glad to learn that the SANDF was
investigating the possibility of implementing
Taekwondo training, not
only as a sporting code, but as part of
the curriculum of formal training
within the SANDF.
Taekwondo forms part of basic
Korean military training. In Korea, all
young men are required to undergo
S A S O L D I E R A P R I L 2 0 0 4
Union. Lt Col Jimmy Stadler, SO1
Ops J Tac HQ WC, facilitated the
debriefing after the simulation
exercise while still at the scene of the
farm attack.
The participants (guests) gave
constructive inputs to identify and
eliminate loopholes still present in the
system. The local newspaper, Die
Breederivier Gazette, Swellendam
Newspaper and Radio KFM also
supported the exercise.
The simulation was a huge
success because the joint structures
and contingency plans were in place
and updated.
Secondly, the local community's
positive attitude and the Farm Watch
contributed to the quick arrest of the
perpetrators (attackers).
two years of compulsory military service,
during which time they receive
Taekwondo training, and most of
them leave the military with a
first-degree black belt.
Col Nah Yoon-Yub suggested that
the SANDF consider sending some
members to Korea to train with the
Korean military Taekwondo team.
Thirdly, the effective debriefing in
which all shortcomings of discipline
within the SANDF and the SAPS
were addressed and rectified is to be
documented as good practices.
Fourthly, the follow-up actions to
the farm attack simulation will comprise
exploiting the awareness created
among the community through the
distribution of pamphlets, booklets,
farm visits and by addressing local
structures on rural safety, which is
currently taking place.
The Joint Tactical Headquarters
Western Cape, with its Territorial
Reserve Force units, is one of the
leading role players in creating and
maintaining a stable and safe rural
community within its area of
responsibility.
Members of the Pretoria Military Taekwondo Club with the Chairperson of
SANDF Karate, Lt Col J. Davel, and the Korean Defence Attaché,
Lt Col Nah Yoon-Yub.
On their return they could serve as
Taekwondo instructors in the
SANDF.
Taekwondo has been recognised
as an official sports event at the
Olympic Games and is now being
practised throughout the world,
especially within the defence forces
of many countries.