M A Y 2 0 1 2 â¢ S A S O L D I E R - Department of Defence

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S A S O L D I E R 2010 review of defenceThe opening of the DOD VIP LoungeBy Cpl Ally RakomaPhoto: Sgt Elias MahumaThe Minister of Defence and MilitaryVeterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu,officially opened the DOD VIPLounge at the OR Tambo InternationalAirport in Johannesburg on 19 March2010. This well-established facility,incorporating African experience, isbacked by the warm hospitality andfriendly service of the professionalstaff of Defence Foreign Relations(DFR) and members of the MilitaryPolice Division.Declaring the facility open,Minister Sisulu asserted that smartpartnerships, building relationsand sharing vision between keygovernment sectors were veryimportant. She said: “There is muchmore that we could do to enhance thehospitality and pleasurable experienceof our international guests or foreignmilitary dignitaries. The establishmentof this facility is a gesture of solidarity,Ubuntu and humility.”The Minister congratulated MajGen Dan Mofokeng, the Chief of20 • M A Y 2 0 1 2Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, the Minister of Defence andMilitary Veterans, and Gen Godfrey Ngwenya,the then Chief of the SANDF, applauding afterthe unveiling of the plaque.Minister visits SAS Saldanha GymnasiumArticle and photo by Mr NdivhuwoMabaya, Director Media Liaison tothe MODThe Minister of Defence and MilitaryVeterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu,has started a programme to visitunits of the SANDF to interact withsoldiers and the middle managementleadership and share with them theprogress made since May 2009.Minister Sisulu accompanied bythe Chairperson of the Joint StandingCommittee on Defence, Ms HlengiweMgabadeli, who is also a member ofthe Interim National Defence ForceService Commission and a delegationof advisers and senior officers of theSANDF, SA Navy and the Ministry,visited SAS Saldanha Gymnasium inSaldanha, Western Cape. Ms Sisulucalled on young people to consider acareer in the military and specialise inscare skills such as navigation, flying,engineering, diving and sailing.She said: “I am very proud thatduring the holidays learners from highschools learn to swim and do otherDefence Foreign Relations, and histeam, the Military Police and otherrole-players who worked tirelesslyin support of this initiative. MinisterSisulu proudly said: “I wish to say toyou all: it’s a journey worth taking. Aswe prepare ourselves for the 2010 FIFAWorld Cup spectacle this brings withit a degree of regional and continentalresponsibility. Put South Africa and theThe Minister of Defence and MilitaryVeterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu (middle),with Military Skills Development Systemmembers.training as part of their leadership anddevelopment programme in your units.We need more youth to pass throughDOD firmly in thespotlight.”Maj GenMofokeng said:“This is aninternationalfacility in thediplomatic fieldin line withinternationalstandards. It is aproject not only ofthe DOD, but alsoof our country,as we are part ofthe internationalsolidarity. It is avery importantinstallation. TheSANDF is involved in co-operatingwith the militaries of othercountries. It is imperative for us toproject the right image when wereceive the Generals and Admiralsarriving and departing from ourshores.”(For more information please readthe article as published in SA Soldier,May 2010 edition, page 14.)the SANDF before theycontinue with their adultlife.” The Minister indicatedthat the current MilitarySkills Development System(MSDS) which takes over5 000 young people everyyear will be enhancedwith the aim of offeringscarce skills and varioustraining opportunities forthe youth. She said: “TheMSDS has shown over thepast year that the SANDFcan contribute effectivelyby addressing the skillsshortages in the countryand creating jobs. Last yearwe took over 5 000 youngpeople into the SANDF; weare training them in scarceskills, and at the same timewe pay them to supportthemselves and theirfamilies.”(For more information please read thearticle as published in SA Soldier, May2010 edition, page 15.)
2010 review of defenceDOD closes gaps onservice deliveryS A S O L D I E RBy L Cpl Itumeleng MakhubelaPhotos: Sgt Elias MahumaThe Department of Defence(DOD), in conjunction with theDepartment of Public Works,has completed the constructionof three bridges in the EasternCape villages of Lefukufukunear Tsomo, Ntafufu, at Port StJohns and Daluhlanga near MountAyliff. The 16 th of March 2010 saw theopening of the newly constructedbridges by the Deputy Minister ofDefence and Military Veterans, MrThabang Makwetla, accompanied bythe then Minister of Public Works,Mr Geoff Doidge, and the MEC forRoads and Transport in the EasternCape, Ms Pemmy Majodina. MrMakwetla indicated that this was apilot project of the SANDF aimed attesting its capacity and capability tolend assistance to other governmentdepartments in support of the people.The MEC of Roads and Transport, Ms Pemmy Majodina, cuts theribbon of a completed bridge at Tsomo, while the Deputy Minister ofDefence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla (left), and thethen Minister of Public Works, Mr Geoff Doidge, look on.He added that this intervention bythe DOD came after a request bythe Department of Public Worksfor assistance following concernsexpressed by the communities in theseareas that during floods they wouldbe cut off from services and childrenwould be unable to go to school.Many municipalities in these ruralareas do not have sufficient fundsand expertise to provide services forthese communities, which has ledto the huge backlog in the deliveryof services. The DOD intervened byproviding the expertise, manpowerand equipment for the construction ofthe bridges.The MEC of Roads and Transportin the Eastern Cape expressed hergratitude to all the stakeholders thathad worked together to realise thegoal. Along with the ministers, sheaffirmed that this would not endthere, but would be extended to otherareas in need. Mr Makwetla addedthat this was an opportunity for theDepartment to optimise collateralsocio-economic capabilities to providefor service delivery. Many divisionsin the SANDF are underutilised, andthis was a way to take advantage ofthe available resources to assist withdevelopment.At the beginning of the project the thenActing Chief of Joint Operations, MajGen Mbulelo Tshiki, led a delegation toinspect the progress in the constructionof the last bridge, the one in theUmzimvubu Municipality. He said:“The significance of building bridges,especially in rural areas of our country,cannot be overemphasised. Apart fromserving as a connecting point for thedelivery of essential commodities forthe survival of people in rural areas,bridges also serve as a means to reducethe fatality rate during floods in ourcommunities.”The municipal speaker, Mr SiphoTshekela, said the river had had anegative impact on their communityfor a long time and that it had claimedover nine lives in recent times. He saidthat their municipality had low budgetrevenue. However, with the help ofthe Department of Public Works theyhad approached the DOD about theconstruction of a bridge.It took 32 men approximately fourweeks to construct a suspensionbridge over the Daluhlanga River.The team leader from 1 ConstructionRegiment, Capt Marinus Engelbreght,said his men were dedicated and hadthe necessary expertise to completethe objective. They started working on16 February 2010 and completed thebridge by mid-March 2010.Chief Daluhlanga Jojo, who rules thetwo villages separated by the river,expressed his gratitude on behalf ofhis people. The often flooding riverhas caused enormous damage tothe Lubaleko and Cabazana villagesduring the rainy season. Chief Jojosaid this would bring relief to hispeople.(For more information please read thearticle as published in SA Soldier, May2010 edition, pages 16 and 17.)M A Y 2 0 1 2 • 21
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