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

S A S O L D I E R 2012 review of defenceThe third Indian OceanNaval SymposiumBy Mr Lufuno NetshirembePhoto courtesy Navy NewsThe Chief of the SA Navy,V Adm Johannes Mudimu,welcomed the delegates tothe third Indian Ocean NavalSymposium (IONS) held at theCape Town Convention Centrefrom 10 to 13 April 2012. This was thefirst time this symposium was held inAfrica.The IONS has been established as abiennial event since its inception inNew Delhi, India, in February 2008.In recent years it has expanded tobecome one of the largest and mostsignificant maritime conferencesconvened in the Indian Ocean region.The IONS plays a pivotal role inenhancing maritime co-operation andsecurity.The Minister of Defence and MilitaryVeterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu,accompanied by the Deputy Ministerof Defence and Military Veterans, MrThabang Makwetla, and the Secretaryfor Defence, Mr Sam Gulube, officiallyopened the 2012 Indian Ocean NavalSymposium on 11 April 2012.This year’s symposium, as one of themost important maritime conferencesin the region, brought togetherapproximately 86 countries and morethan 350 delegates to discuss waysand means to deal with this scourgeand achieve the main objective ofconstructive engagement and dialoguein order to enhance maritime securityin the Indian Ocean and to promoteareas of common interest and cooperation.The theme for the 2012symposium was regional maritimesecurity initiatives aimed at reducingmodern maritime security threats.Looking at recent rampant illegalmaritime activities (including, but notlimited to piracy, human and narcoticstrafficking, plundering of maritimeresources and many other illegal seaOn arrival V Adm Johannes Mudimu, the Chief of the SA Navy,welcomes the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms LindiweSisulu, to the symposium and introduces R Adm Ibrahim SalimMohamed Al Musharrakh, the outgoing Chairperson of IONS, whileLt Gen Vusi Masondo, the Chief of the SA Army, looks on.based activities) this was relevant asacts that threaten maritime securityare becoming commonplace along theEast coast of Africa, and are extendingfurther to include the whole IndianOcean.Minister Sisulu pointed out that theSouth African Government and itscitizens were committed to ensuringthat the outcome of the symposiumwould become a top agenda itemof security for South Africa and theregion. She said: “We commit ourselvesto ensuring that we give you thepolitical support that you require indealing with this clear, present andmenacing scourge, so that you directyourselves to the reduction of maritimesecurity threats emerging in yourrespective environments.”According to Minister Sisuluthis commitment is very real asapproximately 90% of our Africantrade is dependent on the sea fortransportation. The increasingmaritime security threat becomesa clear menace that endangers thelivelihood not only of South Africans,but of all the member states of IONS.As a result of this fast growingmaritime threat, the SA Navy ispatrolling the seas as per the recentlysigned trilateral agreement of cooperationwith Mozambique andTanzania to curb this threat. Sheencouraged countries to co-operateto combat maritime insecurity andsaid that collective co-operationwould be mutually beneficial infinding solutions to regional maritimesecurity.46 • M A Y 2 0 1 2