November - Department of Defence

SAS MENDI loading equipment in France.ship, the SS DARO, travelling at fullspeed in the opposite direction andemitting no warning signal, rammedthe SS MENDI, which sank withintwenty minutes.Eighty-seven years later, in honourof the brave men who paid the ultimatesacrifice in the tragedy, SASMENDI is gearing up for her maidenvoyage home. After passing tough seatrials the ship's company, under thecommand of Capt (SAN) KevinPacker, were faced with the challengeof sailing the ship safely to beautiful,sunny South Africa. Cdr JacoTheunissen, Base Public RelationsOfficer at Naval Base Simon's Town,PO Eddie Kgomo from DefenceTelevision, and myself, were very fortunateto be assigned the task of capturingthe precious moments of SASMENDI en route home.The Navigation Officer, Lt (SAN) Ravin Harrisawak, atwork.We arrived in Germany on 16August 2004. The first four days werespent learning the ship's routine, orientationand in preparing her for thejourney. After this, there was stillenough time to explore Kiel. On 18August 2004 Capt (SAN) Packer hosteda function on board the ship tothank all the stakeholders for theirsupport during their stay in Kiel. SinceAugust South Africans had commemoratedWomen's Month and the arrivalof R Adm (JG) Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, Director Fleet HumanResources. These were significantevents of support to the ship's company.The day that all the ship's companywere waiting for, 20 August 2004,duly arrived and they were united inthe quest to accomplish their final mission:to sail the SAS MENDI homesafely. According to the ExecutiveOfficer (second incommand) of theship, Cdr JimmySchutte, the ship'scompany is competentand can managethe new vesselas all had receivedan intensive trainingin Germanysince 8 May 2004.Tears were shedas the communityof Kiel saw the lastcorvette leaving.They had by nowbecome accustomedto her and had alsomade friends withher crew. After that,we were on course for the Kiel Canal,which is an artificial waterway innorth-western Germany, linking theNorth Sea and the Baltic Sea. Thecanal extends in a northeasterly directionacross the state of Schleswig-Holstein from Brunsbüttelkoog, nearthe mouth of the Elbe River, to Kiel onthe Baltic. The canal is very level, andhas locks only at its ends to accommodatethe tides of the North Sea and theBaltic Sea. Constructed between 1887and 1895 and subsequently enlarged,the canal is 98 km long, 103 m wideand 11 m deep.On leaving Germany through theKiel Canal, the ship changed courseand sailed in a southerly directionthrough the North Sea. The weatherwas moderate, which resulted in alarge number of the crew turning a bitgreen around the edges, but theymanaged to "find" their sea legs after aday or two. The ship's company tookpart in damage control exercises tokeep them sharp.FranceWe arrived in Brest, France, on 24August 2004. Brest is a small fishingand naval port in the extreme westernpart of France, with a very old history,which is evident from the old castle,forts and buildings that make up thesurrounds of the port. We immediatelyuplifted equipment.The ship's company of SASMENDI heeded the call and seized theopportunity when they were challengedto restore the pride of theirbeloved country against the FrenchNavy, and strengthen ties in an internationalsoccer match. This matchproved that language as a barriercould be overridden by sport in unifyingpeople. The SAS MENDI team hada trump card in Able Seaman SeipatiTshabalala, who was a thorn in theside of the French team. She juggledthe ball around like a true maestro, tothe delight of the spectators, butunfortunately for the French team, itwas at sixes and sevens.It did not come as any surprisethat the half-time score was 2-0 infavour of the visitors. The Frenchteam fought back in the second half bytaking the game to the visitors. This(Continued on page 20)N O VEMBER 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R19