November - Department of Defence

culmination of a three year processwhich began when the First PeaceTable was convened under the visionarydirection of the then DeputyMinister of Defence, Ms NozizweMadlala-Routledge, and Maj GenJackie Sedibe, Chief Director EqualOpportunities.She said that the publication was acollection of the presentations made atthe Third Peace table attended by overone hundred women from SouthernAfrica on 28 October 2003."It is not yet Uhuru whenLightning threatens the peace inBurundiWhen there is thunder roaring in theDRCIt is not yet UhuruWhen there are wild fires of hatreddevouringThe beautiful people and the land" - ByCol Belinda Martin (Gloria Mtungwa,Sep 2003).This poem was quoted by Brig GenFakir in context, and she said that itresonated with the harsh truth ofAfrica. We are not free until the lastweapon has been put down, not untilCelebrations in the Eastern CapeBy Lt Col D.E. Fouchéthe last landmine is cleared from ourland, not until the last child soldierreturns to school, and not until the girlchild is safe.Brig Gen Fakir made a clarion callto the women of Africa to stand up,speak out and take their rightful placein leading Africa to peace and security.She went on to highlight the insecurityand the tragedy in Darfur andthe cruel massacre of 160 refugees,mainly women and children, in therefugee camp in Burundi, which was astark reminder of the important rolewomen must play in peace-makingand peace building.At the publication launch delegatesdiscussed key challenges confrontingwomen in Africa. Those identifiedwere that women continued toface institutional and social discriminationin many countries in Africa,and that women were unequal partnersin policy debates, leadership anddecision-making bodies. To remedythis required African society in generalto remove its barriers to the full participationof women in peace initiativesand to harness the full potentialof women.The women renewed the call toengage the collective wisdom of theAU to expand and develop the conceptof developmental peacekeepingto a level where it can be institutionalisedand resourced within the AU.This would require the formulation ofa developmental peacekeeping doctrine,which should guide the retrainingof African forces towards contributingto the reconstruction of thecontinent.The vision of this emerging uniquecontinental concept of African peacekeepingis to see military personnel, aswell as multi-disciplinary teams ofdevelopmental economists, civil engineers,public and developmental managersand policy developers deployedat the onset of peacekeeping operations.Brig Gen Fakir concluded by sayingthat the report contributed aframework towards the engagementof women in the AU Peace andSecurity Agenda for the continent andwhich must be taken forward throughclear implementation plans.A function in celebration of Women'sDay was held in the Nelson MandelaMetropole Municipality City Hall on10 August 2004. The SANDF ReserveForce Regional Office Eastern Cape, incollaboration with all the otherServices, hosted the function.This was an historical occasion as itwas the first time that all Services tookhands with their civilian counterparts.VIP guests who attended the function,included the Premier of theEastern Cape, Ms N. Balindlela, andthe Speaker of the Nelson MandelaMetropole Municipality, Ms N.Mohapi.Female members of localGovernment, prominent businesswomenof the Metropole, women fromCoega Development Corporation (Pty)Ltd, the National Ports AuthorityNqura, tertiary and other traininginstitutions, media and senior femaleofficers of the SANDF in the PortFltr: Capt E. Smith, Ms N. Mohapi, the Speaker of Nelson Mandela MetropoleMunicipality, Lt Col D.E. Fouché, Ms N. Balindlela, the Premier of EasternCape, and Ms M.M. Smith.Elizabeth area attended the celebrations.Guests were treated to a formalmilitary dinner during which the roleof women in the SANDF was elucidated.The role of employers in supportof the Reserve Force was also clarified.Mr Jacques Arendt of Bay FM hadthe privilege of entertaining thewomen during the evening and a specialgift, portraying the SANDF, waspresented to the Premier and theSpeaker.N O VEMBER 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R27