June - Department of Defence

eventsUnited as a nationBy Nomonde VuthelaPhotos: Sgt David Nomtshongwanaand PO Eddie KgomoIt is done! President Thabo Mbekiis president yet again. ThaboMvuyelwa Mbeki, son of the lateMr Govan and Ms EpainetteMbeki, took the oath to serve thenation with everything he has gotfor the next five years to come.27 April 2004 was a good day toinaugurate the one who is "God'sanointed", may he be blessed withwisdom for he carries on his shouldersan entire nation.Our President was born great,born to lead. Later in life greatnesswas thrust upon him for his presidencyhad come, ready or not. It is a factthat former President, Mr NelsonMandela, handed over the reigns toMr Mbeki, his heir apparent wellbefore stepping down.And then of course PresidentMbeki undeniably achieved greatness- Mr Mandela's silver slippers werealmost impossible to fill; yet, in the2004 national elections, PresidentMbeki took the country where it hasnever gone before.What a victory!Lettingfreedom shinethrough.The world came to the UnionBuildings in Pretoria; people werebussed into the driveway of the massivestructure as early as 03:00, beforedawn. Ten years into our democracyand there was a certain urgency andfever about making it to the UnionBuildings. The inauguration bee had(Continued on page 16)15Above: Thundering echoes from the 21-gun salute marked the beginning of more history to be made.Left: On the red carpet, front to back: President Thabo Mbeki and the First Lady, Ms Zanele Mbeki, usheredto the podium by Gen Siphiwe Nyanda (the Chief of the SANDF), Lt Gen Godfrey Ngwenya (Chief CJOPS) andLt Gen Gilbert Ramano (Chief of the SA Army).J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R