June - Department of Defence

eventsTaking over the reinsHe believes insuccess.26Brig Gen Luvuyo Nobanda (foreground) and Brig Gen David Masters.By Lt Seani Neluheni,SO3 CommunicationSA Army Engineer FormationPhoto: Sgt Eddie SmithBrig Gen Luvuyo Nobandatook over command of theSA Army EngineerFormation as the GeneralOfficer Commanding fromBrig Gen David Masters.The change of commandparade was held at the Military BaseDunnottar on 30 January 2004.Brig Gen Nobanda firmly believesin success as the basis of every individual'sprivate life. He also specifiesdiscipline and personality as importantin a portrait of how people dress,talk, behave and perform tasks. BrigGen Nobanda urged people not tolose their focus and always to understandthe reason for their existence.He also urged people to refrainfrom stealing Government propertyS A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4as a way of enriching themselves. Hebelieves in loyalty, trust and communication.The Engineer Formation isone of the largest contributors of soldiersbeing deployed for externaloperations to Burundi and theDemocratic Republic of Congo. Inspite of Brig Gen Nobanda's shorttime at the Engineer Formation, hehas already had to bid the Sappersfarewell who risk their lives in supportof the Government's initiatives toensure that there is peace in Africa.Brig Gen Nobanda was born on 18June 1959 in Ngqeleni in the EasternCape. He matriculated in 1977 atChief Henry Boklein High School. Hecompleted a B Admin Degree atUNISA in 2002. He joined the TranskeiDefence Force (TDF) in 1978, andwas commissioned as Second Lieutenantin 1980. Thereafter he served at1 Transkeian Battalion as a PlatoonCommander in the Mounted Platoonand was later transferred to Infantry.In 1981 he joined the Transkei SpecialForces and, after successfully completingthe selection course, he wasappointed as Troop Commander atGroup 1. In 1988 he became Second inCommand of the Special ForcesRegiment. In 1990 he was promotedto Lieutenant Colonel and served asthe Officer Commanding SpecialForces Regiment (TDF) until 1993.In 1994 he was appointed SSOTraining in the TDF and was laterappointed Deputy Director SpecialForces. After integration Brig GenNobanda was transferred to SpecialForces Brigade in Pretoria. From 1998until 2001 Brig Gen Nobanda servedas a military attaché in Gabon.On his return from Gabon heserved as SSO Strategic Control in2002 at the SA Army Office until 2003.He was promoted to Brigadier Generaland appointed as General OfficerCommanding SA Army EngineerFormation on 1 January 2004.Brig Gen Nobanda completed allthe relevant military courses successfully,viz Officer Cadet, AdvancedTraining Course for Junior Officersand Platoon Commanders at theTranskei School of Infantry. He alsocompleted the Special Forces SelectionCourse in 1982, the Infantry WeaponsCourse in 1983, the CompanyCommanders Course in 1984,Parachute Dispatchers Course in 1987,the Parachute Instructors Course(Static Line Instructor) in 1988, theJunior Staff and Warfare Course at theSouth African Naval College in 1990,the Senior Command and StaffCourse at the Ghana Armed ForcesStaff College (Accra) in 1993, theJunior Command and Staff Course in1996, the Junior Command and StaffPractical Course, also in 1996, theSenior Command and Staff Course in1997 and the Executive NationalSecurity Programme in 2001.