June - Department of Defence

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Never ever fail to tryBy PO Dennis NdabaPhoto: Cpl Elias Mahuma"You have been appointed because of your personalabilities and performance. Take the challenge, follow thefootprints of your predecessor and make a success of yourtime at the DOD Technical Service Training Centre." Thosewere the words of Brig Gen Schalk van Schalkwyk, GeneralOfficer Commanding JSB Garrisson to Col Nehemia "Oupa"Bapela, when he officiated at the handing and taking overparade at the DOD Technical Service Training Centre on10 December 2003. The post had been left vacant after thepassing away of Col Dirang Phakalane.Col Bapela was born on 21 March 1965 in Evaton (VaalTriangle), Gauteng. He started his schooling at AtlehangPrimary School in 1971 and matriculated at Tshepo ThembaHigh School in 1982. He later enrolled with TechnikonNorthern Transvaal (Soshanguve) in 1983, where hestudied chemical engineering until 1985 when he left thecountry.He answered the call to join the military wing of theAfrican National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) inLesotho in September 1985 and left for Angola, where hereceived his basic military training. In 1987 he was selectedto obtain a diploma in mechanical engineering in the USSR(Ukraine) and completed it with honours in 1991. ColBapela has had various responsibilities in MK, includingthat of Officer Commanding of the camps in Tanzania, untilhe was called back to the RSA in January 1994 to join theNational Peacekeep-ing Force (NPKF) in Bloemfontein. Hewas there until its demobilisation in June 1994. Col Bapelaintegrated into the SANDF in June 1994. He did all his militarycourses, the latest being the Joint Senior Command andStaff Programme (JSCSP) in November 2002.Handing over thesword of commandBy Maj M.P. Morake,Corp Comm SAAF HQ UnitThe SA Air Force Headquarters Unit held a change of commandand medal parade at the Air Command in Pretoria on2 April 2004. Brig Gen P.N. Sibiya handed over command toLt Col R.F. van Wyk, and presented twelve medals to AirForce members.Brig Gen Sibiya thanked them for their continuous goodservice and encouraged them to lead by example and showmembers that they were eager to share their experiencewith them or those in need of such experience.In reflecting on the past year Brig Gen Sibiya said it wasa challenging and a busy year filled with great opportunitiesand outstanding achievements. She said that it wassometimes difficult to look back on a path already travelled,and even more so to convince oneself of the importantachievements and challenges that still lay ahead. The unitwent through some changes during the past couple ofyears, the latest being in 2003 when the name changed fromAir Command Unit to its present name of SAAF HQ Unit.Brig Gen Sibiya handed over the sword of command toLt Col Van Wyk and requested the members of the unit tosupport the new Officer Commanding professionally so asto achieve the goals of the unit. She expressed the necessitythat the members adhere to the motto of the unit: "GloriaSine Labor Nulla", no glory without labour.Maj Gen C. Gagiano, Chief Director Air Policy andPlans, Maj Gen N.J.L. Ngema, Chief Director NationalAviation Academy, and various senior officers attendedthe parade.28Fltr: Brig Gen Schalk van Schalkwyk, General OfficerCommanding GSB Garrisson, Col Nehemia Bapela andWO1 Mario Martin Ragovan, RSM DOD TechnicalService Training Centre.Brig Gen P.N. Sibiya handed over the sword ofcommand to Lt Col R.F. van Wyk.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4
Foundation securelyguards your benefitsBy Maj Elize Lizamore,PRO and Communication OfficerSA Army FoundationThe year 2004 started off like aG6 gunshot with the SAArmy Foundation's restructuringprocess in full swing,the cessation of theFoundation's co-operative,Sakhile, as well as the handingover of office by General ManagerBrig Gen Reg Deyzel (Ret) to Maj GenKeith Mokoape (Reserve Forcemember).It is therefore a pleasure to givemore detailed information about theactivities mentioned. Owing todecreasing numbers in the SA Armyand the cessation of the trading wingof the Foundation's co-operative,Sakhile, it was felt necessary for theSA Army Foundation to restructureits organisation in order toconcentrate its operational activities.The restructuring of the SA ArmyFoundation will produce and ensuremore sustainable and caring servicesat all times for its members and theirloved ones. Achieving a sustainablecaring service structure for membersrequires dedication and hard workfrom each and everyone at the foundation.The SA Army Foundation is,as always, committed to serving itsmembers in the spirit of Batho Pele toachieve higher standards of livingand quality of life. Members can restassured that all their benefits are stillin-tact and securely guarded underthe umbrella of the SA ArmyFoundation.After ten years as the skipper ofthe SA Army Foundation Brig GenDeyzel officially retired on 31 March2004. He started his military career atthe SA Army Gymnasium and attendedthe Military Academy in Saldanhawhere he obtained the B Mil degree.Having been in the service of theSADF for thirty years, includingOfficer Commanding of several units,for example 10 Anti Aircraft Regimentand Artillery School, as well asDirector Planning of the SA Army,he became General Manager of theSA Army Foundation in April 1994.As from 1 April 2004 the GeneralManager's chair has been filled by MajGen Mokoape, who holds a B.Sc. andMaster of Management degrees. Hewas Chief of Intelligence of the ANC'sMaj Gen Keith Mokoape.military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.Maj Gen Mokoape qualified as amanager in developmental studies inthe fields of co-operatives and ruraldevelopment at the Pan-AfricanInstitute for Development in Zambia.After chairing the Drought ReliefProgramme of the IndependentDevelopment Trust in 1992, he joinedNampak, Africa's largest packagingcompany and became Nampak's firstdirector of Corporate Affairs.In 1998 Maj Gen Mokoape establisheda black empowerment consortium,Katleho Linkages, consisting ofthe Returned Exiles Association, theSoweto Chamber of Commerce andIndustries and the women's groupLibambeni li'ngashoni. Maj GenMokoape is the Chairperson ofLog-Tek Engineering Solutions andCyberSim. Prior to his appointmentas Chief Director of Army Reserves,he was Co-chairperson of the ReserveForce Council and also became in2002 the Chairperson of the tradingwing of the SA Army Foundation'sSakhile Co-operative.The SA Army Foundation hasachieved another goal - its new logo.The new logo, in the form of the"Pride of Lions", is in line with therestructuring of the SA ArmyFoundation. The decision to adopt anew logo was recommended by theSA Army Foundation's Board ofControl and approved by the ArmyCouncil on 1 March 2004. It is thereforesignificant that the foundationpresents its new logo after a decadeof South African democracy.The outgoing General Manager,Brig Gen Deyzel, expressed his gratitudeto all the members for their loyalsupport and wished them the verybest for the future. The foundationis looking forward to a prosperous2004 under the new leadership ofMaj Gen Mokoape.Contact the SA Army Foundationfor further information on theservices, products and benefits of theSA Army Foundation at tel no:(012) 673 9440/1 or visit theSA Army Foundation's website at:www.@army-foundation.co.za.J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R29
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