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S A S O L D I E RMESSAGE TOMSDS MEMBERSRemember what we do today determines thefuture of our National Defence Force.The road to success is long and hard, withobstacles and challenges.Obstacles make us strong to face the futurewith pride and to do our best.Staying focused makes one a successfulsoldier in future.Obeying of lawful commands and respectwill determine who you are.Taking up training as a hobby will make younot feel the pain.Remember to train hard in order to fightwell.We are here for the memories of ourforefathers and the future of our children.Take this National Defence Force as the onlyplace for your red carpet so that you can becalled "Corporal, Lieutenant …".Cpl M. Guduza, 5 SAI Bn, currentlydeployed in the SudanBYE MELLIT BASEIt was an honour for me to be part ofCharlie Company of 1 ParachuteBattalion detached to 5 SA InfantryBattalion as Delta Company forOperation CORDITE in the Sudan. Itwas not an easy mission, but we did itand we can do it again.When I arrived at 5 SA InfantryBattalion to link up with them for theSudan I was not happy because I wasstaffed in a paratrooper company and Ihad a wrong perception about airborneforces. Maj B.B. Molekane gave me achance to grow as an IntelligenceOfficer. To be an Intelligence Officer inan infantry company is not an easything because your corps is always subjectto criticism, but I stood my groundand flew the Intelligence Formation flaghigh. I will miss 9B (Major Bodibe). Healways asked me: "Bhura tell me the situationin Mellit". How can I forget guyslike Sgt O.M. Mahasa who always hadstories to tell: "I gave away my 20 yearsexperience", those were his famouswords. To the big four of Mellit, no onemanaged to break us because we werealways together (Lt Floris, Lt Nkiane, LtVeleko). Keep up the good work guys,we will meet one day on another mission.Lt A. Cengani, IntelligenceOfficer Mellit Base, Sudannews from abroadCpl Pinky Motaung, a Construction Machine Operator, is a memberof the SA Engineer Squadron on deployment in Goma in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo, for the period 1 December 2010to 30 June 2011. Cpl Motaung is a single mother of three children:Tyson (21), Nthabiseng (18) and Mpho (11). She loves her childrendearly and misses them. She said it was because of them that shewas on deployment. (Photo: S Sgt Lebogang Tlhaole)VICTORIOUS SOLDIERFighting for the sake of peace in Africa,Not knowing if he will live.Brave soldierStanding up for what he believesand fighting for freedom.Brave soldierFighting for what is right,Dying heroes, dying evil menBrave soldierLeaving every thing he ownsTo be loyal to his country.Brave soldier.LET 15 SAI BN ENJOYTHEIR TOUR OF DUTYEnjoy no matter how hard it may be onYour tour of duty.Enjoy the new day born no matterHow imperfect it may be.Pull together with one goal at the end;Shout win-win.Work as a team that may take prideHome at the end of the day.Coming home at the end of war …Victorious soldier.DRIVINGPOWERMaj Molekane, Maj Bodibe, Capt Baloyi,Lt Floris, Lt Nkiane, Lt VelekoIt was not easy but we managed,Now it is time for us to go home andMeet our families.I will really miss Sgt MahasaWith his stories (sheba bona).Lt A. Cengani, Mellit Base, the SudanA champion is one who stands upEven if he cannot. be the ambassadorsOf the Republic of South Africa.Enjoy your tour of duty, I wish you all thebest. In their language there is a saying:"LIDUDA DOVHA",the time will come to go back home.Cpl M. Guduza, 5 SAI Bn (Sudan)10• J U N E 2 0 1 1
news from abroad7 SA MOTORISED INFANTRY BATTALIONS A S O L D I E ROn 26 November 2010 the bestmotorised Infantry Battalion in RSA,which was proud and mission ready,landed at Kigali airport in Rwanda. Thisunit was ready to savour the momentwhen we started with what we had beenretraining for at General Ben ViljoenTraining Area in Phalaborwa and theMobilisation Centre in Bloemfontein.Then there was the four-hour long flightwith the Virunga express to Goma in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.Within two shakes of a duck's tail Iwas in the theatre and battle ready tocarry out peacekeeping and also to winthe hearts and minds of the local population.While keeping a constant eye onmount Nyiragongo, which was foreverglowing, the "tenacuters" diligently andprofessionally carried out patrols, escorts,tasks and combined operations withcountries ranging from India, Uruguayand the host country itself.Under the leadership of our BattalionCommander, Lt Col X.B. Ndlovu, we didindeed fly our RSA flag high by maintainingdiscipline and doing everythingwith love and compassion. There weregood times and there were better timesbecause our unit knew exactly what thesole purpose was of our being here in theDRC. We were here to assist the countryto improve the way of life of the inhabitantsby getting them to live in peace andhave a brotherly and sisterly love for oneanother. I attended a church service dur-TOUCHING LIVES OF NEEDY ORPHANS IN THE DRCAs part of the requirements within themandate, the RSA Ops Battalion (7 SAInfantry Battalion) decided to adoptWorld Orphans Kids, an orphanage forchildren at Katoyi Village, KasikaDistrict on the outskirts of Goma. This isone of the quick impact projects that theBattalion is engaged in terms of itspeace support operations.The orphanage currently has 362children ranging from three to fourteenyears, without shelter and space. Theonly structure available for them is alocal Catholic Church hall measuring 8x 6 square metres where they attendclasses given by 14 volunteer educatorswho are members of the local CatholicChurch.The children gathered from placesas far as Kanyaba, Lubero, Masisi andRutshuru. They have no relatives toraise them after their parents perishedas a result of AIDS and the armed conflict.According to Philip, the ChiefCaretaker for the orphanage, there areno consistent donors of food, clothingand medicine. They are solely dependenton occasional handouts.Having looked at the plight of thesechildren, the Ops Battalion decided thatobtaining a site and constructing a shelterwill solve many of the challengesfaced by this orphanage. However, thiscould not be achieved overnight.A site has been acquired and theOps Battalion Orphanage Committeeheaded by Chaplain D.P. Phaka is busyengaging other stakeholders with aview to obtaining resources to begin withthe project.The RSA Contingent members havesuggested various initiatives to assist theorphans. These initiatives include collectingclothes, toys and donations in theform of US dollars or Francs (the localcurrency) and buying food from the localsupermarkets and spending time feedingthe children.Sadly, two of the children, Mitima andGiselle, both aged nine, recently died andPhilip indicated that as educators theywould have liked to hold a joint memorialservice for them. This afforded the OpsBattalion Orphanage Committee anopportunity to offer a helping hand andthe matter was raised during one of thechurch services at Munigi Base Churchwhere a decision was unanimously takenby the church members that funds shouldbe raised to assist with arrangements forthe memorial service. It was decided tohold a church service with the childrenand staff members and spend a day andfeeding them.This initiative was strongly supportedby the National Contingent Commander,Col R.A. Makgae, the RSA Ops BattalionCommander, Lt Col X.B. Ndlovu, theContingent Support Unit Commander, LtCol A. Tshukudu and Munigi BaseChurch members in general.Sunday, 6 March 2011, was dulyaccepted by all as the most suitable dayfor this activity and the response in termsof financial support from the ContingentSupport Unit members, the Prayer Grouping Operation MISTRAL XVI where Iwas touched by a local pastor who quotedthe following: "You may not knowwhere your next meal is coming from.You may not have shelter to sleep atnight. You may not have a car andmaterial things, but if you do not havelove that is the worst of them all". Hewent on to express his gratitude forwhat the RSA and my unit were doingfor his people, to the extent that ateardrop rolled down his cheek. At thatmoment I knew that we were making adifference in this country.To all my proud "tenacuters", continueto fly our flag high! Together westand! Lt C.B. Lewis, Munigi Base:Gomaand the Ops Battalion was very good.More than 300 US dollars were raised tosupport this cause. Sandwiches and softdrinks were prepared the night beforeby the Ops Battalion women under theguidance of Pte M.P. Mokobodi.The RSA Contingent, led by Lt ColTshukudu and inspired by ChaplainsR.I. Moremoholo and Phaka, waswarmly welcomed by the children andstaff members with the former singingKaribu, Karibu! They also performed atouching drama depicting abusive conditionsthat orphans are subjected to ifraised by relatives. Formalities for theday included the history of theorpanage by Philip, performances bythe children, a church sermon byChaplain Phaka and the event wasrounded off with the main event of theday in which the children were fed andphotographs taken.The RSA Contingent members inattendance raised more than 100 USdollars, which were handed to Philipand his staff members to purchaseitems such as medicine, when needed.The children's joy knew no boundsas they bade us goodbye by singing anddancing.As I waved through the window ofthe Land Rover I could see smiles ontheir faces and came to the realisationthat the RSA National Contingent hadindeed made their day and at least for amoment had forgotten that they did nothave parents. Well done, Ba Suda oncemore! Capt M.M. Sihlobo, emailJ U N E 2 0 1 1 • s 11
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