T - Department of Defence

eventsS A S O L D I E Rtall. It was the outgoingChief of theSANDF, GenGodfrey Ngwenya,who bowed out asthe Chief of theSANDF and theincoming Chief ofthe SANDF, GenShoke, assumed hispost and took overthe reins. They werehonoured with ashow of force byour members in uniformof our gloriousnation and presentedwith a brigadestrengthparade inreview that paradedin detailed militaryprecision aroundthe field.Prior to officiallyhanding over command,the memberson parade stood toattention for a General Salute accompaniedby a 17 round gun salute. The SAAir Force aircraft took to the skies in amagnificent fly-past, which had thespectators looking up into the blue sky.A salute flight of two Agusta WestlandAW109 helicopters took place with thefront helicopter displaying the NationalFlag and the rear helicopter displayingthe SANDF Flag and a Rooivalk Mk1combat support helicopter accompaniedit as a flag escort.A mass fly-past took place, consisting ofa formation flight of four AW109Agusta helicopters, two Oryx helicoptersand a Rooivalk, followed by aBeechcraft BE-30 King Air and fourCessna C208 Caravan in a transport aircraftformation flight, followed by aC212 Casa and two Douglas C47TPDakotas, two Lockheed Martin C130BZHercules medium transports, ninePilatus PC7 MkII trainer aircraft, fiveSilver Falcons in formation flight andthe PC7. The display continued withfour BAE Systems Hawk Mk120 fightertrainer aircraft and five Saab Gripenfighters. Five Silver Falcons made a"So help me God": Judge President Bernard Ngoepe (left) administers the Oathof Office to Gen Solly Shoke as the incoming Chief of the SANDF.bow salute and the Silver Facons gave alow-level aerobatics display and aCASA C212 light transport dropped tenelite parachutists from the South AfricanSpecial Forces, while 7 Medical BattalionGroup executed an impressive free-fallto hand over the scroll to the outgoingChief of the SANDF, Gen Ngwenya.As a final compliment, the military bandcomprised of members from the SAArmy, the SA Air Force, the SA Navyand the SA Military Health Service, setthe festive tone with their brilliant performance.The flag Warrant Officersfrom the Services and Divisions took uptheir positions, flying their differentflags led by the Parade Commander atthe head of the column, followed by themarching columns marching gracefullypast the podium, and greeted the outgoingChief and the incoming Chief,President Zuma, the Minister of Defenceand Military Veterans, the DeputyMinister of Defence and MilitaryVeterans, the Secretary for Defence andthe senior leadership echelon of theSANDF and all the people of SouthAfrica as the SANDF represented theSouth African population. It hadbecome credible in the eyes of our people- the pride of the rainbow nation.In welcoming his successor in his finaladdress, Gen Ngwenya, in a message toGen Shoke, said that leadership andcommand were the single most importantelements in a defence force. Hesaid that leadership was about trust:trust in the leader's competence, characterand vision and trust in the leader'srespect and care for those in his chargeand so inspiring the voluntary spirit.Gen Ngwenya admitted that there wasstill room for improvement in theSANDF and South Africa wouldremain a major role-player in Africa.He said: "Our National Defence Force'ssuccess is dependent on strong leadersand commanders who, when in command,are faced with the huge tasks ofresponsibility, authority and accountability,which are all absolute."He also thanked the Commander-in-Chief, President Zuma, for overseeingthe swearing-in ceremony, and said toJ U N E 2 0 1 1 • s13