T - Department of Defence

Minister orders aclean-up campaignenvironmental mattersS A S O L D I E RBy Cpl ItumelengMakhubelaPhoto: Sgt Elias MahumaThe untidy state foundby the Interim NationalDefence ForceService Commissionwhen it viewed theThaba Tshwane militaryarea compelled theMinister of Defence andMilitary Veterans, MsLindiwe Sisulu, to instructthe residents to clean up thearea.The perception of the Commissionindicated in the preliminaryreport about thelack of maintenance for currentfacilities in the DOD. Italso attributed the state ofaffairs to the absence of acomprehensive preventativemaintenance programme.The Minister's insistence that the soldiersclean up the Thaba Tshwane militaryarea came as a first step towardsintroducing a culture of self-reliance inthe maintenance of DOD facilities.On 7 and 8 April 2011 all Services andDivisions took to the streets to musterresources and clean up open areasaccording to the allocated zones.Residents were also to ensure that theirliving quarters were up to the requiredstandard, after which Minister Sisuluwould inspect them.The General Officer Commanding SAArmy Support Formation, Maj GenSteven Marumo, convened the communityat the Thaba Tshwane City Hall topresent the Minister's wishes about thecampaign and to describe the challengesand responsibilities they were going toface as residents.Almost every prominent corner and placein Thaba Tshwane was neat and organisedafter the completion of a three-dayclean-up campaign.Maj Gen Marumo remarked: "When theMinister was here in January she complainedabout the state of ThabaTshwane's residential areas, workplacesand other facilities."He mentioned that 50% of the GeneralSupport Base's budget, which shouldactually be 15%, was being utilised tomaintain facilities due to the highdemand. He added that some memberswere negligent in maintaining theirproperties and would be held accountablefor those.Maj Gen Marumo also alleged that otherswere involved in prohibited activities,such as renting, sub-letting and runningtaverns in their back yards. Hewarned that punitive actions would betaken should such activities continue.He urged members of the ThabaPunitive actions wouldbe taken should activitiessuch as renting, sub-lettingand running tavernsin back yards continue.Tshwane community to undertake theresponsibility of maintaining and fixingthings around their properties and notdepend on the General Support Base.The highly anticipated Minister's inspectiontook place on 10 April 2011 at theThaba Tshwane sports grounds.Minister Sisulu conveyed her gratitudeto the soldiers who packed the grandstandsfor responding when she madethe call to resolve the concern raised bythe Commission and the Chiefs ofServices.It was decided during the work-sessionby Minister Sisulu and the Chiefs ofServices to return Thaba Tshwane to itsoriginal clean state. She mentioned thatthe area was badly in need of repair.Ms Sisulu said: "Thaba Tshwane as amilitary town reflects on us in manyways; and on us as soldiers. So, you arereflected by your environment."The Minister remarked that the placealso promoted family life since therewere living quarters that had to be takencare of. She said that the Defence WorksRegiment would assist with the maintenanceof equipment and facilities ownedby the DOD.Minister Sisulu pledged to commit herselfto improve members' living conditionsin military areas so that they couldreside in a dignified environment thatwould reflect well on the soldiers andtheir reputation.J U N E 2 0 1 1 • s 23