letters to the editor - Department of Defence

main featureS A S O L D I E Rfinalising the discussions with theDepartment of Public Works on theestablishment of the Defence EstateManagement mechanism which willresult in the DOD progressively exitingfrom the current arrangement onProperty and Facilities Managementby the Department of Public Works.This objective and the rolling out of theDefence Works Capability to maintainand repair defence facilities will beimplemented in this financial year.The DOD has worked tirelessly overthe last few years to eliminate auditqualifications arising from the AuditorGeneral's report. In the year prior tothe appointment of the current leadershipin the DOD, the department facedsix audit qualifications. To fulfil thispromise over the past financial yearthe DOD worked very hard to reducequalifications to one, which raised thepossibility of a clean audit in the nextfinancial year.In the words of a former AmericanPresident, George Washington: "Themorale and strength of the newnation's military forces would bedirectly proportional to how well veteranswho had served and sacrificedfor the country were treated andappreciated".In South Africa these forgotten heroes,who served as soldiers of liberationmovements, were left for years to fendfor themselves. Neither provisions norsupport was available for many who,having served, struggled to integratefully back into civilian life and facedmany socio-economic challenges.The Department of Military Veteranswas proclaimed as a separate andstand-alone department within theministry. This was done in order tocreate a department within governmentwhose sole responsibility was togovern and cater for the affairs of allformer members of military organisationsfrom before the dawn of democracyand those who served in the currentSouth African National DefenceForce (SANDF) after 1994. Now theDepartment of Military Veterans hasbeen realised and as it was promulgatedin 2009. The coming years will thusbe characterised by initiatives to maximisethe functionality of the organs ofState through a reliable and dependableservice delivery focused Department.Indeed, it can be attested that 2010 wasan extraordinary year in terms ofdefence and security requirements. Thisexperience would not have been possiblewithout the efforts and contributionsof our armed forces.As host of the Soccer World Cup, andthe first of its kind on the continent, weset out to ensure that the country providediron-clad security for the durationof the tournament. The preparation, coordinationand management of securityfell under the auspices of both theNational Defence Force and the SouthAfrican Police Service. The SANDFundertook this challenge and deliveredan extraordinary and exceptional servicethat made it the pride of the nation.During the tournament our frigates andsubmarines patrolled our territorialwaters and the approaches to the portswhere soccer was being played, whilethe newly acquired Gripen and Hawkaircraft were flying air combat patrolsover all the stadiums while games werein progress. In addition to the pivotalrole these ships, submarines and aircraftplayed in securing those areas wherenone of the other government departmentshad the required capability, theyformed a magnificent backdrop behindand above our stadiums while the variousmatches were being played, a vindicationof government's decision toacquire the strategic defence packages.During the same period the NationalDefence Force was called to assumeresponsibility during the crippling threeweeknational health workers strike.This required deploying medical personneland taking over 74 abandoned hospitalsin eight provinces. In addition,members of the SANDF provided protectionfor those members who wereprepared and had volunteered to assistin helping other services. The SANDFgladly undertook these responsibilities,"firm in the knowledge that there isnothing so satisfying to the spirit, sodefining of our character, than givingour all to a difficult task. This is the priceand the promise of citizenship".The DOD's National Youth Service(NYS) Programme got off to an excitingstart. The programme aims to build theyouth through civic education andtraining in basic workplace skills whilealso encouraging self-respect, respectfor others, integrity and societal responsibility.The desired outcome is an individualwho is reintegrated into thecommunity and determined to helpbuild his or her community, thus makinga positive contribution to society atlarge.On 17 March 2011, 500 students of theNYS Pilot Programme graduated at DeBrug near Bloemfontein and werehanded over to the Department ofRural Development and Land reformto complete the remainder of their NYSprogramme. This strengthens theDOD's resolve to continue with theprogramme, and partnerships areenvisaged with more governmentdepartments in the near future.In support of the government's foreignpolicy, under the auspices of the UnitedNations (UN) and the African Union(AU), the SANDF continues to supportpeace initiatives on the African continent.Democratic processes have takenplace in states such as Burundi, theDemocratic Republic of the Congo, theSudan and the Central Africa Republic,to mention a few. This has earned theSANDF the accolades of being a credibleand professional peace broker.The work that has been done by theDOD leadership in a short space oftime has been phenomenal. The DODis in a better state than it was threeyears ago, though there is still a longway ahead. This is only the beginningof a new dawn for members of theDOD who have taken a pledge to servethis country and its people with theirlives.The DOD will not tire of seeking waysand means to improve the lives of itsmembers and help them to take theirrightful places in our society, whichthey continue to serve with dignity andhonour. The road has been mapped outfor the wheels of change.M A Y 2 0 1 1 • s 11