letters to the editor - Department of Defence

More documents

Recommendations

Info

S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2002Ensuring the smooth runningof the World SummitThe SANDF played anintegral part in thewhole process, rightfrom the start.By Lt Col J. Zietsman, SANDFMedia Spokesperson at the WSSD(published in SA Soldier: October2002, page 12)Photo: Sgt David NomtshongwanaFrom 26 August to 4 September2002 South Africa played hostto more than 40 000 delegatesfrom around the world, all ofthem participants in theWorld Summit on SustainableDevelopment (WSSD). More than 105Heads of State took part in the discussions,which in years to come couldimprove the lives of millions of peoplearound the globe.With the eyes of the world focused onJohannesburg for the duration of thisevent, it meant that nothing could beleft to chance. There was no room forerror, especially as far as the safety ofthe thousands of delegates was concerned.That there were no seriousincidents involving safety aspects duringthe Summit says a lot for the dedicationand commitment of all thesecurity forces involved.The SANDF played an integral part inthe whole process, right from the start.All in all the SANDF deployed 1 500people in various roles to ensure thesmooth running of the World Summit.From all over South Africa liaison officerswere appointed to the variousdelegations to ensure that the chiefdelegates were well looked after. ThisA soldier on his way to guard the SandtonConvention Centre area during the World Summiton Sustainable Development.meant that they had to be availableday and night for the duration of theSummit.Each and every accredited visitor tothe Sandton Convention Centre wasescorted on a daily basis by motorbike.The men from 12 SA InfantryBattalion did a splendid job, eachmotorbike rider travelling up to 350km a day. Apart from having toknow the various routes by heart,they also had to contend with thenotorious peak hour traffic inGauteng. That all the delegationsarrived safely and on time says a lotfor the dedication of these soldiers.Members of 21 Battalion and 121Battalion were deployed for the durationof the Summit on the outerperimeters of Gauteng. Their maintask was to assistthe SA PoliceService (SAPS)with cordon andsearch operations,as well asroadblocks. Theywere alsoutilised for theprotection ofbridges on thehighways. Againthey did a splendidjob. Themembers from2 SA InfantryBattalion weredeployed,among otherduties, duringone of thebiggest marchesin recent years inthe Alexandraand Sandton areas. Their presence,together with that of the SAPS, meantthat no incidents of violence occurredat all.The SA Air Force and medical personnelplayed just as vital a role. TwoOryx helicopters assisted with thetrooping of SANDF and SAPS membersto set up roadblocks in theGauteng area, and were also on standbyto assist with any emergency tasks.A fixed-wing aircraft was also availablefor daily reconnaissance tasks.SANDF medical personnel weredeployed at all the headquarters'hotels to look after the well-being ofthe foreign delegates. The service thatthey rendered was excellent. 7Medical Battalion was deployed todeal with any potential biological orchemical threat.18• M A Y 2 0 1 1
stories from 2002S A S O L D I E RCompeting in the first Africa Military GamesBy Lt Col Louis Kirstein, SO1Media Liaison DOD (published inSA Soldier: April 2002, page 38)They came from all over Africa,2 000 soldiers from 26 countries,to fight it out on the sports field.But it was no ordinary sports event; itwas the first-ever Africa MilitaryGames in Nairobi, Kenya, and washeld over the period 15 to 26 April2002. The goal of the Africa MilitaryGames was to provide accrediteddefence forces from all the overAfrican continent an opportunity tocompete with each other on thesports field in order to reinforcefriendship ties and to ensure thedream of peace and stability in thecontinent.Col Hamad Kalkaba Malboum,President of the Organisation ofMilitary Sports in Africa, with thetorch for the Military Games.The SANDF Men’s Hockey Team after winning the silver medal.Women crossed another bridgeBy Lt Colleen Ferreira (publishedin SA Soldier: November 2002,page 22)12SA Infantry Battalion, SpecialistCentre of Excellence, IndiaCompany, presented the VisualTracking Course in 2002. The durationof the course was seven weeks, and itwas presented at the MadimboTraining Area along the LimpopoRiver.The course commenced on 9 April2002 and continued until 24 May 2002.What made this course different wasthat it was the first time that womenwere accepted as students on thecourse. After the selection processthree women, Lt Colleen Ferreira, RfnLt Colleen Ferreira at her selfmadeshelter.Roxanne Slabber and Rfn LikaHartzenberg, were identified and nominatedfor the course. They were placedamong the men so that no section consistedof more than one woman.The pre-course preparation for theupcoming visual tracking course consistedof different routes of approximately8 km. These were within thecut-off times, and the participants hadto run in complete battle dress andovercome certain problems, for exampleserious blisters, stress factors andphysical and mental fatigue.A real morale booster for thewomen was that Rfn Hartzenbergcame first overall on the course.Another bridge had been crossed forwomen in the SANDF.M A Y 2 0 1 1 • s 19
Page 1: letters to the editorS A S O L D I
Page 9 and 10: letters to the editorS A S O L D I
Page 11 and 12: main featureS A S O L D I E Rfinali
Page 13: stories from 2001S A S O L D I E RK
Page 16 and 17: S A S O L D I E RRemember thefallen
Page 20 and 21: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2003C
Page 22 and 23: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2003C
Page 24 and 25: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2004O
Page 26 and 27: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2004W
Page 28 and 29: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2005F
Page 30 and 31: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2006S
Page 36 and 37: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2007P
Page 38 and 39: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2008A
Page 40 and 41: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2008M
Page 42 and 43: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2009E
Page 44 and 45: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2010D
Page 46 and 47: S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2010T

letters to the editor - Department of Defence

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?