S A S O L D I E Rs<strong>to</strong>ries from 2004Our ambassadors abroadserving unselfishlyThe United Nations hadagreed <strong>to</strong> lead <strong>the</strong>mission in Burundi.Article and pho<strong>to</strong>s by Sgt DavidNomtshongwana (an extract <strong>of</strong> whatwas published in SA Soldier: May2004, page 14)As <strong>the</strong> aircrew were busy concentratingon a safe landing inBujumbura, you could seethrough <strong>the</strong> window that <strong>the</strong>stage had been set <strong>to</strong> welcome<strong>the</strong> Chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> SANDF, GenSiphiwe Nyanda.The Chief's en<strong>to</strong>urage included <strong>the</strong>Chief <strong>of</strong> Joint Operations, Lt GenGodfrey Ngwenya, and o<strong>the</strong>r seniorleaders in <strong>the</strong> DOD. The Chief's visitcoincided with <strong>the</strong> announcement that<strong>the</strong> United Nations had agreed <strong>to</strong> lead<strong>the</strong> mission in Burundi. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tangibleachievements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> DOD during<strong>the</strong> ten years' celebration <strong>of</strong> freedomwas <strong>the</strong> deployment <strong>of</strong> soldiersabroad.The aim <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief's visit over <strong>the</strong>period 23 <strong>to</strong> 26 March 2004 was <strong>to</strong> bebriefed about <strong>the</strong> situation in Burundi,<strong>the</strong> progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> African Mission inBurundi (AMIB), <strong>to</strong> meet with <strong>the</strong> relevantrepresentatives, <strong>to</strong> acquaint himselfwith <strong>the</strong> political situation, andmost importantly <strong>to</strong> hear from <strong>the</strong> soldierson <strong>the</strong> ground.The South African Ambassador inUnited Nations soldiers (includingour soldiers) welcomingGen Siphiwe Nyanda, <strong>the</strong> Chief<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> SANDF, at <strong>the</strong> Kindu airportin <strong>the</strong> Democratic Republic<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Congo.Burundi, Mr Welile Nhlapo, <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>the</strong>delegation about Burundian politicalprogress and that <strong>the</strong> Burundian peopleappreciated <strong>the</strong> extra mile takenby <strong>the</strong> soldiers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> AMIB. GenNyanda and his delegation visited <strong>the</strong>Chief <strong>of</strong> Staff <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Burundi ArmedForces, Maj Gen GermainNiyoyankana, who praised <strong>the</strong> AMIB.Maj Gen Sipho Binda, <strong>the</strong> ForceCommander <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> AMIB, and o<strong>the</strong>rsenior <strong>of</strong>ficers briefed Gen Nyanda on<strong>the</strong> latest progress made and mentionedthat <strong>the</strong> soldiers had settled invery well regardless <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> circumstances<strong>the</strong>y found <strong>the</strong>mselves in.Their role is <strong>to</strong> facilitate <strong>the</strong> implementation<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ceasefire agreementsin Burundi. No one can forget <strong>the</strong> VIPprotec<strong>to</strong>rs working day and night <strong>to</strong>Our soldiers patrol <strong>the</strong> streets inGoma in <strong>the</strong> DemocraticRepublic <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Congo.ensure <strong>the</strong> safety <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> BurundianVIPs.Looking at our South African soldierswho are deployed outside our countrytells a s<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>of</strong> its own - commitment,discipline and going <strong>the</strong> extramile <strong>to</strong> perform <strong>the</strong>ir duties - it istruly amazing! (It does not mean that<strong>the</strong>y are lazy when <strong>the</strong>y are at home.)The situation in Burundi taught oursoldiers something, namely that <strong>the</strong>Burundian people use every availableresource in order <strong>to</strong> survive.24• M A Y 2 0 1 1
s<strong>to</strong>ries from 2004S A S O L D I E RParliamentarians visitedour soldiers abroadArticle and pho<strong>to</strong> by Sgt DavidNomtshongwana (an extract <strong>of</strong> whatwas published in SA Soldier:January 2004, page 22)The visit is a clear indication <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir support andaugurs well for <strong>the</strong> morale <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soldiers.The recent visit by <strong>the</strong> PortfolioCommittee on <strong>Defence</strong> and <strong>the</strong>Joint Standing Committee on<strong>Defence</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> soldiersdeployed in <strong>the</strong> DemocraticRepublic <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Congo (DRC)and Burundi over <strong>the</strong> period 28<strong>to</strong> 30 Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2003 is a clear indication<strong>of</strong> support and augurs well for <strong>the</strong>morale <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soldiers.The parliamentarians were led by MsThandi Modise, Chairperson <strong>of</strong> bothcommittees, which consisted <strong>of</strong> membersfrom different political parties,while V Adm Martyn Trainor,Chief <strong>of</strong> Corporate Staff, led <strong>the</strong> SANDFdelegation. Before <strong>the</strong>ir departure fromWaterklo<strong>of</strong> Air Force Base Maj GenMbuyiselo Mgwebi, <strong>the</strong> General OfficerCommanding Joint Operational HQ atChief Joint Operational Division,briefed <strong>the</strong> delegation and <strong>the</strong> members<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> media on <strong>the</strong> situation in<strong>the</strong> DRC and Burundi. The first s<strong>to</strong>p <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> visit was Kindu, and after a briefing<strong>the</strong> group left for Bujumbura.In Bujumbura <strong>the</strong>y were welcomed byMaj Gen Sipho Binda, <strong>the</strong>Force Commander <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> AfricanMission in Burundi (AMIB), and hiscontingent. Also present wasAmbassador Mamadou Bah, <strong>the</strong> specialrepresentative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> AfricanUnion, who was <strong>the</strong> Chairperson and<strong>the</strong> Head <strong>of</strong> Mission <strong>of</strong> AMIB.He informed <strong>the</strong> delegation aboutprogress in Burundi, especially interms <strong>of</strong> disarmament, demobilisationand repatriation. Ms Modise urged <strong>the</strong>Ms Thandi Modise, Chairperson <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Portfolio Committee on<strong>Defence</strong> and <strong>the</strong> Joint Standing Committee on <strong>Defence</strong> (middle),and <strong>the</strong> female soldiers deployed in Burundi stationed at <strong>the</strong>Demobilisation Centre Area 1 with Col Liz van der Post, ActingPSO <strong>to</strong> V Adm Martyn Trainor, and Maj Madeleine Harmse, <strong>the</strong>Liaison Officer, at <strong>the</strong> back.ambassador not <strong>to</strong> forget that womenand children were part and parcel <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>whole procedure <strong>to</strong> be implemented.The ambassador emphasised that it wasin <strong>the</strong>ir best interests not <strong>to</strong> leave o<strong>the</strong>rsbehind or <strong>to</strong> fail <strong>to</strong> acknowledge <strong>the</strong>ircontribution. The inclusion <strong>of</strong> womenand children who had participated in<strong>the</strong> struggle for a transitional governmentwas very important because itwas <strong>the</strong>ir right <strong>to</strong> be involved in <strong>the</strong>process. Although political, it is a majorchallenge <strong>to</strong> realise those requirements,but <strong>the</strong>re is still hope because <strong>of</strong>progress on some agreements.The delegation also visited <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> United Nations (UN) in Burundiwhere <strong>the</strong>y met Mr Ayité J-C KPAKPO,<strong>the</strong> Senior UN Adviser for <strong>the</strong>Burundi Peace ProcessImplementation Moni<strong>to</strong>ringCommittee. The parliamentarianswanted <strong>to</strong> know when <strong>the</strong> UN wasgoing <strong>to</strong> be involved in taking over <strong>the</strong>deployment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soldiers in Burundi.Even though <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Portfolio Committee on <strong>Defence</strong> wereengaged in o<strong>the</strong>r commitments inBurundi, <strong>the</strong>ir mission was <strong>to</strong> visit <strong>the</strong>soldiers and <strong>to</strong> see if <strong>the</strong>y had beenproperly resourced and were performing<strong>the</strong>ir duties as expected. The visitby <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> PortfolioCommittee on <strong>Defence</strong> also helpsParliament <strong>to</strong> decide what <strong>the</strong> requiremen<strong>to</strong>r <strong>the</strong> challenges are that face<strong>the</strong> AMIB.M A Y 2 0 1 1 • s25