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S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2007Protecting Human RightsBy Nomonde Vuthela (published inSA Soldier: July 2007, page 18)Photo: Cpl Elias MahumaProviding media coverage onSANDF members deployed atthe Chris Hani BaragwanathHospital, affectionately knownas "Bara" to most SouthAfricans, has got to be one ofmy most intense experiences yet. "Bara"Hospital is the largest hospital in Africawith about 88 patient wards, but theunforeseen and unpredictable publicservice national strike brought the enormousinstitute to a virtual standstill.The wage dispute between the"Government" and "workers" who putdown tools and went on protest marchesmeant that all things stopped moving.Heeding the call to provide damagecontrol the South African MilitaryHealth Service (SAMHS) deployedmost of its members to public hospitalswhere the sick were left in dire straits.The visit of SA Soldier on 19 June 2007to 8 Medical Battalion Unit erectedinside the "Bara" Hospital grounds inresponse to the state of emergency isprobably the closest I will ever come toa scenario overflowing with casualties,like the battlefield makeshift hospitals Ihave seen so often in movies.The Officer Commanding 8 MedicalBattalion, Col Gustave Erlank, told theSA Soldier team that on an average daythe hospital has around 2 000 bedpatients. On the day that we visited, thenumber had dropped to 1 100. "Thematernity ward was the busiest sectionThe unforeseen and unpredictable public servicenational strike brought the largest hospital in Africawith about 88 patient wards, to a virtual standstill.Military Skills Development System (MSDS) members from theSAMHS Training Formation in Pretoria prepare for a day's workbefore leaving the women's sleeping ward.all along," according to the Officer inCharge, who added that the maternityand gynaecology wards were thebiggest in terms of space, volume anddemand, with almost 50 "normal" birthsa day, excluding the caesarean sectionpatients.8 Medical Battalion had already seentwo weeks of deployment by 19 June2007, with a total of 117 staff membersworking two twelve-hour shifts, aroundthe clock. He added: "We are handlingthis as a military operation even thoughwe are giving health support to the hospital.We have an Operations Roomwhere we receive requirements fromthe hospital on what personnel andmedical assistance is needed in thewards."The unit members also transported thedead from the ward to the morgue. ColErlank continued: "Most of the work isconcerned with casualties. There wasalso a big need for the laundry to getdone and a lot of effort was also putinto the kitchens. The medical healthcore function is to look after peopleand to see to it that people's well-beingis taken care of, but we have also gotpsychologists and social workers towork with my members on a dailybasis."36• M A Y 2 0 1 1
stories from 2007S A S O L D I E RThe launch of the SADCBRIGADE in LusakaBy Tebogo Dube, Defence TV (publishedin SA Soldier: September2007, page 20)Photo: Mampi Musweu, ZNBC TVThe recent SADC Summit washeld in Lusaka, Zambia, from15 to 17 August 2007. Thehighlight during the Summitwas the launch of the SADCBRIGADE. The SADCBRIGADE was officially launched bythe President of Zambia, Mr LevyPatrick Mwanawasa, in Lusaka on 17August.This brigade forms part of the AfricanStandby Force. The deterioration ofsecurity in Africa led to the formationof the African Standby Force. Africanheads of state realised that the scourgeof conflicts in Africa constituted a majorimpediment to the socio-economicdevelopment of the continent and thatthey needed to promote peace, securityand stability as a prerequisite forAfrica's development and integration.The Policy Framework Document forthe establishment of the AfricanStandby Force was approved by theAfrican heads of state in Addis Ababain July 2004. The launch of the SADCBRIGADE signified that the troopswere to be deployed on the continentwhen needed. The brigade is made upof resources pledged by SADC memberstates according to a standby arrangementand comprises the military, thepolice and a civilian component.The only permanent structure theSADC has is the Planning ElementThe deteriorationof security in Africaled to the formationof the AfricanStandby Force.(PLANELM), which is located atthe SADC Headquarters inGaborone and consists of themilitary, the police and a civiliancomponent. The PLANELM isguided by the SADC Chiefs ofDefence Staff Committee and theCommittee of SADC PoliceChiefs.The Brigade will perform observationand monitoring missions,peace support missions, interventionsfor peace and securityrestoration in grave circumstancesat the request of a memberstate, and prevent thespreading to neighbouring areasor states of conflicts or the resurgenceof violence after agreementshave been reached, asenvisaged in the African Union'sMandate with regard to peaceand security.In his speech at the ceremonyPresident Mwanawasa, who isalso the SADC Chairperson,said: "I wish to commend thehard and laborious work doneby the SADC Organ on Politics,Defence and Security Co-operationfor the realisation of this historicoccasion today". He award-The parade on the day of the launchof the SADC BRIGADE.ed medals to officers who had served in thePLANELM for more than three months.A plaque with the flags of all the SADCmember states was also unveiled at theparade.M A Y 2 0 1 1 • s 37
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