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S A S O L D I E Rstories from 2010DOD closes gapson service deliveryBy L Cpl Itumeleng Makhubela (anextract of what was published in SASoldier: May 2010, page 16)Photos: Sgt Elias MahumaThe Department of Defence, inconjunction with theDepartment of Public Works,has completed the constructionof three bridges in theEastern Cape villages ofLefukufuku near Tsomo, Ntafufu atPort St Johns and Daluhlanga nearMount Ayliff. 16 March 2010 saw theopening of the newly constructedbridges by the Deputy Minister ofDefence and Military Veterans, MrThabang Makwetla, accompanied bythe Minister of Public Works, Mr GeoffDoidge, and the MEC of Roads andTransport in the Eastern Cape, MsPemmy Majodina. Mr Makwetla indicatedthat this project was a pilot projectfor the SANDF aimed at testingthe capacity and capability to lendassistance to other government departmentsin support of the people.The SANDF aimed at testing the capacity and capabilityto lend assistance to other government departmentsin support of the people.the expertise, manpower andequipment for the constructionof the bridges.The MEC of Roads andTransport in the Eastern Capeexpressed her gratitude to allthe stakeholders that hadworked together to realise thegoal. Along with the ministers,she affirmed that this wouldnot end here, but would beextended to other areas in need.Soldiers from 1 ConstructionRegiment busy at work constructinga bridge.He further stated that this interventionby the DOD came after a request bythe Department of Public Works toassist following concerns expressed bythe communities in these areas thatduring floods they would be cut offrom services and children would beunable to go to school.Many municipalities in these ruralareas do not have sufficient funds andexpertise to provide services to thesecommunities, which has led to a hugebacklog in the delivery of services. TheDOD intervention was the provision ofJubilant learners crossing the bridge over the Daluhlanga River.44• M A Y 2 0 1 1
stories from 2010Operation LITCHI 10 years down the lineBy Kgabo Mashamaite (an extractof what was published in SASoldier: June 2010, page 16)Photo: Sgt Elias MahumaRosita Mabuiango (10) and hermother, Ms Sofia Chiure, werethe guests of honour at theMinister of Defence and MilitaryVeterans' budget vote on 4 May 2010in Parliament, Cape Town, whereMinister Lindiwe Sisulu announcedthat the SANDF had formally adoptedRosita, and would be contributingtowards her educational costs andother costs related to her upbringing.On 1 March 2000 the villagers inGaza Province in Mozambique wokeup to a flood that endangered notonly their village, but also other nearbyvillages as well. Torrential rainhad resulted in the river overflowingits banks and inundating the surroundingarea.Owing to a lack of capacity andresources to rescue stranded villagers,Mozambique requested humanitarianassistance from the South AfricanGovernment. The rescue mission,called Operation LITCHI, was undertakenin response to this request.The decision to send SANDFmembers to the distressed villages inGaza Province had a positive impacton the people being evacuated fromthe deadly floods. When this missionwas broadcast and published on internationalmedia the world witnessedthe bravery, humanity and empathythat the SANDF had for the less fortunatein times of difficulty. An Oryxhelicopter of the SA Air Force, one ofthe four deployed on the OperationLITCHI rescue mission, was seen hoveringover a tree to rescue a newbornbaby and her mother.That tiny little bundle is today aS A S O L D I E RThe family met withthe 2000 rescue team members: Lt Col(Ret) Jaco Klopper (Task ForceMission Commander), Capt (Ret)Chris Berlyn (Pilot) and WO2Tshifiwa Nengovhela (a SAMHSMedic) for the first time on 4 May2010. The occasion was televised duringthe annual Defence budget vote.The other members who participatedin the rescue mission were Lt (Ret)Dave Talbot (Co-pilot), Sgt (Ret)Neville Jeanes (Flight Engineer) andSgt (Ret) Stuart Buck (RescuePersonnel) who were not present.SA Air Force boasts first female Gripen pilotBy Cpl Itumeleng Makhubela (anextract of what was published in SASoldier: November 2010, page 17)Photo: S Sgt Lebogang TlhaoleThe SA Air Force can boast of havingproduced the first femaleGripen fighter jet pilot in the world- Maj Catherine Labuschagne.With over 12 years of service in theSA Air Force Maj Labuschagne hasapproximately 1 900 flying hours to hercredit of which 1 000 are in militaryjets. "This is fantastic for me, and I amexcited," remarked Maj Labuschagne."It's amazing what you can do with theaircraft, but you need to be persistentand work hard."In 2004, after joining 85 CombatFlying School in Hoedspruit, MajLabuschagne had an opportunity tobecome the first female fighter pilot inFltr: WO2 Tshifiwa Nengovhela (a SAMHSMedic), Rosita Mabuiango (10-year-old),Ms Lindiwe Sisulu (Minister of Defence andMilitary Veterans), and Lt Gen CarloGagiano (Chief of the SA Air Force) duringthe 2010 Minister's Budget Vote.the world to fly in the backseat of the Swedish builtGripen fighter jet at theopening of the AfricanAerospace and DefenceExhibition. In 2010 she nowflies solo in a Gripen.Three male Gripen fighterpilots qualified with MajLabuschagne at Air ForceBase Makhado. The four ofthem completed their OperationalConversion Coursein which they flew solo inGripens on 7 October 2010.Maj Labuschagne, MajLance Mathebula, Lt KevinChetty and Lt Col Gys vander Walt will form a pool offighter pilots who havepaved the way for up-andcomingaviators.bright 10 year-old, RositaMabuiango, whose 33-year-old mother, MsSofia Chiure, made headlinesafter giving birth ina tree during the rangingfloods.During the announcementin her budget vote,Minister Sisulu said thatRosita represented somethinguniquely goodabout the SANDF,including its humanity,bravery, skilful techniquesand the valuesinculcated in the membersof the SANDF.Maj Catherine Labuschagne is the firstfemale Gripen fighter jet pilot in theworld.M A Y 2 0 1 1 • s 45
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