Chapter 2 - P rogramme 1 - Department of Defence

Overview
| Department of Defence |
CHAPTER 4
Programme 2: Landward Defence
The South African Army made a concerted effort
at all levels to achieve its objectives to ensure that
the SANDF honours its ordered commitments and
thereby supports Government initiatives to promote
peace, security and stability on our Continent and
support the people of our country. Key processes
to ensure the achievement of force preparation
and readiness targets were instituted and refined.
Audits by the Inspector-General (IG) Army, IG
DOD and Auditor-General assisted in the process
of continuously improving performance through
accurate reporting and accountability. Performance
management was integrated with other processes,
especially the Strategic Management Process (SMP).
Of note is the corporate SA Army Performance
Review System, which enables performance
information to be confirmed and progress to be
tracked, as well as decisions to improve organisational
performance and critical underperformance to be
taken by the Army Council. Consequently, the past
year saw the SA Army not only meeting the required
force levels, but also instituting key management
processes that enhanced its governance and controls.
The achievements and challenges for the past year
are highlighted in this report.
The SA Army remains the largest contributor of
forces to the various missions by the SANDF. In
this regard, forces were provided for nine external
operations, while forces were simultaneously
provided for three internal operations. The external
operations in Burundi, the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, Eritrea, Uganda and
Mozambique were supported by approximately
4 200 Army members within several rotations.
Altogether, 24 Regular and six Reserve companies
(approximately 3 000 members) were deployed in
internal operations related to rural safeguarding
and borderline control. In addition, 62 Regular
and Reserve platoons (1 909 members) provided
support to Operation BATA, the SANDF operation
in support of the Department of Health during the
public sector strikes.
Apart from deployment in peace support missions,
contributions were also made to the development and
training of foreign forces. Arising from the bilateral
discussions between the DRC and RSA and requests
made to the SANDF, intensive training assistance
was provided by 73 SA Army members to the DRC
forces (FARDC). Similar assistance was provided
to the Central African Republic by 14 members.
Small SA Army teams participated in four exercises
in support of foreign force training. The increased
bilateral and multilateral interaction has not only
strengthened relations between the African armies,
but has also set a firm basis for interoperability and
harmonisation towards the African Standby Force,
the SADC Brigade.
Force preparation of landward capabilities remains
the core business of the SA Army. Important
exercises and tests were conducted during the year.
The SA Army Air Defence Artillery Capability
successfully fired the first Starstreak missile on
South African soil at Overberg Test Range (OTR).
The SA Army Armour capability has successfully
commissioned and put into active service its new
armour equipment, the 12 x Mk2 Main Battle
Tanks and 13 x ZT3 missile systems. During
Exercise SEBOKA the Rooivalk Attack Helicopter,
in full observation of its new doctrine, fired live
ammunition and manoeuvred with the ground forces
for the first time and verifying the interoperability.
Seven mortar simulators have been installed at
various Regular and Reserve Infantry units. This has
enhanced training and will bring about savings on
mortar ammunition.
The January 2007 Military Skills Development System
(MSDS) members successfully completed their
training, which culminated in integrated training at
the Combat Training Centre and De Brug Training
Areas through Exercise SEBOKA and Exercise
YOUNG EAGLE, respectively. It was during
Exercise SEBOKA that the tragic training accident
occurred, resulting in the loss of nine Air Defence
Artillery (ADA) gunners and injury to 15. High-level
investigations into the accident were concluded and
rectifications will be instituted on conclusion of the
findings. Regarding the January 2008 MSDS intake,
1 600 members are currently undergoing training in
SA Army Training Centres/Centres of Excellence
(COE). The targets of 24% white candidates and
103 Annual Report FY 2007 - 2008
| Chapter 4 - Programme 2: Landward Defence |