Chapter 2 - P rogramme 1 - Department of Defence

SUBPROGRAMME RELIGIOUS SERVICES
DIVISION
Overview
The Religious Services Division focused its ministry
on a holistic religious approach and provided
religious service support to all DOD members and
their dependants by promoting spiritual growth,
social support and ethical conduct. The past year
was marked by strong services and support to
members in the operational areas, Military Attachés
as well as their dependants. However, of note are
the strong relations being forged in the Region and
on the Continent, as described in this report.
The importance of sharing a common vision on
the Continent was further promoted when a total
of 15 chaplains from SADC countries attended
different learning opportunities in South Africa
throughout the year, e.g. the “Chaplain in Peace
Support Operations” course. South Africa, as
the chair of the SADC Interstate Defence and
Security Committee Spiritual and Moral Support
Workgroup, led the chaplains in the Region during
this time to give spiritual and moral support to all
members and families. The workgroup efforts are
derived at establishing the Africa Standby Force
– SADC Brigade. This workgroup met twice to
discuss “Reconciliation and Healing as Part of Post-
Conflict Reconstruction” and the implementation
of the “Spiritual and Moral Support to the Militaries
of the Region” plan.
The programme “Combating HIV and AIDS
Through Spiritual and Ethical Conduct” (CHATSEC)
is considered to be one of the best programmes
of its kind and was therefore again presented to
21 chaplains of the SADC countries and a special
group of Namibian chaplain facilitators. Through
these training activities, the Religious Services
Division has helped to enhance and direct the
functioning and output of SADC Chaplain Services
and has indirectly given support to the execution of
Government imperatives.
In promoting peace and stability within the African
context, the Religious Services Division has played a
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major role through the services that were provided
by the externally deployed chaplains. In this vein, 16
foreign chief chaplains attended a very successful
conference on reconciliation and healing.
Eight chaplains, including two Reserve chaplains,
were deployed in peace support operations in the
DRC, Burundi, the Comoros and Sudan, where
they initiated various support programmes with
local churches and communities and built good
relationships with local pastors and community
leaders.
At home, the spiritual care and support of the injured
soldiers and the families of the deceased soldiers
of the Lohatla accident in October 2007 received
highest priority. Spiritual support was also provided
to deployed members and their families during
Operation BATA, the countrywide extended labour
action by public servants. Furthermore, the Division
focused its efforts during this time on the moral
regeneration and ethical conduct of the military
community, in support of the Moral Regeneration
Programme of the Government. The CHATSEC
programme was therefore also extensively presented
within the DOD, with specific focus on the MSDS
and training of Reserve chaplains. A seminar on
the “Challenges of Religion in Peace and Conflict
in Africa” was successfully held at the SA National
War College in November 2007.
The development of chaplains is important and
ongoing. For this reason, two chaplains attended
a NATO chaplains course in Germany and one
chaplain attended a Canadian Peace Support and
Humanitarian Aid Course, thereby ensuring that
the Chaplain Services Division remains abreast of
the latest developments internationally. With regard
to revitalising its Reserve component, the Division
successfully recruited 75 chaplains according to the
prescribed demographics of South Africa.
The Religious Services Division has throughout this
reporting period supported the DOD by proactively
enhancing the spiritual, moral and ethical milieu of
the DOD members in order to maintain the defence
capabilities of the SANDF for the people of South
Africa.
77 Annual Report FY 2007 - 2008
| Chapter 2 - Programme 1: Administration |