Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

The new chief of the army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke, has asked the defence force to aspire to loyalty, honesty, teamwork, respect and accountability.

Shoke was delivering his end-of-year message at the Army Festival on Thursday, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) said.

Shoke commended those who had fallen in the line of duty while following the SANDF's ideals of promoting internal, regional and continental peace and security.

Over 20 medals were awarded to members of the SANDF members and the Reserve Forces at the sixth annual Army Festival which took place at the Thaba Tshwane Town Hall on Thursday morning, said SANDF spokeswoman Merle Meyer.

Awards for sport, shooting and physical fitness were also given. The highest decoration awarded to warrant officers of the SANDF, the Pro Meritio Decoration, was given to Warrant Officer Class 1 Eddie Sykes. The medal awarded 40 years of distinguished and loyal service.

Thirteen SANDF members have died in Burundi.

Three SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were arrested for allegedly robbing a petrol station manager of over R100,000 in Lenasia on Monday, Soweto police said on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old man was on his way to the bank with cash and cheques to the value of R121,500 when he was stopped by five soldiers who accused him of being a drug dealer, said Sergeant Richard Munyai.

They told him they were taking him to the police station.

Two of the soldiers took his car while he was made to accompany the other three in their car.

They drove to an open veld where he was beaten with the butt of a firearm. He was then tied to his car's steering wheel. The five fled with the cash and cheques.

Once he freed himself the man went to the Lenasia military base where he was able to identify three of his alleged attackers who were arrested.

The money and cheques were not recovered.

SA has a new role in Africa THE South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has completed a large-scale integration of the country's pre-1994 military formations, while at the same implementing a comprehensive transformation process. A new military structure and force design emerged as a consequence of the defence white paper (1996) and the defence review (1998). Now the SANDF faces new roles and challenges, largely unforeseen when the white paper and review were drafted. The shortcomings of defence policy in a range of areas have become obvious. The focus on territorial defence and consequent military preparations for this role have become less important due to increased continental and regional security co-operation and the need for SA to play an active and effective role in African peacekeeping. While the SANDF plays a critical role as ultimate guarantor and protector of SA's new democracy, changed circumstances require an updating and refocusing of defence policy.

This has been acknowledged by the military leadership, hence the initiation of a process intended to culminate in a new defence white paper.

The drafting of a new white paper provides an opportunity to address the weaknesses of the force structure and policy. Any effective defence policy must be based on a realistic, comprehensive and meticulous analysis of the security threats facing SA, now and over the longer term. Without a threat analysis, defence policy, procurement and training will be driven by institutional needs (survival and growth) and industry needs (profits from weapons production) and result in a distorted military structure. An objective analysis of the regional and extraregional strategic environment would suggest no possibility of a conventional military threat to SA in the foreseeable future, even using a worst-case scenario. The new defence review would be able to confirm this and outline the implications. The availability of more SANDF personnel for collateral deployment could be confirmed and specific areas where and how the SANDF can contribute to addressing other urgent national security needs clearly identified. SA is unlikely to be directly affected by the US "war on terror", or fourth-generation warfare. This was emphasised by President Thabo Mbeki's recent statement at the United Nations, where he identified Africa's priority as the "war on poverty". Moreover, the apparent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has only marginal relevance to SA's defence function. SA's policy on weapons of mass destruction and active diplomatic participation in international forums to this end are comprehensive and effective. The central focus of SA's defence policy should thus be an Afrocentric approach concentrating on enhancing peace and stability on the continent.

Given the absence of a clear conventional military threat, the defence white paper could provide a response to SA's broader security concerns. This would include: continued contribution to fighting domestic crime, thus increased support for the South African Police Service would be appropriate; enhanced participation in countering illegal migration and transnational crime; an expanded capacity to participate in humanitarian relief activities, such as the provision of emergency food supplies, casualty evacuation and medical support; and a convincing commitment to increased involvement in peacekeeping. The white paper could also clearly outline how the SANDF may contribute to the success of the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community's (SADC's) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation in accordance with SA's treaty obligations and commitment to promoting peace and stability in Africa. The SANDF's contribution in these areas could be elaborated: regional co-operation on defence issues; SADC co-operation on conflict early warning; contribution to the AU's military staff committee; combined training and military preparation; development of an African common defence policy; preparations for the proposed African standby force; and interventions to maintain human security, including food relief. To advance the goal of continental peace and security, SA has an opportunity to become the centre for peacekeeping training in Africa. The defence white paper could thus propose a comprehensive and convincing plan for enhancing SA's peacekeeping training, preparation and operational deployment. This would include training that sensitises soldiers to the duties and responsibilities of peacekeeping as opposed to making war. An in-depth knowledge of our bill of rights, the African Charter on Human and People's Rights and the AU's protocol on women's rights is essential to ensure that South African peacekeepers are not tarred by allegations of crimes and human rights abuses. This is especially important after the deportation of a South African colonel from the Democratic Republic of Congo for sexual harassment in July this year, allegations of rape and indecent assault against South African soldiers in the Congo, and the arrest of a South African soldier in connection with murder in Burundi recently. The UN has 18 peace missions in progress. An additional 30 multilateral peace missions are being conducted by regional organisations. In the light of SA's commitment to peacekeeping, the SANDF's participation on a small scale in these other missions as part of a skills-enhancement process appears appropriate. Argentina for example, with an armed force of 72000 (less than SA), has in the past 10 years sent more than 9000 soldiers to participate in various peacekeeping operations. SA's peacekeeping deployment of almost 3000 is respectable in international terms, but short of a number of other countries such as: Bangladesh (6006); Pakistan (5455) Nigeria (3489) and India (2877). With a view to advancing peace and security in Africa, SA could gain significantly from participation in peacekeeping operations (one or two officers at each UN mission) while advancing active peacekeeping and related deployments on the African continent. As the major economic power south of the Sahara, SA is expected to play a defence role more commensurate with its economic strength. The SANDF could make a major contribution to operationalising SADC-AU security agreements, thereby helping to provide African solutions to African problems. As Mbeki has pointed out, ending African conflicts is an urgent priority and the "joint responsibility of each and every African patriot". The SANDF's new white paper could provide the framework for SA to play a leading role in this process, so confirming its African patriotism and active support for Africa's renewal. -Shelton is associate professor of international relations at Wits University and previously director of intelligence policy at the defence secretariat of the defence department. This is a shortened version of his submission to Parliament on behalf of the Institute for Global Dialogue.

A lack of discipline was to blame for the shooting incident in Burundi during which a South African soldier was shot and killed by a colleague, the Freedom Front Plus said in a statement on Friday.

"The shooting incident in Burundi, in which a South African soldier shot and killed his colleague, testifies to the lack of discipline in the Defence Force. This lack of discipline does not only exist among lower ranking personnel but proves that senior officers are as slack, in properly exercising discipline," said FF Plus spokesman Pieter Groenewald.

Gunner Elvin Mopani Hendricks, 24, died in a shooting incident on Wednesday night in a military camp in Bujumbura.

A second member of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) contingent serving with the mission in Burundi was arrested by members of the South African Military Police Agency in connection with the incident.

Groenewald blamed the antics of senior officers who he said were continuously in the news for misconduct.

He said they set a bad example for subordinates.

"It could rightfully be asked how senior officers could exercise discipline if they are themselves ill disciplined," Groenewald said in a statement.

He also argued that it appeared that drunkenness and alcohol abuse was common among South African soldiers in Burundi.

"South African soldiers acting in peace delegations in other countries are supposed to be the cream of the SA National Defence Force," he said, adding that they were a disgrace and should not be buried with full military honours as they were.

A South African soldier taking part in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Burundi has been shot dead, apparently by a colleague, the South Africa National Defense Force (SANDF) said on Thursday.

The SANDF said in a statement issued in Pretoria that Gunner Elvin Mopani Hendricks, 24, died in a shooting incident on Wednesday night in a military camp in Bujumbura.

"A second member of the SANDF contingent serving with the mission in Burundi has been arrested by members of the South African Military Police Agency in connection with the incident.

"The circumstances surrounding the shooting incident will be thoroughly investigated."

The defense force did not reveal further details of what happened.

Hendricks, a member of 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, is survived by his mother, who lives in Kimberley in the Northern Cape.

His body would be returned to South Africa later this week, the statement said.

Hendricks is the 13th South African member of the peacekeeping mission killed in Burundi, none of them in combat.

Some 700 South African troops have been in Bujumbura since October 2002 to provide protection to the politicians returning from exile to join transitional institutions set up in November.

L'Afrique du sud et la Belgique ont signé mardi trois accords visant à renforcer les relations entre leurs deux gouvernements, au second jour de la visite officielle du président sud-africain Thabo Mbeki à Bruxelles, dominée par la situation dans la région des Grands Lacs.

Ce renforcement des contacts passera par la création d'une commission mixte co-présidée par les ministres des Affaires étrangères belge et sud-africain ou les directeurs généraux des deux ministères, indique le texte. Il a été signé par les chefs de la diplomatie des deux pays, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma et Karel De Gucht, en marge d'une rencontre entre M. Mbeki, accompagné par plusieurs de ses ministres, et plusieurs membres du gouvernement fédéral. M. Mbeki et le Premier ministre Guy Verhofstadt ont pour leur part signé une "déclaration d'intention" sur le même sujet alors que, plus tôt dans la journée, les ministres de la Défense de deux pays, Mosiuoa Lekota et André Flahaut, avaient conclu un "arrangement technique" ouvrant la voie à un renforcement de la coopération militaire entre Pretoria - intéressée par l'expérience belge en matière de maintien de la paix - et Bruxelles.

Reports that Inkatha Freedom Party members in Hlathikhulu on the outskirts of Estcourt were recently attacked by men dressed in SANDF uniforms are being investigated by the KwaZulu-Natal midlands police.

Cases of assault, theft and intimidation were under investigation, police spokesman Captain Harry Gwala said on Monday.

Residents of Hlathikulu were allegedly attacked on Friday morning by men wearing SA National Defence Force uniforms, he said.

IFP spokesman Velaphi Ndlovu said the intruders attacked sleeping residents, ransacked their homes and then fled with cash, cellphones and firearms.

Ndlovu said it was of particular concern that the intruders were wearing SANDF uniforms.

"This changes the nature of the intimidation and assault at Hlathikhulu radically and unequivocally. We appeal to the authorities to leave no stone unturned in their search for the perpetrators," he said.

Patrolling a stretch of about 1 200km of dry desert across the Kalahari dunes in temperatures of up to 47C daily can be a daunting task.

"It takes dedication and shows loyalty to our country. We could all learn from the commitment shown by these men," said Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula here yesterday.

The minister was referring to the 40 SA Police Service (SAPS) members who have been deployed here on the border posts of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

This deployment is part of government's plans to shift border control from the defence force to the police, following government's completion of the SANDF/SAPS exit and entry strategy for 2004 to 2008.

The deployment commenced on 13 September, as Mr Nqakula explained, border control was the duty of the police as it involved crime prevention and combating which was not the function of the defence force.

Mr Nqakula had visited the men in their three units - Middelputs, Rietfontein and Nakop to inspect their working conditions and living arrangements.

They were developed there after a weeklong refresher course.

The course included understanding relevant legislation such as the Immigration Act, detection of impostors and smuggle techniques, crime threat analysis and driving 4X4 vehicles, suitable for desert areas.

Captain Miya, base commander for Middelputs, said their duties included checking for clues of illegal border crossing.

"The law states that people have to use the border gates. If we find people who are crossing illegally we arrest them," he explained.

The units have brand new air-conditioned tents as sleeping quarters and recreational facilities, complete with pool tables and TV sets. The 4X4 vehicles are also air-conditioned and have fridges.

The Middelputs unit patrols up to McCarthy's Rest and back along the Botswana border.

The unit from Rietfontein patrols the corner wedged between Botswana and Namibia, while the Nakop unit patrols the straight stretch of the border along the eastern side of Namibia.

Mr Nqakula expressed gratitude at how the men had adjusted to their environment, enduring scorching heat most of the time.

One of the members of the Middelputs unit, Samuel Ndwendwe from the East Rand in Gauteng, said that two-and-a-half months could feel extremely long under the hot temperatures.

"Unfortunately I have no control over the weather," Mr Nqakula joked later with the Nakop unit.

Currently there are no women in the deployed units, but Captain David Mbambo, section head of border police, said that future units would include women.

The SA National Defence Force [SANDF] has increased the size of its contingent in the DRCongo by about a hundred.

In a statement issued on Monday [8 November], the SANDF said 1,273 troops were dispatched to the UN peace-keeping mission in the DRCongo over the weekend to replace a force of 1,153.

The SANDF's contingent in the DRC is "rotated" every six months.

On request of the UN, the SANDF has held back two members to facilitate investigations being conducted by the UN into allegations of misconduct.

"They will remain in the DRCongo until the UN inquiry has been completed," spokesman Colonel John Rolt said.

The South African defence department was "favourably considering" an African Union request for additional military support for its peace mission in the conflict-ridden western Darfur region of the Sudan.

The SA National Defence Force has been asked to provide a contingent comprising an infantry company, an explosives and ordnance demolition team, military observers and staff officers, the department said on Friday.

"The SANDF members of the contingent will assist in the monitoring and observing of compliance with the Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement of April 8, and all such agreements in the future," it said in a statement.

They would also contribute "to a secure environment for the delivery of material relief and the return of refugees to their homes and to... the improvement of the security situation throughout Darfur".

Department spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said the contingent, once approved, was expected to comprise more than 200 South African soldiers, and was expected to be deployed early next year.

"We cannot say with any certainty now, as we are working out the modalities," he said, adding: "The minister (Mosiuoa Lekota) is treating this matter with the utmost urgency."

An advance party would leave for Sudan this month to do "detail planning".

South Africa deployed eight high-ranking soldiers as peacekeepers to the region in July.

The AU was reportedly in the process of increasing the size of its mission in Darfur sevenfold, to over 3000 personnel.

Tens of thousands of people are estimated to have been killed in a 20-month conflict in Darfur, which was recently labelled as genocide by United States Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Close to two million have had to flee their homes and about 400,000 were in need off humanitarian assistance, according to the Associated Press.

Violence broke out last January when two black African rebel groups took up arms over what they claimed was unjust treatment by the government of Sudan and ethnic Arabs.

Pro-government militias then unleashed retaliatory attacks on villages.

The conflict has been termed by United Nations officials as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.

Major-General Carlo Gagiano and Rear Admiral Refiloe Mudimu have been appointed chief of the SA Air Force and chief of the SA Navy respectively with effect from February 1 next year, the Department of Defence said on Thursday.

Gagiano, currently Chief Director of Policy and Plans, would obtain the rank of Lieutenant-General and replace retiring air force chief Roelf Beukes.

Mudimu, the current Chief of Naval Staff, would be promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and take over from retiring Johan Retief, the department said in a special bulletin.

It also announced the promotion of Major-General Sipho Binda to the rank of Lieutenant-General from November 1 and his appointment to the post of Chief of Joint Support in which he had been acting.

Brigadier-General Solly Mollo, previous Director of Strategy and Planning, took up the vacant Chief of Human Resource Support post from the beginning of the month with the rank of Major-General.

The department said Rear-Admiral George Mphafi, previous Chief of Staff Fleet Command, has been appointed Chief of Defence Foreign Relations from November 1. He replaced Brigadier-General Damian de Lange "who is placed additional to the structure" pending a new appointment, the bulletin said.

Colonel Marius Cornelissen, currently the Formation Chaplain of the Joint Training Division, has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and was appointed Chaplain General.

 The SA National Defence Force is stepping up efforts to trim down the number of colonels and naval captains - and get the demographics right, it said on Tuesday [2 November].

"Due to well-known historical realities, representivity in certain rank groups is totally imbalanced. The rank group colonel/captain (navy) is one of these rank groups where the balance is completely skewed.

"There are currently 804 colonels in the SANDF. Of these 585 are white, 189 are African, 23 are coloured and seven are Indian," SANDF spokesman Maj-Gen Mohato Mofokeng said in a statement.

"Another factor is the requirement for rejuvenation and (preventing) stagnation in specific rank groupings," he said, adding the imperatives came from the defence department's human resources 2010 strategy.

Mofokeng could not say how many officers "placed additional to structure" would eventually be retrenched.

"It is too early for that. They will not necessarily exit immediately. The plan is to use them productively elsewhere as the system has the capacity to absorb them," he told Sapa in a telephone interview.

He said an exit mechanism to retrench supernumerary officers, required under the strategy, was also not yet in place.

Mofokeng also said the process was part of the restructuring and transformation of the defence department ongoing since 1994.

The strategy document released in parliament earlier this year argued that the SANDF had to solve its staff problems before it could begin to address its funding and operational shortfalls.

"The strategy itself is based on the premise that it must provide solutions to solve the main HR (human resources) problem areas which, if not addressed, will lead to the deterioration of the (department's) HR composition and thereby the inability of the (department) to execute its mission."

The SA National Defence Force is stepping up efforts to trim down the number of colonels and naval captains -- and get the demographics right, it said on Tuesday.

"Due to well known historical realities, representivity in certain rank groups is totally imbalanced. The rank group colonel/captain (navy) is one of these rank groups where the balance is completely skewed.

"There are currently 804 colonels in the SANDF. Of these 585 are white, 189 are African, 23 are coloured and seven are Indian," SANDF spokesman Major General Mohato Mofokeng said in a statement.

"Another factor is the requirement for rejuvenation and (preventing) stagnation in specific rank groupings," he said, adding the imperatives came from the defence department's human resources 2010 strategy.

Mofokeng could not say how many officers "placed additional to structure" would eventually be retrenched.

"It is too early for that. They will not necessarily exit immediately. The plan is to use them productively elsewhere as the system has the capacity to absorb them," he told Sapa in a telephone interview.

He said an exit mechanism to retrench supernumerary officers, required under the strategy, was also not yet in place.

Mofokeng also said the process was part of the restructuring and transformation of the defence department ongoing since 1994.

The strategy document released in Parliament earlier this year argued that the SANDF had to solve its staff problems before it could begin to address its funding and operational shortfalls.

"The strategy itself is based on the premise that it must provide solutions to solve the main HR (human resources) problem areas which, if not addressed, will lead to the deterioration of the (department's) HR composition and thereby the inability of the (department) to execute its mission."