Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

The first black Adjutant-General, chief of the SA National Defence Force's (SANDF) military legal services division, was inaugurated in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Major-General Bailey Segomotso Mmono was sworn in at a ceremony presided over by Judge President Bernard Ngoepe in his capacity as chairman of the Military Court of Appeal, at the Pretoria Military Sports Club at Thaba Tshwane.

"We must examine changes in the legal system since apartheid and beyond. Transformation is not limited to issues of gender, race and culture. It encapsulates keeping up with changes in the world around us," Mmono said in his inaugural speech.

He said failure to keep up with such changes would result in the demise of civil and military legal systems.

Mmono was handed the symbol of office, a metre long gilded sword, by his predecessor Rear-Admiral Charles Smart, who has occupied various legal posts within the military in southern Africa since 1976.

"Admiral Smart will not be leaving the SANDF. He will continue working in high-level tasks which require the skill and experience of a man of his calibre," Lieutenant-General Trevor Matanzima, chief of corporate staff said.

Matanzima said Mmono was a worthy and capable successor to Smart.

Mmono grew up in the former Bophuthatswana homeland, where he started his career in the Bophuthatswana Defence Force as a logistics officer. During those years he studied law part-time.

He was appointed a military judge in 1994 and a senior military judge in 2000.

He has a labour law degree and is an advocate of the high court of South Africa.

Mmono said during his tenure as Adjutant-General he would endeavour to improve his division's service delivery to the SANDF and the defence department by among other things, acknowledging that members of the division were public servants who would display loyalty to the country and serve as citizens and volunteers.

Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils has paid tribute to late defence analyst Rocky Williams, who died in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Williams, 44, died in his sleep of natural causes on Saturday night.

Kasrils said on Monday Williams had a close working relationship with the security community for many years, "starting out during the dark days of apartheid when he joined the liberation struggle".

"We, the intelligence community will miss Rocky," Kasrils said. "His warmth and generosity will continue to inspire us.

"He made an extremely valuable contribution... On behalf of the intelligence service, I offer our condolences to Rocky's partner, children, family and friends."

The Institute of Security Studies (ISS), where Williams worked for a time, said the former Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) operative was highly regarded for the work he did in defence and transforming the security sector in South Africa and elsewhere.

"Rocky was a very important player during the SA defence transformation process and was instrumental in the development of the 1998 Defence Review," the institute's head of defence research, Len le Roux, said.

"He managed that process very professionally and went out of his way to ensure the process was truly collaborative and transparent."

Williams was born in Johannesburg in March 1960. Between 1978 and 1980 he was a mole for MK within the former SA defence force -- where he reportedly reached the rank of sergeant.

Afterwards, until 1986, he was a commander in MK's reconnaissance and intelligence structures.

In 1988 he was appointed a strategic intelligence officer at MK's Lusaka, Zambia, headquarters, a post he held until 1990 when he returned from exile.

From 1990 to 1994 he was director of the Military Research Group, an ANC-aligned defence policy NGO.

During this time, in 1992, he obtained a PhD in civil-military relations from the University of Sussex in Britain.

In 1994 Williams was integrated into the new SA National Defence Force as a colonel and appointed senior staff officer for strategy.

The next year he left the SANDF for the Ministry of Defence, where he was director of defence policy. He left the ministry in 1999.

During this time he was co-ordinator of the Defence Review that informed the later acquisitions under the much-criticised strategic defence package.

He also co-wrote the White Paper on Safety, Security and Policing -- focusing on restructuring the police's head office and was the principal author of the White Paper on Participation in International Peace Missions.

Williams later served on the presidential commission into the restructuring of defence intelligence and drafted its reports from 1997 to 2000.

After he left the government he served for a while with the ISS before moving to SaferAfrica, another security sector NGO.

He, however, remained active in the SANDF's reserves.

At the time of his death he was an advisor to the parliamentary defence portfolio committee, a director at another defence NGO, the African Civil-Military Relations Institute in Johannesburg, and a member of an intelligence ministry committee on training.

He was also a member of the faculty of management at the University of the Witwatersrand where he had been a founder-member of its post graduate defence management programme.

Intake of more than 4400 a boost for peacekeeping operations in Africa

THE largest number of new recruits to join the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 10 years reported throughout the country last week for two years of training.

Swelling the ranks and funding a personnel exit mechanism are key to overcoming the problems of SA's poor military preparedness due to an ageing army burdened by health problems, including HIV/AIDS.

This intake of more than 4400 new recruits, which is the most substantial step the defence force has taken since 1994 to rejuvenate itself, will increase the number of soldiers who can be sent on peacekeeping operations in Africa.

About 9% of the defence force's personnel has been recruited in the past three years, and if its goal of an intake of 7000 a year is achieved, it will solve the problem of an ageing, ill army.

Last year the army had nearly 3000 terminations of service, almost 30% due to death.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota declines to put a price on a large-scale exit mechanism to speed up the departure of old and ill SANDF personnel.

It will, however, add impetus to the achievement of the government's desired racial profile of the defence force, but a sizable exit programme will also result in a huge loss of skills.

Lekota hopes this month's intake under the military skills development system, which entails a voluntary two-year national service programme, will be followed later this year by an intake of about 3000.

The defence department does not have the budget for a second intake and Lekota says he will ask the labour department whether it can fund aspects of military training from its budget.

Last year 75000 people applied to join the SANDF, most of them unemployed.

The multibillion-rand arms deal and the salaries of the topheavy SANDF have severely constrained funding for training a larger intake, an exit mechanism and operations.

With increasing demands for peacekeeping, SA is not in a position to supply any more troops than the 3000 in Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, and the small contingent in the Darfur region of Sudan .

The SANDF dismantled a large part of its training infrastructure when compulsory national service was abandoned by the apartheid government . At its peak the system could handle more than 10000 national servicemen in two intakes each year.

The military skills development system does not guarantee a job in the SANDF. But, of an intake of 1690 in 2003 and about 2000 last year, only 200 recruits left the army last March at the end of their two-year stint.

The army recruits will receive basic military training at infantry battalions in Kimberley and Oudtshoorn until mid-April. They will then receive specialist corps training in such areas as infantry, armoury and artillery. The next stage is officers' training.

At the end of the two years, recruits who show the potential to become soldiers and officers will be offered the opportunity to stay in the SANDF or return to civilian life.

The programme is a critical, but small, part of achieving the defence force's goals outlined in its human resources strategy 2010 document released last year .

It warns of the threat HIV/AIDS poses and calls for a discarding of the "cradle-tograve" employment ethos.

Lekota has said that if the defence force continues with its current intake rate and its policy of rejecting applicants with serious health conditions, including HIV/AIDS, it can achieve a force where only 10% is HIV-positive.

Currently, he says, this figure is between 20% and 22%, but he insists this is not the prime health problem in the SANDF.

"Matrics join the military!" -- that was the call Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota made on Tuesday to last year's matric class.

Lekota told journalists that he wanted more matrics to consider the military as a career, saying defence was about more than warfare, it was also about developing a skilled and disciplined citizenry.

Last week 4200 new recruits -- out of 75,000 applicants -- joined the SA National Defence Force countrywide.

This was the SANDF's largest ever volunteer intake, the minister said.

Lekota said he wanted more applicants and more money in his budget to accommodate at least another 2000 recruits this year.

He hoped to convince the education and labour ministries to make more funds available for him to take in another batch of the recruits in July.

As an alternative, his department would consider borrowing money.

Asked at Waterkloof Airforce Base why he wanted more applicants, Lekota answered that greater numbers would help sensitise the Cabinet, which he thought was not doing enough to help either unemployed youths or young people who could not afford to study.

Lekota also said he was concerned that young people and their parents were not aware of the many opportunities in the military for pilots, navigators, naval combat officers, engineers and accountants.

He said it was not helpful for his department to have programmes for training the youth if information about them was not available to those who qualified.

The department also had a training scheme, called foundation training, for matrics with poor marks who aspired to be pilots and the like.

Over 1100 students had already passed through this scheme and about 200 would be enrolled this year.

Students on this course received basic military training in the mornings and academic training in the afternoons.

At the end of the training year they rewrote those matric subjects in which they had fared poorly.

At the briefing the minister welcomed two young women, from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, into the SA Air Force.

Khanyisile Simelane and Thabisile Mahole, both 18 and from Tsakane at Brakpan, matriculated with average grades last year and Lekota was keen to help them and others in their position.

"A few weeks ago they were in despair... and their career hopes had come to a standstill. Today they are starting a new career in the SA Air Force," Lekota said.

The SA National Defence Force on Monday defended a raid by military police on the SA National Museum of Military History last week.

SANDF spokesman Major General Mohato Mofokeng said the action was in line "with the new crime prevention strategy of the Department of Defence.

"Throughout the investigation (military police) followed standing prescribed procedures after receiving reports of alleged crime," he added.

Military police raided the Department of Arts and Culture-owned museum in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, on Thursday after receiving information that "war-capable weapons and vehicles" were being stored on the premises.

John Keene, the museum's director -- and a retired major, and two curators, Richard Henry and Suzanne Blendulf, were led away in handcuffs from their workplace, accused of possession of "suspected stolen" military equipment.

They were jailed overnight and released on Friday afternoon without being charged.

After the raid the SANDF hauled away an example each of an Eland 60, Eland 90 and Ferret armoured car as well as a Ratel infantry fighting vehicle.

All had been on public display at the museum for at least a decade and the military, itself, sends more than 30 groups to the museum annually.

Mofokeng on Monday said no further arrests had been made and no further equipment confiscated.

An internal investigation "to determine negligence or other possible offences which may have been committed by people entrusted with the disposal of arms" was continuing.

Mofokeng also said discussions were being held between the department and the Northern Flagship Institution -- the museum's owner on behalf of the Department of Arts and Culture -- to "determine the legality or otherwise of the presence of the equipment at the museum."

According to media reports, the equipment taken on Thursday was listed in military records as having been destroyed.

A museum spokeswoman at the weekend said all the contested items were recorded in the museum's acquisition books.

"We are not responsible for the military's records, we are only responsible for our own," the museum's Sandi Mackenzie said.

The museum was opened by Jan Smuts in 1947, who said he hoped it would "serve as a warning to us to create a world in which we shall never have to use again the weapons of death and destruction ... or those dreadful weapons to follow them".

The world-famous institution has 40,400 exhibits -- including the only surviving Messerschmitt Me-262 nightfighter.

Investigations were continuing into the origins of some of the artefacts at Johannesburg's SA National Museum of Military History, an SA National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesman said on Monday.

This follows a raid last week and the arrest of the museum's director John Keen and curators Richard Henry and Susanne Blendulf under laws governing the way military items are disposed of.

The arrests followed information that the museum held "war-capable weapons and vehicles" and that some of the items were shown on military records to have been destroyed.

Some of the items seized include four tanks and these are still in the possession of the SANDF and will remain there until the investigation is finalised, Colonel Louis Kirstein said.

The three people arrested were released from custody on Friday afternoon without being charged.

Kirstein told Sapa last week that according to SANDF information the equipment seized was in working order "meaning they can be used for the purpose they are intended for".

The museum's acting director Sandy Mckenzie said that the four vehicles had been disarmed.

They were an Eland 60, and Eland 90 and a Ferret -- all light armoured vehicles, as well as a Ratel infantry fighting vehicle.

Most of the small arms under threat of confiscation, including pistols, machine guns and rifles, had been disabled -- except for "one or two" that had just came into the museum's possession.

All the contested items were recorded on the museum's acquisition books -- some since 1947.

In December Sapa reported that the museum's staff regularly start up a selection of their restored fleet to keep them in running order and on occasion invited the public to watch them do so -- a highlight for children and for military enthusiasts.

Museum staffers also devoted time to restoring the vehicles.

In December, the museum, run by the Department of Arts and Culture, had 18 vehicles in running order and planned to rehabilitate more.

The confiscated Ratel was used by the old SA Defence Force in the Angolan war, and many of the small arms were antiques and irreplaceable.

Further items were expected to be confiscated on Monday but Kirstein said only that "investigations are continuing".

Comment from the museum and the Department of Arts and Culture was not immediately available.

The defence force could not provide clarity on Friday as to whether the SA National Museum of Military History had legally or illegally obtained four military vehicles seized on Thursday.

"That forms part of our investigation," said spokesman Lt-Col Louis Kirstein.

The museum's director and two curators, meanwhile, were released from custody on Friday afternoon without being charged, following their arrest for the possession of "suspected stolen" military equipment.

"The prosecutor declined to prosecute and they were released," said Northern Flagship Institute chief executive officer Makgolo Makgolo.

The SA National Defence Force declined to comment on the discharge.

Director John Keen and curators Richard Henry and Susanne Blendulf were arrested at their workplace in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, on Thursday, handcuffed, and locked in police cells.

Keen, who was recovering from eye surgery, was moved from the cells to the Pretoria Eye Hospital at 5am on Friday, where he was held under police guard until the court appearance. The others remained in cells.

Military police raided the museum on Thursday after receiving information that it held "war-capable weapons and vehicles".

Police apparently told museum staff that some of the arms and vehicles on display were shown on military records to have been destroyed.

They confiscated an Eland 60, and Eland 90 and a Ferret -- all light armoured vehicles, as well as a Ratel infantry fighting vehicle. They were worth an estimated R120 million.

Investigators apparently also threatened to return to seize a G5 towed cannon, a G6 self-propelled cannon and an array of light arms.

Institute for Security Studies defence sector programme head, Len le Roux, said a disposal process existed whereby the military got rid of its superfluous equipment.

Applications to acquire such equipment were adjudicated by a disposal board.

Kirstein could not say if that process was followed in this case, or what the outcome was. He could also not confirm that the confiscated weapons were recorded as "destroyed".

"All of this forms part of the investigation," he said.

Asked if the arrests and confiscations were not premature in that case, Kirstein said military police procedure allowed for a person's arrest on the mere suspicion that he or she possessed stolen goods.

According to SANDF information, he added, the equipment seized was in working order "meaning they can be used for the purpose they are intended for".

The museum's acting director Sandy Mckenzie said the four vehicles had been disarmed. Most of the small arms under threat of confiscation, including pistols, machine guns and rifles, had been disabled -- except for "one or two" that had just came into the museum's possession.

"This is just bizarre," she said. "We are academics. What are we going to do with armoured vehicles?

All the contested items were recorded on the museum's acquisition books -- some since 1947.

The confiscated Ratel came out of the Angolan war, and many of the small arms were antiques and irreplaceable.

Mckenzie and Makgolo said the defence force's concerns were never raised, and Thursday's raid came "out of the blue".

Describing the arrests as humiliating, Makgolo said: "To my knowledge, each and every collection in the museum has been legally acquired".

"Everything in the museum is an asset of the state. I don't think the state can keep anything that is stolen."

Le Roux said there was no reason why discarded military items should not be kept in a museum, provided they were disabled and the correct disposal procedures were followed.

"There is no reason to destroy military equipment when it can be displayed in a museum to showcase a part of our history."

Le Roux added that a disarmed armoured vehicle "is no more dangerous than a bulldozer or any other heavy vehicle in the wrong hands".

The Democratic Alliance described the incident as heavy-handed and proof that "there is apparently no end to the government's paranoia".

The matter could have been dealt with in a more responsible and amicable manner, the party said.

"It is an administrative and logistical matter that should have been dealt with accordingly."

Kirstein said the fate of the four confiscated vehicles, currently in possession of the SANDF, would be determined by the outcome of the military police probe.

The cannons would be removed from the museum later, possibly on Monday, and the small arms would be confiscated if the investigation so required.

The director and two curators of the SA National Museum of Military History were arrested on Thursday night for stockpiling working weapons and military vehicles, the museum said.

The museum's acting director, Sandy Mckenzie, said that museum director Major John Keen and a male curator were taken to Kameeldrift police station in Pretoria while a female curator was being kept at a Johannesburg police station. All three were expected to appear in court on Friday.

"Police and the SANDF have accused us of stockpiling weapons as if we were preparing for a war," said Mckenzie.

"It is our function as a museum to collect and preserve such artefacts in working order. Are we then also guilty of stockpiling medals, flags, badges and uniforms?" she asked.

Military intelligence and police raided the museum in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, after receiving information that "war-capable weapons and vehicles" were being stored on the premises.

The operation's spokesman Fani Molapo said according to military records the vehicles, which were exhibited inside the museum, had been destroyed.

Police said over 1000 illegal firearms would be confiscated. Six tanks were also removed.

Mckenzie said Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan, and departmental director-general, Itumeleng Mosala, arrived at the museum -- which falls under the department -- after hearing of the raid.

"The department has been incredibly supportive of us during this entire incident," Mckenzie said.

"The director-general and their attorney Mr Witter were up past midnight last night trying to arrange bail for the three," she said.

The R20,000 bail per person would be paid by the department.

"We were told by military intelligence that there was military equipment that was not supposed to have been at the museum because it was in working condition," Mosala said on Thursday night.

Mosala said on arrival at the museum, police and SANDF members took them to rooms where they demonstrated the weapons and vehicles to be in working condition.

"According to those guys, the number of weapons being kept there could raze Soweto within two minutes," he said.

After demonstrating the weapons to the minister and director-general, the police arrested the director and two curators.

Mckenzie said Keen was at the Pretoria Eye Hospital undergoing surgery after his retina had completely detached.

Keen had undergone surgery on his retina on Wednesday and was prescribed bed rest.

"Upon hearing of the drama at the museum, he went there and was also arrested. After his arrest, he was taken to the hospital under armed guard."

More than 3500 recruits, the most in a decade, were expected to take part in its skills development programme, the SA National Defence Force(SANDF) said on Tuesday.

"These recruits will receive basic military training through the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) at Kimberley and Oudtshoorn from 13 January until the middle of April," said SANDF spokesman Major Danny Shibambo.

The recruits, aged between 18 and 24, will be reporting to SANDF designated centres around the country on January 13 and 14, to be transported by bus to Kimberley and Oudtshoorn.

"The recruits form part of the SANDF's rejuvenation programme," Shibambo said.

After April, the recruits will receive Corps Training at various corps schools after which selected candidates will do Junior Leader training at the SA Army Gymnasium in Heidelberg.

The highlight of the MSDS training would be the recruits' participation in the annual SA Army Exercise at the SA Army Combat Training Centre in October, Shibambo said.

The exercise would test the combat readiness of various sub units.

During their second year of military service the recruits would be deployed with various units, after which they would be offered an additional contract or return to civilian life.

"Those who take up the contract would be allocated to one of the SA Army Conventional Reserve Force units where they would serve as reserve force members," Shibambo said.

rescued from the Drakensberg mountains after their helicopter made an emergency landing on Saturday were found unharmed, his department said on Monday.

"The group were rescued from the Drakensberg mountains at 8am by a team from the SA National Defence Force(SANDF) and arrived in Durban earlier today," departmental spokesman Dr Jabulani Jwara said.

Police spokesman Superintendent Vish Naidoo said bad weather had forced the helicopter to make an emergency landing when the group were on their way to attend the funeral of a five-year-old boy at a Bergville farm.

An SANDF doctor reported that although the group were found depressed, tired and hungry, they were currently doing well and were unharmed, Jwara said.

Jwara said the MEC was in good spirits.

"The MEC is resting at home and is expected return to work tomorrow."

A team had hiked up the mountain to take food and blankets to the pilot and crew on Sunday night but had to call off the mission due to inclement weather, premier S'bu Ndebele said in a media statement.

Two SABC news staff were also among the group.

Jwara said further details on the condition of the rest of the group were to be released later in the day.

In 1993 a new Defence Act abolished compulsory military training for young white South African men.

The response to the new system was a January 1994 stampede of volunteers 'from a large variety of cultures.' Studies soon found South Africans reluctant to serve in part-time army reserves, preferring to be defended by a full-time professional army of volunteers.

Soon after the 1994 'rainbow' election, 10 000 Citizen Force whites were called up to report to the Lohatla Battle School for camp duty and a conventional forces exercise.

Fewer than 1 000 responded.

Then Defence Minister, the late Joe Modise, announced a moratorium on call-up prosecutions, effectively ending the SA National Defence Force's policy of "secondary conscription". 37 000 white conscripts had chosen to do their national service in the police.

This police reserve force was abolished in 1996 after similar low responses when mobilising members for short-term service.

South Africa had gone AWOL from the militaristic ranks of 66 (now 57) conscripting countries.

SA and 65 other countries now score highly on the 'military conscription' component of the Fraser Institute's annual index of economic freedom. In mid-1996, however, the SA Interim National Medical and Dental Council announced two years of compulsory vocational training for medical postgraduates, to begin in 1998.

The Department of Health responded to outraged trainee doctors by claiming this was not "community service by the back door." Several elderly and female white journalists and ministers of religion spoke out earnestly on privileged youth, state funding, noblesse oblige, communalism, nation building and public spirit.

An elderly doctor wondered if 'the system' demands the same self-sacrifice of other subsidised graduates such as engineers, accountants, teachers, lawyers and dentists.

The SA Brain Research Institute suggested conscripting all young male and female adults to do some form of community service, including assisting limited trained police manpower to fight the escalating crime wave.

In late 1997, Health Minister Nkosazana Zuma legislated 12-month community service for doctors and dentists, saying her scheme so impressed her cabinet colleagues that they wanted to introduce it in their departments. The PAC's Dr Costa Gazi called compulsory service unwelcome, disruptive and unproductive, merely a sentence to be served.

Applauding the contribution to development, an editor asked why single out doctors? What about lawyers? And in early 1997 Justice Minister Dullah Omar aired a year's compulsory internship for law students.

He gained the support of Constitutional Court president Arthur Chalskalson who asked objectors to suggest other solutions to the legal aid crisis.

In 1998 Omar endorsed a sweeping revamp of the legal aid system using his new conscripts to man rural legal aid clinics. A National Youth Commission green paper asked President Mandela for forced community service by all higher education graduates as well as a tax on all university and technikon graduates.

The ANC Youth League hailed this as a big step towards achieving a national youth service. In 1999, Land Affairs and Agriculture Minister Derek Hanekom proposed community service for graduating veterinarians.

Community service for teachers could not be ruled out "if other professions are doing it", said the education department.

The Pharmacy Amendment Bill provided for one year's compulsory service by pharmacists from 2001.

The health department considered the same for "scarce skills" including occupational and speech therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists.

When dental community service began in July 2000, over half the 1999 graduating class of 220 had gone abroad after costing taxpayers at least R10m in training subsidies. Later that year, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota publicly considered reintroducing some form of military conscription to replace ageing SANDF members.

The Black Sash called it scandalous to mimic the previous regime, though former End Conscription Campaign spokesman Chris de Villiers "personally would have no huge objection." Research Surveys reported 40% of respondents in favour of a possible reintroduction of military conscription, with 62% of blacks and 30% of whites opposed.

The ministry then hinted that any conscription system was likely to be voluntary or a random call-up rather than dragging people away.

Lekota claimed to dislike the term "conscription" which 'carries with it the overtones of compulsion'.

After a major public fuss, deputy defence minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge announced that military conscription was not after all on the cards, but voluntary national service was a possibility - on the principle that it would not be compulsory.

Later the minister announced plans for a 'patriotic movement aimed at alleviating poverty and unemployment' by training about 10 000 volunteers every year.

In 2001 the SA Students' Congress 'agreed to seek for a compulsory community service to be rendered by students to the community.' A study found that compulsory community service has failed to get doctors making a meaningful contribution in the most short-staffed hospitals in the country, owing to poor allocation and lack of senior doctors to supervise.

Another study suggested it could be exacerbating the tendency of young doctors to leave the country.

Over a quarter of doctors who graduated between 1990 and 1997 were working abroad in mid-2001.

Almost half of Pretoria University dentistry graduates doing their community service intended leaving the country, the future for dentists being "not as bright here." For 2003, national and provincial health departments conscripted (also for a year) eight more health professions, namely radiographers, physiotherapists, speech and hearing therapists, occupational therapists, environmental health officers, dieticians, clinical psychologists and professional nurses.

Zimbabwe planned compulsory youth service for high-school leavers, to include training in patriotism.

Education Minister Kader Asmal again raised the possibility of community service for newly qualified teachers. The Health Professions Council of SA elected to double the compulsory one-year medical internship period to two years from mid-2004.

Medical students who appealed to health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang to revoke the decision found that she lacks that power, but health department approval is needed to bring the new draft regulations into effect.

A survey found that over 70% of fourth and fifth year trainee doctors would rather emigrate than face two years of internship.

Gauteng Health Standing Committee chairman Dr R A M Salojee saw the urge of medical students to leave as a cogent reason for the introduction of community service, 'not the other way round'. Experts from the health and education fields proposed that practitioners in all professions including law, engineering, accounting and journalism should do a stint.

Netcare found it hard to understand why nursing students who pay for their own training should, from 2005, have to work for one year in a public institution.

The Anti-Privatisation Forum thought students should be made to believe in the country and be patriotic.

Early in 2004 the opposition Democratic Alliance withdrew its support for communal service by health professionals, viewing its implementation as violating their constitutional right of choice in the matter.

One citizen suggested that making taxpayers "repay" their own money as community service is double taxation, and this logic means all citizens should do government service.

Be careful what you suggest! The military conscription issue came full circle in October 2004.

If SANDF chief General Siphiwe Nyanda's ambitious drive to recruit over 41 000 defence reservists fails, he says government will consider reintroducing military conscription.

But there are no immediate plans for such a drastic step, and SANDF reserves head General Roy Andersen has no fears about getting people to volunteer. Government is now working on plans to introduce a period of compulsory community service for all graduates from universities receiving state subsidies.

In November, Minister in the presidency Essop Pahad and labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana said the principle is generally accepted in cabinet.

Given government's 70%-plus electoral support, the headline question of whether conscription's good for the country has thus been answered democratically enough.

No doubt what's good for individuals will continue to guide their actions.

However, compulsory community service is likely to be grouped with 'military conscription' in country ratings, which could reflect badly on South Africa as we compete with less authoritarian emerging countries for investors' perceptions and funds. - Dr Jim Harris is a freelance researcher and writer.

A proven and evolved concept with an up-to-date technology, a design to meet the regional pecularities, lean and precise construction with growth potential, a fair contract with logistic/technological support and transfer tailored to the SAN possibilities. That is what the VALOUR class is all about.

NAVAL FORCES: What are the roots of your unit's name "Amatola " and what does it stand for?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: The class of ship is named the VALOUR class. All 4 are named after incidents or battles involving South Africans in which extreme valour was displayed. In the case of "Amatola" a series of skirmishes took place in late 1852 between British forces and Xhosa tribesmen in the Eastern Cape region in and amongst the Amatola Mountains. The superior British forces were on a punitive raid to quell an "uprising" yet the Xhosa Chief Maqoma was able to employ asymmetric tactics and clever use of terrain to frustrate the British. Casualties were high on both sides in the bloody, close range fighting. There were many examples of valour displayed by both forces. The AMATOLA campaign became known as the "War of the Axe" as it allegedly started with an incident involving an axe. SAS "Amatola'"s badge is dominated by the axe crossed with the "Blue Crane Feather" or head-dress of the Xhosa chief involved in the campaign at the time.

NAVAL FORCES: Your ship is designated patrol and command corvette, of which four were built. Are there any differences between the units and how do you envisage their national and/or multinational deployment?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: There are no significant differences between the four units.The ships will be deployed individually, or in groups as part of national or multi-national forces to conduct missions at sea on behalf of the state. These missions could be just about anything including Benign, Constabulary, or Military. The SANDF (South African Defence Force) currently focuses a large amount of effort on Peace Support Operations in Africa. It is expected that these new vessels will soon become involved in those missions.

NAVAL FORCES: What phase is the "Amatola " in at present, what time frame is planned to bring her up to full operational standard and what do you envisage as toughest challenge and why?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: The ship is currently busy with contractual Sea Acceptance Trials (SATs). In particular, right now, we are busy with acceptance of the missile and gun systems, including live firings. The contractual trials are scheduled to end in October, at which time the ship will commence an "Operational Test and Evaluation" period. The toughest challenge is to fully develop effective "Standardized Operating Procedures" and ship class standing orders of this "unique, lean manned Ship". I don't know of any vessels quite like ours in the world, so we are almost on our own in terms of developing SOPs. Luckily we have had some really good help from the German and Royal Navy in the form of safety training. You must remember that the SAN has not operated frigate type/ sized vessels since 1985.

NAVAL FORCES: Considering ships handling and sea-keeping performance. What is different onboard the "Amatola " compared to other units? What are your experiences with the revolutionary propulsion system CODAG-WARP and the IPMS?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: First of all "Ama" has no funnel; the exhausts are vented horizontally out the stern, or underwater. secondly "Ama" has a water-jet as well as conventional control pitch propellers (CPP), giving her two completely independent/redundant drive trains. There are various combinations of exhaust and propulsion which can be employed, depending on the situation. The IPMS makes the management of these "complex" systems much easier.

One can initiate propulsion or exhaust mode changes by means of a single "mouse click" on the IPMS.

It is very handy to have a back up propulsion system (GT/WJ) if something goes wrong with the Propulsion diesel/CPP arrangement. The ship turns well at high speed and stops in a very short distance using the water jet crashstop. The Gas Turbine/Water jet arrangement is not really suitable for low speed maneuvering, but is more a "speed booster", similar to the afterburner on a fighter. The ships are excellent sea-keeping ships.

NAVAL FORCES: You have been in command since 09/2003. All results of the seatrails proved better and were acquired in shorter times than expected. Could you, anyhow, recommend areas, where the "Amatola " could be improved just as a racing car is constantly improved as a result of the driver's proposals?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: I am very happy with the ship. If I had to change anything, I would add more accommodation in order to be able to carry more "trainees" on board. This is advice I have to offer to the designers of next generation warships: By all means, "Lean Man" them, but include sufficient accommodation in order to be able to carry extra embarked personnel. Also, keep messes as small as possible (numbers of bunks per mess should be 4 or less) in order to have maximum flexibility to accommodate various combinations of men and women.

NAVAL FORCES: What is your unit's planned periodical maintenance/operational cycle?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: This is a huge subject and 1 would not like to go into it in a sort of detail. The ship was designed with a planned maintenance cycle in mind. This is similar to the maintenance cycles of most other MEKO* vessels. The SAN is currently reviewing the way it maintains its ships so things might change. This is not finalized yet.

NAVAL FORCES: The growth potential and the large reserve margins of the "Amatola "are key elements of the concept. Is this indicative for your ship being more than just a patrol unit? Where do you envisage such a spiral development?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: From the outset the ships were designed with a large margin for "combat suite growth". A large, capable platform was acquired and fitted with an affordable combat suite. This was based on the current relatively low short term threat. We have existing "core capabilities" and room to expand at relatively short notice as and when a threat develops. Potential future upgrades include converting both the Electro Optical and Radar Trackers to full "Super ORT" standard, longer range SAMs and possibly a gun better suited for Fire Support on land.

NAVAL FORCES: Another main conceptual focus of the "Valours " was on signature reduction. What has been surveyed and what are the results?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: Yes the ships were designed to a high specification of signature reduction. Extensive measurements of the unpopulated (without combat suite) and populated ship have been conducted. We are happy with the results.

NAVAL FORCES: Have you tested/validated so far the monitoring and control system for damage control of "Amatola " to the limit! Are you happy with the composition and functions of the features and the presentation of the data?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: "AMA" is equipped with a system that does extensive monitoring, plotting and equipment remote control in the event of Damage Control incidents. This system forms part of the Integrated Platform Monitoring System (IPMS). All four ships conducted German Navy "SAGA" DC and Safety training at Neustadt in the Baltic prior to sailing for South Africa. As each ship went through the training in turn, we were able to make refinements to equipment, software, organization and drills in order to improve the ship's overall DC capability. In March 2005, "AMA" conducted a two week safety training period with a UK Royal Navy Flag Officer Sea Training (POST) Mobile Sea Training Team embarked. One of the more advanced DC exercise serials that we conducted was a simulation of the HMS "Nottingham" accident, which is now a standard serial in the POST programme. I am happy to report that the ship and her systems (including ship's company) performed well. The IPMS is a definite "force multiplier" in the "Internal War".

NAVAL FORCES: What are your experiences with the VALOUR class ' combat system so far? What has been achieved and what is planned next?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: We are very happy with what we have seen so far. Of course we have not been able to "push the operational envelope" as a result of the contractual phase we are now in. What we do know already is that the capability we have on board is by far the most advanced that the SAN has ever had. Performance is truly impressive. We probably have the most capable Command and Control Platform in the entire SANDF right now. We plan to complete contractual acceptances, thereafter commence "pushing the operational envelope" in order to see what we are really capable of by means of a structured OT&E period.

NAVAL FORCES: Overall aim is now: The integration of the VALOURs into the SA Navy and Air Force user system. What is necessary and what is the present situation?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: To a large extent this is already happening. Although the ships have not been handed over to the Fleet yet, the Fleet is logistically and administratively supporting them. They are operating on a daily basis for trials as if they are Fleet Operational units. In addition the ships are already working with various SAAF aircraft on a regular basis as part of these acceptance trials. Initial Ship Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOLS) for the ORYX helicopter have taken place and flight decks are cleared for ORYX operations. There is outstanding work however. The OT&E period should cover some of the outstanding issues as well as the final phase of SATS where the ships get accepted as part of an integrated force. DataLink procedures will be a major focus here.

NAVAL FORCES: Naval Helicopters or capable naval UA Vs, are these alternatives for you onboard the "Amatola " and why/why not?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: The flight deck is large, 27m x 16m and can land a 10 tonne helicopter. The state has placed a contract for 4 Westland SUPER LYNX helicopters, specifically to operate from the new ships. These LYNX' should be landing on our decks some time in 2007. UAVs are obviously possibilities for some missions, if required and the deck is quite capable of accommodating them. At this stage we are focusing on integrating manned aircraft on board the ships.

NAVAL FORCES: Do you consider the Hving/recreation/accomodation conditions for your crew and embarked personal adequate regarding the units mission times?

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: The ship is extremely spacious and comfortable in terms of living conditions. One can quite comfortably live on board for an indefinite period. Catering and other hotel facilities are more than adequate. We currently have a ships company of 110 so the ship feels quite "empty" at times.

NAVAL FORCES: The "Amatola" is at the beginning of her life-cycle and is accompanied with high expectations. What areyour expectations and is there anything you additionally would wish the system to be able to perform? ,

CAPTAIN JAMIESON: For the past 20 years, our primary surface combatants have been Fast Attack Craft Missile (FAC (M)). We have operated these craft highly effectively and maintained high standards. The trick will be to continue to do this with the new ships. I am confident that we are on track to achieving our goals. We have a well equipped, highly capable surface combatant, much more capable than anything we have had in the past. With a littie hard work and a little help from our friends in other navies I am sure that our men and women will soon be operating these capable but complex ships as well as we operated the FAC (M).

An interview with SAS "Amatola" commanding officer Capt Gay Jamieson is presented. Among other things, Jamieson talks about what the valor class is all about, stating that it is all about a proven and evolved concept with an up-to-date technology, a design to meet the regional peculiarities, lean and precise construction with growth potential, a fair contract with logistic/technological support and transfer tailored to the South African Navy possibilities.