Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

A SA National Defence Force (SANDF) member shot and wounded himself after a minor accident on the N1 highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg on Thursday morning, Metro police said.

Spokeswoman Inspector Edna Mamonyane said that the man shot himself after a brief argument at the accident scene at the Allandale offramp.

He was taken to a military hospital in Pretoria for emergency treatment.

His condition was not immediately known.

An SA Air Force helicopter crashed beside the N3 freeway between Johannesburg and Durban on Friday morning, landing upside down and sending a rotor flying into an animal pen adjacent to a children's playground.

Two of the four crew members suffered minor injuries, Harrismith fire chief Mohlahoana Mokwena told Sapa. They were taken to a nearby hospital.

There were no injuries among about 60 children at the playground.

The Alouette III helicopter had just stopped at the Bergview refreshment stop, where the crew purchased take-aways at a Wimpy, before taking off.

Minutes later, it made what the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) called a "forced landing", and came down on the other side of the freeway from Bergview.

"A board of inquiry has been convened," SANDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Louis Kirstein said.

He added that the aircraft had been based at Bloemspruit Air Force Base in Bloemfontein.

The helicopter was apparently giving a flight display to spectators when it crashed, a witness told Sapa.

   "The chopper took a drive around and went sideways ... it just missed some trees ... then it turned around and went to the ground ... and went up suddenly again but lost power," said Jean Smith, maintenance manager at Bergview.     "I think they tried to show off," he said.     The helicopter then crashed around 100m from the complex, on the  other side of the N3.     "One blade hit a car on the freeway and spinned into the complex  where there were about 60 kids in the playground.     "The blade landed inside the animal farm (adjacent to the playground)."     Smith said one of the crew complained of a sore back while the other three were walking around.     Asked about the accounts of its last flight, Kirstein said that would probably be part of the inquiry.     Meanwhile motorists and pedestrians gawking at the wreck were   

affecting traffic flow, Andrew Dhebideen, an official from the toll road company N3TC, told Sapa.

"Fortunately there were no incidents," he said.

The wreck lay off the freeway, outside N3TC property, and had been cordoned off by police, Dhebideen added.

He knew nothing of the car Smith said had been hit by the flying rotor.

The Alouette III range of helicopters have been in service with the SAAF for the last 40 years.

They are due for replacement under government's controversial multi-billion rand arms deal.

Pomfret, une garnison fantôme dans le désert du KalahariEn Afrique du Sud, une ville de 6 000 habitants va être rasée. Pomfret abritait d'anciens soldats du régime de l'apartheid reconvertis dans le mercenariat.Pomfret est une ville de garnison fantôme sur les franges sud du Kalahari. Dans quelques semaines, la cité minière va être rasée et les quelques milliers d'hommes et de femmes qui la hantent depuis 1989 devront de nouveau s'exiler.

Ces Angolais et leurs familles avaient déjà fui le régime communiste en 1975. Enrôlés dans l'armée sud-africaine, ils sont restés stationnés dans le nord de la Namibie pendant quatorze ans. Le temps de former l'une des plus redoutables unités d'infanterie au monde, le 32e bataillon. « L'insigne de l'unité était une tête de buffle ; on le portait sur nos bérets camouflés, raconte Peter Williams, un ancien capitaine du 32e. On nous appelait les Buffalo. On s'est battus jusqu'à l'indépendance de la Namibie. Ensuite, on nous a rapatriés en Afrique du Sud et installés  Pomfret. » Le 32e bataillon, dont la lingua franca était le portugais, a débarqué, avec ses armes, ses familles et ses morts, dans une Afrique du Sud en pleine mutation.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has said it will not "tolerate any behaviour" by its members that undermined its "good image and international standing."

Three SANDF personnel on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are under investigation for misconduct by the UN's in-house watchdog, the UN Office of Internal Oversight.

An SANDF spokesman told IRIN on Thursday that if the UN probe found any SANDF personnel guilty, the army would conduct its own investigations.

The UN cannot discipline peacekeepers. It can only send them home with a request that the country of origin take action.

The probe into allegations that UN peacekeepers in the DRC had sexually exploited and abused women and girls was launched last year. Following the investigations, the UN introduced a no-fraternisation policy, banning its peacekeepers from having sex with local people.

Earlier this year six Moroccan soldiers serving on the UN Mission in the DRC, known as MONUC, were arrested in the ongoing sex abuse scandal.

"Without prejudging the case, the SANDF wants to put on record that it has distinguished itself in terms of upholding human rights during peacekeeping operations under the United Nations and the African Union mandates, to such an extent that South Africa is currently ranked as number 10 among participating countries in UN peacekeeping missions," spokesman Major General Mohato Mofokeng said in a statement.

Behaviour which undermined the image the SA National Defence Force would not be tolerated, the SANDF said on Wednesday in response to allegations of misconduct by soldiers abroad.

Four SANDF officers on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are under investigation for misconduct, either by the United Nations or the SANDF.

The alleged misconduct includes drunkenness and fighting in Congolese nightclubs, promoting prostitution and sexual assault.

"Without prejudging the case the SANDF wanted to make known its distinguished record of upholding human rights during peacekeeping operations under the UN and African Union mandates," Major General Mohato Mofokeng said in a statement.

"Members of the SANDF who make themselves guilty of such offences will be dealt with according to the Military Disciplinary Code or other relevant laws," Mofokeng said.

A UN spokesman said on Wednesday the UN had no power to punish a South African battalion commander allegedly involved in sexual misconduct in the DRC.

Defence ministry spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi earlier confirmed the officer was being investigated but did not name him.

Meanwhile, News24 reported on Wednesday South African peacekeeping soldiers in neighbouring Burundi were becoming increasingly unpopular with the local population.

It quoted the latest intelligence report by The Economist as saying: "They got themselves the unfortunate reputation for excessive drinking and the abuse of prostitutes."

Mkhwanazi did not want to respond to the allegations. "They are not based on any facts."

The UN said at the weekend it would step up efforts to root out sexual abuses, especially of minor girls in Burundi.

An investigation into various incidents of abuse was begun in Burundi recently.

Two soldiers were caught in December after allegations of abuses in Muyinga. It was not clear from which country these soldiers came.

In September last year, a 14-year-old prostitute was killed, allegedly by a South African after an evening of debauchery.

According to a UN statement, an investigation was ordered because soldiers were disregarding the world body's restrictions.

"The UN forbids peace-keeping forces from paying for sex or having sex with girls under 18," read the statement.

"In the DRC, payment varies from two eggs to US5 (about R30) a time. In many cases, the victims are orphans and illiterate."

A South African working in Burundi, who asked not be named, said the soldiers had been reprimanded at diplomatic level for their behaviour for quite some time.

The source told News24: "The Burundians are very discreet - especially when it comes to sex. They can't stand the South Africans' crude and open approach to women."

Henri Boshoff of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), who recently returned from a visit to Burundi, said the UN was clamping down on misconduct. "It seems to be a precautionary measure, but they are very strict there."

Carolyn McAskie, the UN's special representative in Burundi, reinstated a curfew to ban UN vehicles from the streets after 11pm.

"It limits potential misbehaviour, but still does not curb soldiers who move around on foot," McAskie said.

A South African battalion commander will probably be sent home after alleged involvement in sexual misconduct in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), News24 reported on Tuesday.

It said this brings to four the number of senior officers in the DRC being investigated for similar charges by either the United Nations or the SA National Defence Force.

The alleged misconduct includes drunkenness and fighting in Congolese nightclubs, promoting prostitution and sexual assault.

The defence force confirmed the UN was investigating charges against "a member of the South African contingent in the DRC".

The outcome of the investigation would determine the soldier's fate.

Meanwhile, a South African colonel will be replaced by another South African commander.

Police apparently the colonel a few weeks ago after "trouble" in a nightclub in Goma, where he was stationed.

He was apparently rapped over the knuckles soon afterwards by the acting commander of the UN peace force in the DRC and told he was under investigation.

Photos of the man and Congolese escorts were apparently handed to the UN, along with complaints by those under his command.

The UN's action against the South Africans comes after Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently banned sexual exploitation of the local population by peace-force troops.

A special task force has been appointed to investigate these activities, in which about 150 UN soldiers are involved.

Allegations against the four commanders include the use of a military vehicle to go on holiday.

A young recruit allegedly became pregnant during her training, although falling pregnant during training was against regulations. However, she was not suspended.

Another commander allegedly negotiated better prices for the services of local prostitutes with a DRC governor. Soldiers were told about the prices during roll-call one morning.

Women soldiers also laid charges against some of the commanders.

A high-level team of defence force senior members has just returned from the DRC where they verified some of the charges.

A South African soldier who was arrested on charges of murder and the rape of a teenager in Burundi must be released from custody, the Pretoria High Court ordered on Thursday.

Sergeant Philippus Jacobus Venter, 32, was a VIP protector with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Burundi last year. He was arrested in October and charged by local law enforcement agencies with the murder of Therese Nkeshimana, reported to have been a 15-year-old prostitute.

He is alleged to have killed her on the night of September 19. The two were allegedly seen getting into a taxi in Bujumbura. The taxi apparently drove into a ditch and the two continued their journey on foot. This was the last time Nkeshimana was seen alive.

Her body was found the next day. She had been raped and strangled. Investigations were said to have been hampered by the "premature" burial of Nkeshimana.

In Thursday's application Venter said he was presently detained at the Thaba Tshwane Military Police holding cells. From October last year until February 23 this year he was detained in a shipping container at the Palace Base in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Shortly after his arrest he appeared before his commanding officer in terms of the Military Discipline Supplementary Measures Act. Venter said his case was postponed on every occasion for further investigation.

An earlier application before a Military Court to be released on from custody was rejected.

Venter complained about his incarceration in Burundi and said it was "not worthy of a human being. I did not receive material to read...and for three months I was not given the opportunity to exercise."

He said he gave his co-operation, he did not intimidate any witnesses, he had a clean record and he was supposed to be presumed innocent at this stage.

Venter said the State gave no explanation as why he had to stay in Burundi for so long.

In his bid to be freed from custody, he said: "The SANDF is a powerful organisation where the officer commanding of each unit has the right to determine who can enter his unit and on what conditions. There are also guards at the entrance of each unit who search each vehicle and person for weapons, for example. The SANDF also has the option of suspending me, pending the completion of my trial."

Webster ordered that Venter may return to his unit at the Air Force Base in Hoedspruit, but that he had to report to his commander at 7.30am each working day.

He must follow the unit's orders and policies regards to leave and sick leave, he may not commit an offence until the finalisation of his trial and he may not contact, threaten or intimidate any of the witnesses.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the military police are probing the theft of logistical supplies sent to support troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

There are suspicions that criminal syndicates are involved.

SANDF secretary January Masilela told Parliament's public accounts committee last week the syndicates were believed to be also operating inside SA.

He could not quantify the size of the losses, saying the matter was still under investigation. Items stolen included food rations, spare vehicle parts and other logistical items.

A high-powered task team has been established to investigate the matter, Masilela said.

SANDF chief of logistics General Themba Ntsibande said crime syndicates were flourishing because commanders had been disempowered.

Masilela and his officials were called by the committee to explain what was being done to address the problems raised by auditor-general Shauket Fakie in his qualified report on the department's 2003-04 financial statements.

Weak control and information systems were among the problems cited. Masilela assured the committee that R35m had been allocated to upgrade the human resource system Persol to better manage the liability. The new system would be up and running by July 1.

Masilela agreed with the auditor-general's concerns over the lack of compliance with treasury regulations and of integrated control systems.

The department was being restructured, and he hoped that this would address these problems.

The restructuring would be linked to the decision taken last year to update the defence white paper and the defence review, which were adopted in 1996 and 1997.

Major changes had taken place since then, which needed to be incorporated into the department's policies.

The review should be finalised by May.

"The structures and design of the department were put in place before these important policy documents were adopted," Masilela said.

Another of the problems highlighted by the committee was the management of departmental income of R266m derived, for example, through the sale of assets. A strategy had been adopted to address this.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the military police are probing the theft of logistical supplies sent to support troops in the DRCongo and Burundi. There are suspicions that criminal syndicates are involved.

SANDF Secretary January Masilela told parliament's public accounts committee last week the syndicates were believed to be also operating inside South Africa.

He could not quantify the size of the losses, saying the matter was still under investigation. Items stolen included food rations, spare vehicle parts and other logistical items. A high-powered task team has been established to investigate the matter, Masilela said. SANDF Chief of Logistics Gen Themba Ntsibande said crime syndicates were flourishing because commanders had been disempowered.

Masilela and his officials were called by the committee to explain what was being done to address the problems raised by Auditor-General Shauket Fakie in his qualified report on the department's 2003-04 financial statements. Weak control and information systems were among the problems cited. Masilela assured the committee that 35m rands had been allocated to upgrade the human resource system Persol to better manage the liability. The new system would be up and running by 1 July.

Masilela agreed with the auditor-general's concerns over the lack of compliance with treasury regulations and of integrated control systems. The department was being restructured, and he hoped that this would address these problems. The restructuring would be linked to the decision taken last year to update the defence white paper and the defence review, which were adopted in 1996 and 1997.

Major changes had taken place since then, which needed to be incorporated into the department's policies. The review should be finalized by May.

"The structures and design of the department were put in place before these important policy documents were adopted," Masilela said.

Another of the problems highlighted by the committee was the management of departmental income of 266m rands derived, for example, through the sale of assets. A strategy had been adopted to address this.

The US plans to step up military co-operation, currently running at US$5 million a year, with South Africa.

Writing in the Johannesburg-based Africa Armed Forces Journal, US military attache Col. Michael Muolo said the US military, through its European Command, was planning over 30 military-to-military engagements for the year. These would range from joint exercises, exchanges, and familiarisation visits to educational programmes, Muolo said. Emphasis would be placed on operating the C130 Hercules transport aircraft, military police and Special Forces skills and peacekeeping operations.

However, top SA military officials are less sanguine about the cooperation, whose primary focus till now has been on medical aid.

Contrary to US indications (SouthScan v19/15) they say that the kingpin of US African military access, their Acota (African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance) programme, has not yet been accepted by the SA Defence Department. The package on offer does not fit SA requirements and they are wary after the US two years ago cut off key elements of their military aid, such as training and spares and helicopter support, when SA refused to toe Washington's line on the issue of the International Criminal Court (SouthScan v19/25).

In any future dealings with the Pentagon SA is likely to call for a legally binding instrument setting out the rights and duties of all parties, because of this incident.

US medical military aid, with HIV/AIDS is the major focus, was unaffected by the ICC spat. US support is aimed at mitigating the effect of the pandemic on South Africa's military readiness.

The US gives major support amounting to $40-50 for Project Phidisa's research on the effective treatment of HIV/Aids using ARV drugs. Phidisa is currently operating from four sites and has already treated over 2,000 patients. In another programme the US aims to provide training in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention for all 70,000 SANDF members and their families within the next five years. Cost this year is $1m.

Muolo called South Africa a cornerstone of regional stability and a catalyst for economic growth in Southern Africa because of its globally integrated and resource-rich economy, prominent diplomatic profile, commitment to peacekeeping, and ability to project limited military force beyond its borders.

"We aim to reinforce South Africa's ability to play a key role in regional peacekeeping efforts, strengthen the skills and capacity of its military, and expand upon the already sound military-to-military relationship", Muolo wrote.

The US spent over $5m doing this in 2004 through the US European Command's office of defence co-operation in Pretoria and through the defence attache's office at the US embassy. The US European Command is responsible for US military activities in Africa, barring the Horn region.

The US participated in some 20 military-to-military events including 'Combined Endeavour', a multinational military communications and information systems exercise held in Europe which six SANDF members observed, as well as 'Medflag', a two-week exercise planned around a medical disaster scenario involving over 600 members of the South African and US militaries.

Other exercises and activities including mass casualty and evacuation, and trauma and Sub-Saharan Diseases courses designed to promote inter-operability and communications. In SA's Limpopo Province six medical clinics were rebuilt.

<b>US buys SA armoured cars</b>

Meanwhile the US Army has placed an order for 148 SA-built armoured vehicles. Under the around $78m contract, Canada's General Dynamics Land Systems will provide the programme management and logistics support while BAE Land Systems OMC of South Africa will manufacture the vehicles.

Nine RG-31s were previously supplied to the US Army in 2003 and 2004 and have seen wide service.

The Canadian Army has deployed three RG-31s in Afghanistan.

The vehicles are extensively used by NATO forces in the former Yugoslavia as well as by the UN in Lebanon, Georgia, Syria and Kosovo.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and his counterparts from the SADC region had an unscheduled meeting in Cape Town on Tuesday to discuss growing tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"It is a short agenda with momentous consequences," Lekota said, stating that the finalisation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) standby brigade had become urgent.

As chairman of SADC's interstate defence and security council, Lekota said he had called the "unscheduled meeting" to examine the implementation of the peace process in the DRC and Great Lakes Region. "We need to exchange views on the finalisation of the SADC Brigade of the African Standby Forces," he said noting with urgency that security situation in the Eastern Congo would be scrutinised.

He said SADC was becoming increasingly involved in "theatres of conflict" and the brigade would ensure that this responsibility was carried as a collective and not left to individual countries.

Lekota has in the past argued that South Africa's peace keeping capacity was stretched to the limit. The South Aafrican National Defence Force [SANDF] has embarked on aggressive recruitment drives to boost numbers.

He refused to divulge if the meeting would also discuss a stepping up of activity by the United Nations' Monuc force, or if the SADC Brigade, once formed, would be deployed in the DRC.

Defence spokesman, Vuyo Zambodla, said the main drive of the meeting was to try and get a "collective approach" to the DRC and how best to move forward.

He said discussions were scheduled to last for two days.

Violence continued to keep tensions high in the DRC, that due to a lack of infrastructure development over the last 30 years, was seen as a logistical nightmare.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan last Thursday called for reinforcements for UN peacekeeping troops in the DRC following an upsurge in violence after a deadly ambush by local militias.

On February 25, nine UN peacekeepers, all Bangladeshi troops, were slain in DRC's volatile Ituri region.

"I hope, over time, we'll be able to strengthen the forces (in the DRC) and that we will get the support from the (Security) Council," Annan told reporters two days after the UN launched an attack with armoured vehicles and an attack helicopter against militia, killing 50.

South Africa already has 1,348 SANDF members operating under the UN mandate in Operation Mistral and a further 79 members working with the DRC government under Operation Teutonic.

South Africa, however, may be called upon to increase its strength in the region.

Annan said last week that the DRC was "a very large country and so the number of troops it had "may not be adequate."

"But we are doing the best we can with what we've go," he lamented.

During a session of the South African Parliament Defence Portfolio Committee on 28 February, some officers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) disclosed some details of South African military engagement in Darfur (Sudan) as part of the Cordite operation sponsored by the African Union (AU). It is planned to deploy 10 South African observers to supervise the respect of the cease-fire. The other South African forces in Darfur will comprise infantry and support staff to provide protection for the observers. These soldiers, around 300 in number, will mainly be located in Kutum, but two of the five South African platoons will be installed in Mellit, which will be the headquarters of the Military Observer Group.

The Sudanese government requires that all of these servicemen have a passport, which is unusual in the case of United Nations operations, but the AU is hesitant to renegotiate this point with the government of Khartoum, wary that it uses the excuse to close the door to any outside intervention in Darfur. A medical team will accompany the South African soldiers and the SANDF has contracted SOS International for the supply of means of repatriating the soldiers in the event of illness or accidents. The defence structures for the South African billeting in Kutum will be built by South African Engineers and satellite communication will be used to provide the link between Kutum and Pretoria.

The deployment of South African troops to strife-torn Darfur in Sudan is under way, the defence department said on Thursday [3 March]. "They left this morning at ten to seven," SA (South African) National Defence Force spokesman Colonel John Rolt said.

A second group would leave on Saturday and the last on Monday, Rolt added. The troops were supposed to have left on Monday.

Ministerial Spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said on Tuesday the delay was related to a logistical hold-up, most likely a hiccup in the arranging of over-flight rights for the SA Air Force Boeing 707 aircraft that would be used to transport the troops to Sudan.

On Monday, Colonel Johan van der Walt told parliament's defence committee the departure of the 186 soldiers from the Infantry Protector Company was due to delaying tactics by the Sudanese government. "But the deployment was delayed because the troops did not have passports and visas, as now required by the Sudanese government," he said.

Mkhwanazi later on Monday denied the Sudanese government were using delaying tactics, saying relations between South Africa and Sudan were good.

Speaking after the committee meeting on Monday, Rear Admiral Edward Ratala, director of operations at the SANDF's (South African National Defence Force's) Joint Operations Division, said the African Union (AU) had initially been told by the Sudanese government no passports were needed, and visas could be obtained on arrival. "But now they have confronted us with no-fly zones - not permitting our troops to fly over certain areas - and say they must have visas before departure," Ratala told Sapa at the time.

South Africa was expected to send about 300 troops over the course of this week to the region, he said.

The AU has a mandate to send 3,320 troops from various African countries to the region to "investigate, report and monitor" on events.

Van der Walt told the committee that after numerous visits to the region, he felt the Sudanese government was "turning a blind eye to the atrocities in Sudan". He said a camp outside the city of Al-Fashir - AU headquarters, and the provincial capital of Sudan's North Darfur region - was now home to 60,000 refugees.

Most of the South African contingent would be based in the town of Katum, about 200km north-west of Al-Fashir.

The deployment of South African troops to strife-torn Darfur in Sudan was still on hold at lunch time on Tuesday.

"They haven't left yet," said SA National Defence Force spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Louis Kirstein.

The troops were supposed to have left on Monday.

Ministerial spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said the delay was related to a logistical hold-up, most likely a hiccup in the arranging of over-flight rights for the SA Air Force Boeing 707 aircraft that would be used to transport the troops to Sudan.

On Monday, Colonel Johan van der Walt told Parliament's defence committee the departure of the 186 soldiers from the Infantry Protector Company was due to delaying tactics by the Sudanese government.

"But the deployment was delayed because the troops did not have passports and visas, as now required by the Sudanese government," he said.

Mkhwanazi later on Monday denied the Sudanese government were using delaying tactics, saying relations between South Africa and Sudan were good.

Speaking after the committee meeting on Monday, Rear Admiral Edward Ratala, director of operations at the SANDF's Joint Operations Division, said the African Union (AU) had initially been told by the Sudanese government no passports were needed, and visas could be obtained on arrival.

"But now they have confronted us with no-fly zones -- not permitting our troops to fly over certain areas -- and say they must have visas before departure," Ratala told Sapa.

South Africa was expected to send about 300 troops over the course of this week to the region, he said.

The AU has a mandate to send 3320 troops from various African countries to the region to "investigate, report and monitor" on events.

Van der Walt told the committee that after numerous visits to the region, he felt the Sudanese government was "turning a blind eye to the atrocities in Sudan".

He said a camp outside the city of El Fasher -- AU headquarters, and the provincial capital of Sudan's North Darfur region -- was now home to 60,000 refugees.

Most of the South African contingent would be based in the town of Katum, about 200km north-west of El Fasher.