Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

South Africa's arms manufacturer Denel says it will know in about two months whether it has won the bid to manufacture the Rooivalk helicopters for the Turkish government.

Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul announced early this month that his country would continue talks with Denel and Agusta Aerospace of Italy for Turkey's Land Forces Command's Tactical Reconnaissance & Attack Helicopter (ATAK) Project.

Initially, five countries were short listed for the tender; including Germany, France and Russia.

Two weeks ago Denel officials visited Turkey to further discuss the tender bid to manufacture the Rooivalk.

Denel spokesperson Sam Basch said the delegation made its presentation and was now awaiting the outcome.

"It's a lengthy process, now we will have to wait and see what happens thereafter. We are keeping our fingers crossed," he said.

If Denel wins the bid, it will be expected to manufacture about 50 Rooivalk helicopters for the Turkish government to the tune of US 2 billion Dollars.

This will be one of the largest defence bids in which Denel - and the South African defence-related industry - has ever participated in.

Denel, being the country's largest arms manufacturer, is currently looking at marketing and selling the Rooivalk attack helicopter to other international military forces.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) became the first to purchase and showcase 12 of the war machines which it has now been operating for years.

According to Denel, the Rooivalk is a third generation attack helicopter designed around a fully-integrated digital management system.

The aircraft can engage multiple targets at short and long range, utilising the nose-mounted cannon and a range of underwing-mounted munitions.

The Rooivalk is an integral part of the total defence network - fully autonomous, flexible, mobile and providing fire power 24/7, while maintaining user friendly interfaces to all command and control structures.

A psychiatric report on a soldier accused of shooting dead his two young children and wounding his wife is yet to be concluded, the Hoedspruit Periodical Court in Limpopo heard on Monday.

This led the court to postpone the case of South African Defence Force (SANDF) member Philippus Jacobus Venter to September 4, said prosecutor William Makwela.

On Thursday June 22, the case was postponed in Venter's absence after a doctor at Mankweng hospital near Polokwane requested a further 30 days to observe him.

Venter faces charges of murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of a rifle and ammunition. He is alleged to have opened fire on his family members at the Hoedspruit military base in April.

At the time, Venter was being investigated on allegations of rape and murder in Burundi, supposedly committed while he was part of a peacekeeping mission there.

He is also facing charges in connection with this and is currently in police custody after a Hoedspruit magistrate denied him bail.