Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

The United States plans to step up military co-operation with South Africa in 2005, the current edition of the Africa Armed Forces Journal reports.

Writing in the Johannesburg-based specialist journal, US military attache Colonel 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, familiarisation visits to educational programs, Muolo said.

Emphasis would be placed on operating the C130 Hercules transport aircraft, military police and Special Forces skills and peacekeeping operations.

The US was also funding, co-developing and co-administering a number of HIV/Aids prevention and antiretroviral (ARV) programmes that sought to mitigate the effect of the pandemic upon South Africa's military readiness.

"One such programme has the objective of providing training in HIV/Aids awareness and prevention for all 70,000 SANDF members and their families within the next five years. This involves US1 million (R6 million) in training, infrastructure, equipment, and related materials for 2005.

"Another major programme, the US40-50 million (R240-R300 million) Project Phidisa, was developed to establish a world-class clinical research capability in the South African military and, initially, to carry out research on the effective treatment of HIV/Aids using ARV drugs. Phidisa is currently operating from four sites and has already treated over 2000 patients."

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.

"South Africa's diplomatic and military officials, led by President Thabo Mbeki, will continue to be an important resource for conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa," he said.

"Through consistent engagement and co-operation aimed at skills development, capacity building, and mutual understanding, 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 said the US spent over US5 million (R30 million) 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.

European Command is also responsible for US military activities in Africa, barring the Horn region.

"We also participated in some twenty military-to-military events... This included (Exercise) Combined Endeavour, a multinational military communications and information systems exercise held in Europe which six SANDF members observed, as well as (Exercise) Medflag, a two-week exercise planned around a medical disaster scenario involving over 600 members of the South African and US militaries.

"Medical and civil engineering members from the US Air Force and the New York Air National Guard along with counterparts from the SA Military Health Service participated in numerous exercises and activities including mass casualty and evacuation, and trauma and Sub-Saharan Diseases courses which were designed to promote inter-operability and communications.

"While there, our combined forces provided needed medical services to the surrounding communities, administering basic medical treatment to over 6000 people, and rebuilt six medical clinics in Limpopo Province. Medical supplies worth over US100,000 (R 600,000) were also donated to stock these newly refurbished clinics," Muolo summarised.