SANDF NEEDS WHITES WITHIN ITS RANK AND FILE.
SANDF NEEDS WHITES WITHIN ITS RANK AND FILE For more than two years the SA National Defence Force has had an official affirmative action policy for whites. The SANDF's human resources strategy provides for a 24% intake of whites to the regular force each year, to compensate for the absence of whites at the level of private soldier. Yet just 2% of this year's intake - the first in over a decade - were white.
Almost every white South African male now aged between 33 and 55 was conscripted into the old SADF for one or two years, plus "camps" for another decade. It would not be surprising if their children are prejudiced by the resentment retained by their fathers. Moreover, those who might be interested may perceive falling standards - or few career prospects, given the retrenchment of many white colonels.
But every year, five or six young white South Africans are accepted for officer training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Some of them get there as a result of their excellent performances at the SA army gymnasium. That tells us two things: our standards can't be that bad, but some of our best officer material prefers to go and serve elsewhere.
Whatever the reason for emigration, it is important that our military retains - indeed, welcomes - a fair proportion of whites at all levels. Service of the state should be a privilege for all. Exclude some, and democracy is undermined.
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18 Février 2005 à 10:29 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
