Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

The last Presidential Fleet Review was conducted in 1997 during President Nelson Mandela's term, at that time, it coincided with the Navy's 75th birthday.

Ten years later, after the first Presidential Fleet Review, much has been achieved by the South African Navy acquiring more state-of-the art frigates, submarines and helicopters among other things.

In celebration of the country's achievement of acquiring the new fleet, there was 21 gun salute and parade by members of the Navy.

In this way, the Navy was saying to the Commander-in-Chief, "here's what we have acquired to protect the people of South Africa and marine."

According to Defence Minister Mosioua Lekota, the fleet review was another way of saying "we are ready for further instructions for deployment of these ships and submarines for the purpose of which they were purchased."

"We now enter an era which places upon us significantly different challenges and requires us to operate within a new dimension of maritime warfare, the considerable sea keeping ability.

"Long range and endurance of our recently acquired vessels means that the South African Navy is thus able with other Navies of the region to provide maritime defence, both in our waters and abroad," he said.

This year's event was a culmination of more than a decade of work by members of the SA Navy to ensure that the vessels were operational and that the personnel are competent and professional to crew them.

During the Fleet Review, on board the SAS Drakensberg, Rear Admiral Robert Higgs, Flag Officer Fleet, Commander of the Fleet, told BuaNews that there was a need for the Navy to acquire more frigates and submarines to ensure the country's safety.

"Now we are safe, the new frigates and submarines allow us to protect the country.

"We can protect the country's marine and the nation," he said, adding that South Africa needs to assure its people that it can operate in the sea.

Rear Admiral Higgs said what the Navy looks like today, is what the people of South Africa have said it would be.

"The people of South Africa wanted a Peoples Navy, and that is what we are," he said.

With regard to recruitment of more personnel in the Navy, he said the process is still continuing to recruit more personnel in the Navy through the Military Skills Delivery.

With regard to personnel, he said the Navy has highly qualified personnel to operate the highly sophisticated war machines with ease.

In a colorful display, helicopters flew past the frigates and submarines demonstrating their capabilities.

Looking at the fleet, the Commander-in-Chief, President Mbeki nodded and said, "come whatever may come, my country and my people are safe and protected."

The Commander-in-Chief was afforded an opportunity to board one of the war ships, the SAS Protea.

Over the years, the Department of Defence had been engaged in a process of acquiring new frigates, submarines and state-of-the art helicopters.

The acquisition of the helicopters, including submarines and corvettes, is part of the Strategic Arms Procurement Package approved by Cabinet in 2001.

One of the Navy's combat vessels, SAS Drakensberg manufactured locally, in Durban, was used to bring Cape Town's nuclear reactor Koeberg a spare rotor from France in 2006.

The acquisition of the war machines is in line with the department's 2020 vision of peacekeeping capabilities in the region and the continent.

With the acquisition of the fleet, South Africa was now countered among the heavy weights in the defence world.

According to the Navy, among other things, the submarines will be used for training purposes, peace support operations, maritime escorts, diplomatic missions, operational exercises with other African and overseas navies and to undertake any other duty that she may be assigned to perform.

In terms of the arms deal, the SANDF was meant to acquire four corvettes, three submarines, 30 utility helicopters, 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainers and 28 Gripen advanced fighter aircraft.

With regard to the helicopters, they were tested in South Africa to see if they were adaptable to all weather conditions.

According to the Department of Defence, the helicopters would be used for search and rescue operations and sometimes in operations conducted by the police.