Mon séjour en Afrique du Sud (Cape Town)

Since the establishment of the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) in 2003, the SANDF has recruited and trained more than 20000 applicants, equipping them with scarce skills.

Trainees included aspiring pilots, engineers, medical practitioners, combat navy officers, air space controllers and technicians.

Defence spokesman Sam Mkwanazi said yesterday the MSDS was designed to address the skills challenges in the SANDF, which inherited an ageing force. "The department wants to play a role in ensuring that the country gets the scarce skills it requires."

He said the government had allocated R700m for the scaling-up of the programme. About R100m was earmarked for the programme in 2008-09, doubling to R200m in 2009-10.

Typical candidates are matriculants with passes in maths, biology, physical science and geography.

Next month about 5450 recruits will join the SANDF, in addition to the military's regular recruits.

After the first two years, successful candidates may join the military, often on short contracts and could be earmarked for officer corps or further professional training. Trainees also beco me members of the military reserve force.

Lindy Heinecken, a military analyst at Stellenbosch University, said it was important for the military to take in more cadets as the dropout rate was high. The SANDF also did not have enough personnel to rotate on peacekeeping missions. "The defence force is not able to meet its peacekeeping obligations if it does not increase the numbers ."

About 3000 SANDF personnel were deployed mainly in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Sudan.

Last week the Young Communist League called for the adoption of national service, especially military training that would give matriculants discipline .