Sold Vol 27 No 9
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SA Soldier EVENTS SA Soldier SOUTH AFRICAN SOLDIER The official monthly magazine of the SA Department of Defence www.dod.mil.za EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Mr S. Dlamini (Chairperson) Brig Gen M.P.M. Mgobozi Capt (SAN) J.D.J. Theunissen Col M.J. Mogweng Col M.D. Kgwete 22 34 33 Col P.S. Lengoasa Col M.E. Pheko From the Editor’s Desk Every battle is first won and AMHU KwaZulu-Natal 38 4 20 31 Col (Past) M. Pillay lost in the mind continues to accelerate the Col E.C. Herandien 5 Op NOTLELA deployed fight against Covid-19 1 Military Hospital adds a state-of-the-art ICU facility to its anti-Covid- Cdr T.J. Mabina members build a shelter for an 22 Army Support Base Durban 19 arsenal: The 7th floor at 1 Military Hospital saw an extensive Capt E.M. Machete old lady in Alexandra doing the most to keep units 32 SAMHS develops a reconstruction and refurbishment which resulted in a complete running amid lockdown containerised module of a transformation of the floor. Above is one of the 78 Intensive Care Unit Mr L.R.M. Netshirembe 6 Chief SANDF visits old age Level 2 Field hospital ward kitted up with state-of-the-art equipment after the upgrade. (Acting Editor) home to lift elderly’s spirits 24 SANDF afford another giant (Photo by L Cpl Paul Mpangala) Mr W. van der Westhuizen and hero of our freedom a 33 Frontline workers appreciation (Layout) Chief Human Resource gives special category 1 funeral parade at 2 Mil Hospital in 8 40 The Commandant of the 44 Air Force Base Langebaanweg back to the community Wynberg Military Academy presented plants trees at Noordhoek SANDF bids farewell to a 26 medals and long service Primary School 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment: former Surgeon General Secretary Day -Taking a closer 9 34 certificates Corporate Social Responsibility look into the hard work of 46 Standing strong in God’s grace Defence Foreign Relations secretaries in the SAAF 28 41 Reserve Force Council’s in the face of challenge SA Army receives the much offers send-off to late 10 Proposed Reserve Force anticipated 40mm Velocity Tanzanian Defence Attaché Frontline healthcare 36 Model Grenade Launcher practitioner highlights role of Former Training Command Infection, Prevention and 29 42 Joint Senior Command and Lt Gen Zimpande Msimang General Officer Commanding Control at 2 Mil Hospital 12 Staff Programme hosts retires from the SA Air Force laidto rest virtual Graduation Ceremony Facebook 38 1 Military Hospital adds a SA Soldier is now 14 More than border safeguarding 30 The Military community bids state-of-the-art ICU facility to available on Facebook in KwaZulu-Natal farewell to the Warrant Officer its anti-Covid-19 arsenal https://www.facebook. of the SAMHS com/sandfcorpevents/ 17 SANDF units in KwaZulu-Natal STREET ADDRESS commended for low cases of SA SOLDIER is published monthly - 12 issues per year. The views Covid-19 CONTRIBUTIONS: Defence Headquarters FRONT COVER: Combat ready - and opinions expressed by the authors of articles are their own Although all possible care is taken with cor Nossob & Boeing St SA Army procures an efficacious 18 AMHU KwaZulu-Natal combat articles, the editorial staff cannot accept any Erasmuskloof and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Grenade Launcher -The South ready against Covid-19 responsibility for lost articles and PRETORIA Defence (DOD). Acceptance and publication of advertorial and African Army receive the Y4 photographs. advertising matter in SA SOLDIER do not constitute DOD 40mm Medium Velocity Grenade POSTAL ADDRESS Launcher Test Run - Chief South EDITORIAL STAFF SA Soldier endorsement or warranty in respect of goods or services therein African Army, Lt Gen Lawrence Interns: Private Bag X158 described. The DOD does not assume any liability in respect of any Mbatha firing Y4 40mm Medium Acting Editor: Mr Lufuno Netshirembe PRETORIA, 0001 claims made in advertisements. Velocity Grenade Launcher during Photo Editor: S Sgt Lebogang Tlhaole TELEPHONE the Project KAMOGELO Handing and Taking-over ceremony held at Editorial Staff: S Sgt Itumeleng Makhubela Text Editor: Mr Deon Smit COPYRIGHT: No article or picture in this magazine may be Tel: (012) 355 6341 the Special Forces School. Page: Sgt Nkosinathi Nkosi reproduced without the written consent of the Editor. Distribution: Mr Jim Tshabalala Fax: (012) 355 6399 10(Photos by Sgt Nkosinathi Nkosi) Cpl Jonathan Mogano Tel: (012) 355 6341 email: AB Samuel Ramonyai Layout & Mr Werner van der [email protected] For the latest news on defence matters in South Africa, L Cpl Paul Mpangala Design: Westhuizen website: www.dod.mil.za visit our website at: www.dod.mil.za 2 2020 Vol27 No9 SASOLDIER SASOLDIER Vol27 No9 2020 3 SA Soldier MESSAGE COMMUNITY OUTREACH SA Soldier OpNOTLELAdeployedmembersbuild from the a shelter for an old lady in Alexandra editor’s desk By S Sgt Itumeleng Makhubela Photos by Cpl Jonathan Mogano he Coronavirus pandemic has annihilated lives Sanitation. These highly specialised teams employed various he SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has come to aid of an elderly woman whose house was worldwide leaving the whole globe experiencing its skills including engineering, provided water purification burnt in Alexandra over the lockdown period. effects. In South Africa the Commander in Chief of support and distribution to some of the furthest and T T They are currently deployed under Operation Notlela to the SANDF and President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa took some impoverished areas where there was a desperate need for enforce Covid-19 Regulations in Gauteng Province. drastic steps to reduce the possible high loss of life. Some of water for various use with notably a severe need for On 9 July 2020 a transformer exploded at Alexandra the stringent measures put in place was to institute hygienically clean water for drinking and cooking purposes. and burned down the house of Ms Rosina More aged 61 lockdown with rules and regulations in place. and her 24 year old daughter was admitted in hospital In support of the National Department of Health to due to smoke inhalation and is still in hospital. Ms More For the first time in the history of South Africa the largest successfully execute its Covid-19 curbing programme, no less number of South African National Defence Force members than 39 SANDF primary healthcare teams comprising 185 RIGHT: Ms Rosina More and Capt Tshego was mobilised and deployed internally. This marked the members (36 doctors, 84 nurses and 65 auxiliary staff) were Maloka, a hard working member behind the beginning of Operation NOTLELA. deployed to all nine provinces. Scanning teams consisting of donation project. 165 medical staff members deployed with SANDF units in all With lockdown at alert level 5 instituted, Op NOTLELA was nine provinces. These medical staff members are performing activated. After several months of gradual easing of alert thermal scans on the population during patrols, vehicle levels and lockdown rules and regulations, alert level 1 was check point and roadblocks. More than 800 000 people were declared to be in place from 00h01 on 21 September 2020. scanned. The SANDF has screened nearly 600 000 people. The The declaration of alert level 1 marked the minimum role SANDF performed scanning and screening on its own that SANDF would be playing going forth and the actual members. coming to an end of Op NOTLELA and the withdrawal of the SANDF members. The SANDF assisted and provided with the establishment of additional bed quarantine facilities. The SANDF further Since the National state of Disaster was declared and assisted with administrative duties such as data capturing of lockdown began, SANDF members have been engaged in a medical records, general running of the hospital which variety of tasks in support of various state departments e.g., included the provision of scanning orderlies, drivers, Department of Health, Water and Sanitation, Social porters, HR administration, finance administration, Q- Ms Rosina More in tears of joy with her A house that has been donated to Ms Rosina More. Development and the South African Police Services (SAPS) in marshals, cleaning and sanitising services, and safety and family. had. With the assistance of an for some time and felt touched by maintaining law and order, as well as compliance with the security services at overburdened hospitals is looking after her two grandkids while their organisation in Alexandra called the situation there. They also state of disaster regulations. The SANDF tasks included mother is still in hospital. 30 Strong that is concerned with extended their social intervention securing South Africa’s porous borders. In addition to the above roles and responsibilities that the One of the donors, Mr Munir donated making Alexandra a better place; programmes to donate clothing to SANDF carried out, it offered immeasurable humanitarian building material to the old lady. The 30 strong we were then able and managed to school children as well. SANDF members assisted SAPS enforce compliance of assistance to many South African citizens. In Gauteng and voices of Alex together with the SANDF get donors in order to assist this Ms More said when the regulations by inter alia carrying out countless patrols, Kwa-Zulu Natal Provinces houses were voluntarily built by members that are deployed in Alexandra and family.” transformer started burning, she arrested several thousands of people and confiscated SANDF and handed over to poor and ill-affording families. other community members of Alexandra took it Due to the fire that broke out was actually still inside the house. hundreds of firearms, as well as millions of Rands worth of Out of a sense of Ubuntu without any obligation, SANDF upon themselves to rebuild the house of Ms and the house in ruins, Ms More The community came to her drugs, counterfeit goods and stolen vehicles, just to mention offered transportation to South African senior citizens Rosina More.