Pretoria-President Jacob Zuma says South African soldiers have continued to perform exceptionally well in peace missions in Africa and have done the country proud.
He was speaking at the Arms Forces Day celebrations held in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
The president said one of the key demonstrations of the success of South Africa’s participation in peacekeeping missions is the recent appointment by the United Nations (UN), of Lieutenant-General Derrick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi as the Force Commander of the 20 000 strong United Nations Mission in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, called MONUSCO.
“This is the largest United Nations Peace Support Operation in the world and on the continent.
“The appointment of General Mgwebi is a clear indication of the confidence that the UN has in South Africa and the role and contribution we have made in peacekeeping in the continent and beyond,” said the President.
He said the appointment is a further recognition of Mgwebi's leadership qualities in many missions that he has led abroad.
“It is a major gain for the UN to have such a decorated and operationally experienced officer in charge of MONUSCO.
“This appointment is, therefore, not only an honour to General Mgwebi personally, but also to South Africa as a whole,” said the President.
South Africa plays its role mandated mainly by the African Union with the support of the United Nations, and participate in peace missions within the continent.
“We do this because we want to see peace and stability in our continent. We want to see the end of suffering of women and children in Africa. We want to see the end of the flight of Africans from their countries because of wars and conflicts.
“We are passionate about peace and that is why our armed forces are always ready to participate in peacekeeping missions.”
President Zuma said the African Union has taken a resolution that guns must be silenced in Africa by 2020. South Africa is playing its part meaningfully towards the achievement of that goal.
21 February is dedicated to celebrating the armed forces each year. It is also a platform that enables the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to showcase its latest military equipment and technologies that are used to protect the country.
The day is also used by the military to demonstrate the military combat readiness of the SANDF against any threats to the sovereignty of South Africa.
It also provides youth the opportunity to find out about careers that are available in their country’s defence force.
The President commended the work of the defence force which goes beyond protecting the country, as the forces also come in handy when there are natural disasters, medical emergencies and for their assistance towards police in those rare occasions that require a maximum response to crime, such as Operation Fiela.
President Zuma called on the SANDF to open up to the public and teach people about its work.
“I would like to see more and more interaction between the SANDF and our people. It should not just end here and today. The SANDF belongs to the people of South Africa. It serves our people, and they need to know more about their defence force,” he said.
He said the primary objective of the defence force is to defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity and its people in accordance with the Constitution and the principles of international law regulating the use of force.
“We must also be able to cope with an escalation in hostilities. These are all aspects of the new defence force as envisaged by the Defence Review 2014.
“The newly completed Defence Review 2014, which is now ready for implementation speaks to a modern defence force, with a modern soldier and maps out the direction defence will be taking for the next 30 years,” said the President.
SS Mendi vessel
The Armed Forces Day celebration coincides with the anniversary of the fateful sinking of the SS Mendi vessel along the English Channel on the same day in 1917.
“2017 will mark the centenary of the sinking on the SS Mendi, a huge milestone in our military, as we remember our fallen heroes,” he said.
The President said the sinking of Mendi resulted in the death of 600 black soldiers who had enlisted as a labour corps in the First World War.
“They were treated with disdain and their role and contribution were not valued at all by the racist colonialists of the time.
“In this regard, as we celebrate the Armed Forces Day, we recognise both our history as well as the future of our National Defence Force.
“As we celebrate Armed Forces Day today, we should pause as a nation to remember our men and women who have fallen in the line of duty,” he said.
On behalf of the South African Government and all the people of our country, the President expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the departed soldiers, either on the home front or in far-away lands on peace keeping missions.
“May their souls rest in peace,” he said.-SAnews.gov.za
