South Africa, Vukuhlome: South Africa (SA) Army Exercise VUKUHLOME 2023 celebrated Heritage Day themed “Embracing African Heritage through African music’ on 29 September 2023.
On the said day, Divisions and Brigades formed dance teams that delivered a variety of festivities, which included:
• Dance Performance Teams
• Cooking Team (Potjiekos Competition) and lastly,
• Poetry reciting.
The selected songs were composed of South African music genre and old classics that brought back old memories of letting the good times roll aura amongst members at the SA Combat Training Center Sports field in Lohatla Northern Cape.
The playlist for participating Divisions and Brigades consisted of old classic songs like:
• Mbongeni Ngema’s Stimela sa se zola
• Letta Mbuli’s Not Yet Uhuru
• Jonas Gwangwa’s Dikgomo
• Mandoza’s Nkalakatha
• Brenda Fassie’s Vulindlela, amongst many more.
During the opening of the celebration, Exercise VUKUHLOME Deputy Division Commander Brigadier General Leon Puckree welcomed all the members and encouraged everyone to embrace the cultural diversity within the organisation.
In the category of the dance competition, the under-mentioned gave an outstanding and powerful performance, and the results were as follows:
• 1st Place: 46 SA Brigade theme song Jonas Gwangwa Dikgomo
• 2nd Place: 101 Field Workshop theme song Mbongeni Ngema Stimela sa se zola
• 3rd Place: SA Medical Brigade theme song Zahara Xa bendingena mama
In the cooking competition themed Potjiekos, the under-mentioned delivered a tasty and African-flavoured dish, and the results were as follows:
• 1st Place: Exercise Control Team1
• 2nd Place: SA Medical Brigade
• 3rd Place: SA Army Signal Formation
To recognize the great talent in poetry reciting, the following poet’s performance was outstanding, and the results were as follows:
• 1st Place: Staff Sergeant Dingana
• 2nd Place: Undisclosed Nonese
• 3rd Place: Jobo Montshi
The celebration was concluded with the Certificate Ceremony in recognition of teamwork, cohesion, and outstanding contribution to the successful execution of the Heritage Day celebration by the SA Army Exercise VUKUHLOME 2023 Divisions and Brigades.