South Africa: The Chief of the South African Army Human Resource work session took place at Rhemardo, in Mookgopong, Limpopo Province, over the period 27 to 31 March 2023. Human Resource functionaries from all SA Army Formations, SA Army Brigades and senior members from SA National Defence Force Divisions gathered at the aforementioned location.
The Commander of the Landward Forces, Lieutenant General Khulekani Lawrence Mbatha, extended a warm welcome to all participants. The SA Army is on a mission to honour its mandate, which is to prepare and provide forces for operational employment by Chief Joint Operations as commanded by Chief South African National Defence Force.
The Chief of the South African Army emphasised that Human Resources remain the pulse of the South African Army. Therefore HR functionaries must serve men and women in uniform by seeking solutions that will move the SA Army forward. Human Resource functionaries have the responsibility of identifying risks, monitoring, and improving control systems as well as good governance.
Lieutenant General Mbatha stressed that “the Defence Review of 2015, as a policy document, demands of us as the Department of Defence to align and develop the South African National Defence Force as a professional, competent defence force capable of executing its constitutional mandate”. Members were reminded of the constitutional Mandate of the SA National Defence Force, the Constitutional Mandate of the SA Army, and the SA Army Values.
Various members from Human Resource Division (Chief Directorate Human Resource Career Management, Directorate Human Resource Separation, Military Academy) and Internal Audit Management were invited to impart specialist knowledge regarding Human Resource functions that will help change the mindset from doing business as usual but to do things correctly and to implement change where applicable.