South Africa: On the 3rd of February 2023, the Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, had a communication period with members of the SA Army Headquarters at Sergeant Mudau Hall. Customary, the Code of Conduct for uniformed members of the South African National Defence Force was read, as well as the Public Service Act Personnel Code of Conduct; Chaplain (Dr) P. Roos opened the communication period with scripture reading and prayer.
For the first time in the past three years, members of the SA Army Headquarters got the privilege of having a communication period with the Chief before other units.
The purpose of the communication period was to set the tone on how to postulate the collective leadership going into the year ahead. The Chief of the SA Army highlighted that it is important to look back and reflect on previous mistakes, be accountable, and rectify them but also applaud for a job well done.
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. The Chief of the SA Army shared his intent and said, “the short-term concept of the SA Army lays the foundation for the execution of the medium-term end state. This end state remains to Arrest the Decline. In the short term, the focus in achieving this will be on Discipline, improving our Control, Focusing on Governance, Risk, and Compliance, and getting “Back-to-Basics”.
This was mentioned as a reminder to ensure that the collective leadership of the SA Army Headquarters understands their mission which is to ultimately Prepare, Provide and Sustain a professional and dynamic combat-ready landward force for employment by the Chief of the SA National Defence Force across the Spectrum of Conflict.
Members were made aware of the SA Army budget, the SA Army staffing, Exercises, Operations, Armed Forces Day, as well as the 2023 C Army legacy project, among others. Furthermore, successes of the year 2022 were highlighted, which included Exercise VUK’HLOME, which took place in the land of diesel and dust, where over 13,000 soldiers gathered to make history. Additionally, the South African Army won the SA National Defence Force Fittest Soldier Competition as well as the Choir Competition, and lastly, the SA National Defence Force Soccer Championships.
The Chief of the SA Army concluded with a quote from the late president Nelson Mandela that says “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Members were then afforded an opportunity to ask questions and give comments.
