 medal parade took place at Air Force Base Durban){kind=link}
South Africa, Durban: The Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) medal parade took place at Air Force Base Durban on 30 June 2023. The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, reflected on it and said, “The fact that a parade of this magnitude took place at Air Force Base Durban is important for several reasons.
It is one of the biggest activities on this Base after the floods that affected KwaZulu-Natal and this Base, in particular, immensely.
Also, it brought together various elements of the SA National Defence Force and the top leadership to show them that this Base has survived the worst and is still struggling to be on its feet, but it is still standing.
The Base Officer Commanding and the personnel also interacted with the entire leadership of the Defence Force, who serve at various levels. They also had an opportunity to interact closely with the Chief of the SA National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, to understand his vision and to air their concerns that include but are not limited to the underfunding that the SA National Defence Force is currently experiencing.
To all the recipients, we congratulate you and your families; this demonstrates your dedication to the service, the country and the Defence Force.
These medals aren’t just tokens; they are symbols to recognise your sacrifices in service of the country and the Department of Defence. To the families, we appreciate your support because had it not been for you, we wouldn’t have these members serving with us.”