M George: International Warrant Officers Conference

6 February 2006

Programme Director
General Officer Commanding of the Armour Formation, Brigadier General
Gildenhuys
Sergeant Major of the SA National Defence Force, Warrant Officer Class 1
Jacobs
SA National Defence Force and Division Warrant Officers
Sergeant Majors from all other participating countries
Ladies and Gentlemen

Programme Director,

Allow me to begin my address by welcoming our international guests to South
Africa and the City of Bloemfontein in particular. This city, referred to as
the ‘City of Roses’, is the Judicial Capital of South Africa.

Bloemfontein’s strategic positioning in the centre of the South African
heartland and its prominent place in the socio-political history of this
country has ensured it a special place in the hearts and minds of South
Africans of all races. In the early days of the union of South Africa
Bloemfontein was chosen as a strategic location to regulate processes between
the executive in the heartland and parliament in the Cape. Similarly, the
African National Congress (ANC) was formed in Bloemfontein in 1912 in
recognition the city’s centrality in the geo-political landscape of the
country.

I think it is therefore fitting that Bloemfontein, a place of unity, has
been chosen to host this inaugural International Conference of Warrant Officers
to be held on the continent of Africa.

Programme Director,

South Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region as a
whole and the rest of Africa, in the context of the African Union (AU), has
made significant progress with regard to continental diplomacy for conflict
prevention and resolution, and the consolidation of peacekeeping as the core
activity of many African defence forces.

It is however important that we reflect on our past to understand why it is
so important that we are flexible and adaptable in our approach to armed force
development and defence in Africa.

Although many Africans fought in the First World War it was the Second World
War and its immediate aftermath that truly provided the impetus and inspiration
for the people of this continent, supported by international allies, to strive
with purpose towards liberation and self-determination. For Africans, alongside
our brothers and sisters from Asia and across the Diaspora, to have risked and
sacrificed their lives for a ‘European’ war against fascism begged the
question: what about our freedom right to self-determination?

As the post Second World War period witnessed the roll-out of the ‘Marshall
Plan’ for the reconstruction and development of Europe from the ashes of wanton
destruction, the emergence of Japan as an economic giant, and most
significantly, the creation of the United Nations as the champion of freedom
and human rights across the globe, the colonial masters of Africa publicly
acknowledged that the “winds of change” were blowing relentlessly across the
continent of Africa. This was evidenced through successful liberation struggles
and the political direction of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the
predecessor of the AU.

For Africans who had fought for freedom and self-determination in Europe it
was now inevitable that no one would rest until the continent was totally free.
From the late 1950s to the 1990s the rollout of independence for African states
was consolidated.

However, despite all the good intentions of the international community, the
social manipulation, political and economic underdevelopment legacy of the
colonial era continue to haunt Africa to this day. As a consequence,
corruption, poverty, instability and inevitably both civil and cross-border
wars have remained endemic to our continent, often overshadowing immense
progress in all fields of socio-economic development.

Programme Director,

On a recent visit to Rwanda I was reminded of the horror of arguably the
worst genocide in the history of mankind where in mere one hundred days close
to a million men, women and children were slaughtered in an attempt to wipe out
an ethnic minority.

Reliving this experience in Rwanda convinced me more than ever before that
peacekeeping and self-reliance in conflict resolution on this continent is the
key to our future development.

In the past few decades conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping and
post-conflict reconstruction have become key philosophies and activities of the
UN, the military forces of the world, the AU and Africa’s regional political
groupings.

Today, more than ever before, we are recognising that our hard-won freedom
and liberation have been undermined by conflict and instability. This is at the
root cause of poverty and lack of development in Africa.

In this regard we recognise that peace, security and stability have to be
assured both at home and abroad through a solid national defence and security
foundation. All this can only be achieved through a collective approach that
ensures the interoperability of armed forces and security forces.

The successful presidential elections in Burundi last year were the best
possible testament to the success of an AU mission in Africa. The initial and
timely intervention of an AU mission followed by a full conversion to a UN
mission ensured that there was no repeat of the Rwanda episode. However, before
the current mission withdraws it is imperative that the necessary post-conflict
reconstruction and development interventions are put in place.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have successfully ratified their
constitution and with the elections coming later this year, the UN mission in
the DRC has a responsibility to secure the country for a peaceful transition to
a democratic dispensation. In this regard it is absolutely critical that the
Demobilisation, Disarmament and Rehabilitation (DDR) process as well as the
integration of the DRC armed forces is successfully completed under UN
supervision and secured primarily by African armed forces.

We must also note that all of this is happening against the backdrop of the
formation of the AU Standby Force through steady progress in the development of
its regional brigades and regional early warning centres across five African
regions.

Programme Director,

For us in the SADC region we have a lot to be proud of. I have already
mentioned progress in the DRC. Coupled to this we have ensured the requisite
peace and stability to have successfully rolled out peaceful elections in the
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the last few
years.

This has happened against the backdrop of significant progress with the SADC
Brigade of the African Standby Force, the SADC Mutual Defence Pact ensuring
pre-emptive mechanisms for conflict resolution, the SADC regional Early Warning
System and the operationalisation of the Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre
(RPTC) in Harare. Added to these are; regular joint military exercises testing
interoperability of troops and systems, and a number of multilateral defence
and security for an integrated planning and procedures.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is now in the consolidation
phase of the both the renewal and modernisation of both equipment and personnel
in keeping with the requirements of a modern day defence force.

With the full commissioning of the first of our four new German MEKO A200
Patrol Corvettes to the South African Navy in a few weeks time and the arrival
of the first of our three German Type 209 Submarines towards the middle of the
year the South African Navy seeks to ensure that we have the requisite maritime
defence capability to provide the highest-level protection for our economy and
people, the SADC region, the African coastline and support for international
operations whilst creating the opportunity to rejuvenate our forces with young
talent.

The same principal applies with regard to the pending arrival of the British
Hawk Lead-in-Trainer Fighter jets, the Swedish Gripens and various helicopters
to modernise the versatility of the South African Air Force.

Likewise the South African Army and South African Military Health Services
are looking to replace ageing fleets modernise and ensure their equipment and
training of forces becomes increasingly appropriate to for the dual purpose of
protection of the homeland and peace support outside our country.

Programme Director,

I have painted a broad picture to give context for support for the role of
the Sergeant Major in an African defence force. The Sergeant Majors of Africa
have a very significant role to play in ensuring that the requisite discipline,
philosophy and mental attitude of troops, particularly young troops, are such
that they can adapt and deliver on both the national and international mandates
that determine their service to the people of Africa and the people of the
world.

The troop we want today should be equally skilled with the gun or the
hammer, should prevent wars, should win wars and build for the future. He or
she should be a role model to all communities in which he or she operates, and
should be adaptable at home or abroad. This is the person you must grow,
nurture and unleash to go forth as a force for good.

It is also clear then therefore that as custodians of discipline and
executors of policies, you are expected to stay abreast of policy changes that
you are expected to execute. This means that you, yourselves, must continually
re-sharpen your skills and ensure that you are properly empowered to be able to
face the challenges of a dynamic and ever changing world.

Programme Director,

In conclusion, I would like to thank the organisers of this conference for
choosing South Africa as the inaugural host and Bloemfontein as an inspired
choice for a venue.

I wish all of you the best of luck during your deliberations and hope you
have a wonderful time in our beautiful country.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Defence
6 February 2006