SHARE
SALUTATIONS
APPRECIATION
SINCE THE HEAVENS AND EARTH AND THEIR INHABITANTS CAME INTO EXISTENCE – I HAVE NOT HEARD NOR IT EVER BEEN RECORDED THAT THE SUN FAILED TO RISE FROM THE EAST AND TO SET IN THE WEST. LIKEWISE THE FAITHFULLNESS OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY MY SAVIOR HAS NEVER FAILED ME – I WILL FOREVER BE INDEBTED TO YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOUR FOR YOUR UNFAILING FAITHFULLNESS. THIS CHANGE OF COMMAND PARADE IS A RESULT OF TIRELESS EFFORTS BEHIND THE SCENES – THE INVISIBLE ENERGY FROM THE PLANNING TEAM LEAD BY MAJOR GENERAL MOREETSI – THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB. OC AFMDW COLONEL VLOK – FOR AVAILING THE BASE AND PERSONNEL FOR THIS PARADE. THE CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION OF THIS PARADE BY LT COL MAMOUOKE…THE EXCELLENT DISPLAY OF MILITARY DRILL BY MEMBERS ON PARADE UNDER THE WING COMMANDER LT COL BALOYI, WING WARRANT OFFICER MASTER WO NTOBO, THE WO IN CHARGE OF THE SAAF COLOURS SQUADRON SENIOR WO Mc CLAIN, THE WO IN CHARGE OF THE ARTILLERY GUN SALUTE, SWO MAPHANGA, THE SAAF INTERNATIONAL BAND UNDER THE PASSIONATE AND SKILLFUL HAND OF THE SENIOR BAND MASTER LT COL NDLOVU….THE DRUM MAJOR SWO D. RADEBE, THE FLY PAST THAT WILL SERENADE OUR SKIES SHORTLY, ORGANIZED BY THE OPERATIONS TEAM UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF COL TSHIOLOLI ….THE MESS PERSONNEL THAT HAVE PREPARED THE DELICASIES THAT WILL BE ENJOYED HEREAFTER. THE PROFESSIONAL MEDIA HOUSES PRESENT TODAY WITH ALL THEIR TOOLS OF TRADE TO CAPTURE THIS EVENT AND ALL THE INVITED GUESTS THAT HAVE RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO THE INVITATION…TO ALL OF YOU WITHOUT EXCEPTION ….PLEASE ACCEPT MY PROFOUND APPRECIATION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
ACKNOWLEGEMENT
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CONVEY MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION TO THOSE WHO WERE KEY IN THE DECISION MAKING FOR MY APPOINTMENT AS CAF BACK IN 2021…THE CIC HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT CM RAMAPHOSA, FORMER MODMV MRS MAPISA-NQAKULA, FORMER CSANDF GENERAL SHOKE AND CURRENT CSANDF GENERAL MAPHWANYA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND BELIEF IN ME TO LEAD THE SAAF FROM 2021 TO DATE. YOU HAD FAITH IN MY ABILITIES TO EXECUTE THIS TASK AND IN SO DOING GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND MATURE IN VARIOUS WAYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORESIGHTEDNESS AND FORTITUDE. THANK YOU TO THE FORMER CAF LT GENERAL (RET) F.Z. MSIMANG FOR HANDING OVER TO ME THE SAAF THAT STILL HAD CONFIDENCE UPON WHICH I COULD BUILD. IN THE SAME VEIN – I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE MOD&MV HONORABLE MINISTER ANGIE MOTSHEKGA FOR HER QUIET AND DEPENDABLE SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY. HONORABLE MINISTER THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND PASSIONATE LISTENING SKILL THAT ALLOWED ME TO VENTURE INTO NEW APPROACHES TO BRING UNORTHODOX SOLUTIONS FACING THE SAAF.
STRATEGIC DECISION
THE STRATEGIC DECISION OF THE SAAF TO CHART A NEW DIRECTION AND DARING VISION: EFFECTIVE AIR AND SPACE POWER THROUGH INNOVATION IN THE THEATRE OF OUR OPERATIONS CAME UNDER THE DIFFICULT MOMENTS OF LIMITED FUNDING CONFRONTING THE DOD AND BY IMPLICATION THE SAAF. THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION WERE LARGELY PREOCCUPIED WITH THE KEY QUESTION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HAVE MORE PLATFORMS IN THE AIR. THE VISION OF AIR AND SPACE POWER AT THAT TIME SENT SHOCKWAVES IN VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE SAAF BECAUSE OF ITS CONTROVERSIAL NATURE BASED ON THE SAAF LIMITED RESOURCES. I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE DICTUM THAT SAYS…IF YOUR VISION IS NOT INTIMIDATING YOU – THEN IT IS NOT WORTH PURSUING IT. IT DAWNED ON ME THAT UNLESS THE SAAF LEADERSHIP FORGES AHEAD WITH THIS VISION – THERE IS A DANGER THAT THE SAAF COULD FOCUS ON THE IMMEDIATE AND LOSE SIGHT OF THE ULTIMATE. THE RESOLVE WAS CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS – PUSH ON WITH THE VISION.
THE JOURNEY
ONCE THE SAAF LEADERSHIP DETERMINED THE FLIGHT PATH OF EFFECTIVE AIR AND SPACE POWER – THE REST HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FOLLOW – SCREAMING OR SMILING…THAT IS THE NATURE OF MILITARY CULTURE.
THIS FLIGHT PATH HAD CLEAR SEGMENTS OF THE UNFREEZE (APPLYING SOME HEAT TO CHANGE THE OLD SAAF MINDSET) FOLLOWED BY CHANGE (PUSHING THROUGH NEW APPROACHES IN THE SAAF) AND THEN FINALLY REFREEZE (LOCKING THE NEW MINDSET AS NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE SAAF). INDEED A CAGED MINDSET OF A POWERFUL INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANISATION CANNOT SUCCEED EVEN WITH THE POWERFUL VISION. WE DEVELOPED A SIMPLE SLOGAN “FREE THE EAGLE” THROUGH WHICH WE ENCOURAGED SAAF MEMBERS TO EMBRACE NEW AND UNUSUAL APPROACH TO SOLVE ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES AT ALL LEVELS. THE TIMELINES FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE WERE DETERMINED FOR ALL PHASES BUT NOT REALLY CAST IN STONE BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IS DYNAMIC AND FLUID IN NATURE. SPACE COMMAND SEEMED A FAR FETCHED DREAM BACK IN 2021 BUT TODAY THE SEEDS OF THE VISION OF AIR AND SPACE POWER HAVE CONVERTED THAT DREAM TO A TANGIBLE REALITY. THE SPACE COMMAND INTEGRATED PROJECT TEAM (SCIPT) UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF DEPUTY CAF MAJOR GENERAL MATHEBULA HAS ACHIEVED NOTABLE RESULTS WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME. WE HAVE MADE STRIDES IN THE COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS SPACE ENTITIES IN THE COUNTRY. THE SPACE CONFERENCES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE HAVE BROKEN WALLS OF WORKING IN ISOLATION AND CHANGED THE INDIVIDUAL APPROACH OF THE PURSUANCE OF NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAM TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED APPROACH.
IN-HOUSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT (DIY)
ANOTHER INGREDIENT IN THE CHANGE OF THE SAAF IS THE INHOUSE CAPABILITY RESUSCITATION WHEREIN MEMBERS OF THE SAAF ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE INNOVATIVE AND TO HAVE COURAGE TO DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT MUCH RELIANCE ON EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS PRACTISE GIVES OUR PEOPLE A SENSE OF PRIDE AND CONFIDENCE TO BELIEVE IN THEIR ABILITY TO DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN. WE HAVE SEEN A CHANGE IN THE SAAF MEMBERS THROUGH THEIR COURAGEOUS ACTIONS OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN DESTINATION. IN AFB BLOEMSPRUIT, SOME AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS AT 6 ASU ARE UNFOLDING AND SIMILAR INNOVATIVE ACTIONS ARE MUSHROOMING THROUGHOUT THE SAAF. IN THE RECENT SAAF GALA EVENING – WE AWARDED 4 X MEMBERS WITH INNOVATIVE TROPHIES WHO HAVE DEVELOPED AMAZING SOLUTIONS FOR CHALLENGES AT BASE AND UNIT LEVEL…THE INNOVATIVE SPIRIT HAS PERMEATED THROUGH THE SAAF LIKE A RAGING FLOOD.
THE PREVAILING SCENARIO OF BEING CASH POOR AND ASSET RICH AIR FORCE DOES NOT PASS THE LOGIC TEST. THEREFORE THE SAAF LEADERSHIP HAS MOVED AHEAD TO LAY DOWN THE CONCEPTS OF SWEATING THE VARIOUS ASSETS THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE WILLING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERS TO RESOLVE THE CASH POOR AND ASSET RICH CONUNDRUM. THIS ROAD HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES AND RISKS BUT WE BELIEVE THERE IS NO GREATER RISK FACING THE SAAF THAN TO SIT AND DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PREVAILING SITUATION. WE ARE ALSO CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE ASSETS WE HAVE ARE LIKE EGGS – THEIR SHELF LIFE IS TIME SENSITIVE AND LIMITED – SOONER OR LATER THEY WILL BE DISPOSED OF WITHOUT ANY GAIN TO THE DEFENCE FORCE OR THE STATE. THE CDAPP ENVIRONMENT IS FIRMLY DRIVING THIS ACTIVITY WITH GUIDANCE FROM CAF AND THE AFCC.
THIS IS THE INITIATIVE THAT REQUIRES CONSISTENT ATTENTION AND CLOSE MONITORING BECAUSE IT IS LOADED WITH GREAT POTENTIAL TO ALTER THE MISFORTUNES OF THE ORGANIZATIONS. BOLD STEPS AND SYNERGY WITH OTHER SECTORS OF THE STATE WILL BE FUNDAMENTAL. I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THIS: THE MINDSET OF SAAF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PULLED TO NEW LEVELS AND DIMENSIONS …LIKE A STRETCHED COIL SPRING – WHEN IT IS RELEASED IT WILL NEVER RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THIS EAGLE HAS NOW TASTED FREEDOM AND IT WILL NEVER DESIRE TO BE CAGED AGAIN.
SUSTAINMENT
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IN ANY ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IS THE SUSTAINMENT ASPECT. THE DANGER ALWAYS LIE IN THE POSSIBLE REVERSAL OF THE GAINS ACHIEVED. HOWEVER, THE HIDDEN ADVANTAGE WILL ALWAYS BE THE VALUE AND BENEFITS THAT THE MEMBERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THROUGH THE CHANGE …NOW THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE INCOMING CAF AND THE REST OF THE AFCC WILL NOT FAIL IN THE SUSTAINMENT OF THE GAINS ACHIEVED.
FOR THIS WAS NEVER A ONE MAN SHOW BUT A COLLECTIVE AND TEAM EFFORT AND THEREFORE IT HAS A GREAT POTENTIAL TO GROW FURTHER.
FUTURE SAAF
AS WE ARE WITNESSING TODAY – THE UNFOLDING ORGANIZED VIOLENT CHAOS IN VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE WORLD – WE MUST TAKE LESSONS. THE SPACE DOMAIN, UAVs, AI, CYBER WARFARE AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ARE A GAME CHANGER IN MILITARY OPERATIONS. THE FUTURE AIRMAN MUST BE ABLE TO UTILISE THESE CAPABILITIES BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY BE ABLE TO FIGHT AGAINST THEM WHEN THE ADVERSARY IS USING THEM. THE EASE OF ACCESS OF SOME OF THESE CAPABILITIES BY THE NON STATE ACTORS PRESENTS A COMPLEX PROBLEM FOR THE TRADITIONAL ARMIES. TO KNOW IS POWER. FORE KNOWLEDGE IS TO BE FORE ARMED. THEREFORE OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE AVIATORS MUST BE DEEPLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ACROSS THE WIDE RANGE OF TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES IN MORDERN WARFARE. THERE MUST BE A CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY AND THE SANDF IN SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE FROM EACH OTHERS DOMAIN. DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SYSTEMS AND TEST AND EVALUATION THROUGH THE SANDF SHOULD BE THE NORM AND NOT AN EXCEPTION. THE SAAF CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE FEWER FRIENDS IN THE REGION AND THE REST OF THE WORLD BECAUSE KNOWLEDGE CANNOT BE LIMITED TO ONE SECTOR – YOU LEARN EVERYWHERE. THE RELATIONS WITH THE MAAC MUST BE NURTURED AND ENHANCED.
REGION SAC
I HAVE ENJOYED THE INTERACTION WITH MY COUNTERPARTS FROM THE SADC UNDER THE STANDING AVIATION COMMITTEE (SAC) UMBRELLA. IN MY TENURE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE – I HAVE GROWN AND MATURED IN MANY WAYS AND UNDERSTOOD THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR REGION IN A MORE PROFOUND WAY. I BELIEVE THERE CAN BE NO REPLACEMENT FOR UNITY IN OUR REGION – AND THE SAC. AS REGIONAL AIR FORCES WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IN SYNERGY….IN THIS WAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO DEFEAT THE NEW ENEMY HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS TROUBLING OUR PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY.
DEFENCE INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTION
THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE COULD COME THIS FAR IN CHANGING THE SAAF MINDSET AND APPROACH WITHOUT THE LOCAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY PARTNERS. SOME HAVE GONE FAR AND MADE UNBELIEVABLE SACRIFICES TO ENSURE THAT THE SAAF DOES NOT CRUMBLE AND FALL. I AM STANDING HERE AND CONFIRMING THAT INDEED THIS COUNTRY DOES HAVE PATRIOTIC DEFENCE INDUSTRY. SOME HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO STAND BEHIND THE NATIONAL FLAG – EVEN IF IT COSTS THEM THEIR LIVELIHOOD AS A BUSINESS. WE ADMIRE AND SALUTE THEM FOR THEIR ACTS OF PATRIOTISM.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, MRS MOATSHE AND FAMILY. YOUR APPOINTMENT IN THIS POSITION MEANS MORE TO THE SAAF AND THE COUNTRY AT LARGE. YOUR HUMBLE RISE THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE ORGANISATION AND YOUR EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT SETTINGS WILL ASSIST YOU IN DRIVING THE SAAF FORWARD. YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO LEAD FROM WHERE YOU STARTED AT A UNIT LEVEL.
THERE IS AFCC AS A COUNCIL TO ADVISE AND HELP YOU IN GUIDING THE ORGANISATION FORWARD. ADOPT THE STYLE OF A CHOIR OR ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR – TURN YOUR BACK AGAINST YOUR AUDIENCE AND FOCUS ON YOUR MISSION OF LEADING THE SAAF…DO NOT BE DISTRACTED BY THE GALLERY SILENCE OR NOISE. I CANNOT BORROW YOU MY SHOES TO WEAR IN ORDER TO LEAD THE SAAF BECAUSE IN THE FIRST PLACE THEY WILL BE STINKING SINCE I HAVE BEEN WEARING THEM AND LASTLY MY SHOE SIZE IS SMALLER THAN YOURS AND DEFINITELY YOU WILL NOT FIT IN THEM…THEREFORE WEAR YOUR OWN SHOES AND LEAD THE SAAF TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST INTO THE FUTURE.
GOD BLESS THE SAAF – THE DOD – GOD BLESS OUR BELOVED COUNTRY SOUTH AFRICA
THANK YOU
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