Pretoria - Jubilation and ululation sounded across the Armscor facility in Pretoria where members of the South African National Defence Force received medals in recognition of their medical care to former president Nelson Mandela during his final days, and for serving during his state funeral.
On Friday, Acting Chief of Corporate Staff in the SANDF, Major-General Louis Dlulane presented a total of 242 medals, which were dominated by the presentation of 177 Mandela bronze decorations.
“I have had opportunities to preside over a number of medals in the past, but this one will be one of the most historical in my military career. I know its significance. Some of the people who performed the operation (Mandela funeral activities) were under my command,” Dlulane told African News Agency at the colourful event.
“It was a pleasure for me to present the medals to the soldiers in recognition of what they did for the Defence Force, the country and the whole of South Africa,” said Dlulane.
During the event, Dlulane touched on how discipline, which Mandela epitomised, was central to a successful career in the armed forces. “What we instill in soldiers right from the beginning is discipline,” he said. “That is something former president Mandela practiced throughout his life, as a lawyer and as a politician. It is an established military norm and value. A soldier that is ill-disciplined has no place in the military.”
Dlulane also urged the medal recipients to soldier on despite budgetary constraints.
Shortly after Mandela’s death in December 2013, the SANDF cancelled all leave that had been put in for the festive season in order to have over 11 000 soldiers on hand to assist government with all logistical and security arrangements for the iconic statesman’s memorial and funeral services.
The 11 000 soldiers were deployed countrywide to support police for the myriad of events which unfolded following Mandela’s death, including the memorial service at the 94 000-seater FNB stadium in Soweto.
With mourners who included US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle joining numerous global leaders at the memorial service, the country’s security needed to be of the highest standard to ensure the safety and security of global and national leaders, and the general public.
The SANDF was also in charge of the 20-member team of doctors who took care of Mandela while he was alive up until his death at his Houghton home in Johannesburg. When Mandela’s body left the Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria aboard a military C130 aircraft on December 14, 2013; the aircraft was escorted by two Gripen fighter jets to the Mthatha airport in the Eastern Cape.
One of the medal recipients, Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga said the recognition for service was overwhelming. “I feel honoured and privileged that among all the brigadier-generals in the SANDF, I was selected to play the role that I did (during Mandela’s last days and funeral). At the end. that service I rendered is being recognised. Once again I feel privileged and honoured. I thank the leadership of the SANDF,” said Mabanga.
“The greatest thing I have learnt from the life of former president Nelson Mandela is the respect of human dignity for all people. He would not do anything or allow anybody to harm a fellow man or woman. That is a lesson I will go down with,” he added, reflecting on the medal he received.
Mabanga received a second medal for 20 years of service along with numerous other servicemen, while others were recognised for a decade of service in the armed forces.
Captain Prince Tshabalala, who serves in SANDF’s media liaison unit, said he vividly remembers the phase when hordes of local and international media descended on Pretoria for the funeral, and security was beefed up to ensure maximum protection and ease of movement. “I feel really proud to be one of the recipients. With this medal I feel recognised. I feel that I have contributed to a great statesman, and that I am part of that legacy of Nelson Mandela,” Tshabalala said.
“Coordinating the international media was quite easy with the years I have accumulated in the SANDF,” he said. “I followed proper doctrine applicable when dealing with media which is professionalism, courtesy and letting them know how we deal with media this side. There was proper coordination and there was no panic.”
Tshabalala, reflecting on Mandela’s legacy to South Africa, and to the world, said the greatest leaf he took from Madiba’s book was that of humility.
ANA