07 June 2004
Madam Speaker
Honourable Ministers
Minister of Defence Mr. Lekota
Members of the Gallery and guests
Members of the South African National Defence Force
Honourable Members.
Madam Speaker Honourable Members!
My input will pay special focus to the Civic Education in the Military.
One of the fundamental principles of democratic Civil- Military relations is the Civil Supremacy over armed forces- that the armed forces are subordinate and accountable to the elected and duly appointed civilian authority. Civilian authority flows from the President to the Minister of Defence and then to the Secretary of Defence and to the Chief of SANDF. If our duty as this agues House as our oversight duties to ensure the line of command is adhered.
Whilst we acknowledge, hero-worship of previous armies: then non- statutory forces such as MK, APLA. (etc) vs. The former SADF and its related structures.
We need to agree this formation once constituted very important defence and security of our country- yes, they indeed played a very significant role in our society. Although some accelerated our goal to political liberation and others delayed and retarded our liberation.
Thus agree that the good and bad role once played by our liberation and counterliberation forces its history.
Today we all need to focus on our newly formed Defence Force, the Defence Force Based on non- racialism, non- sexism democratic force. The glorious Defence of people- the SANDF. Let us love it the way we did to our previous forces- with new trans agenda let us enlist our youngsters voluntarily. To you member of SANDF- through the leadership present here convey our message to those men and women in uniform that we are proud of you
Are proud of you
LABOUR RELATIONS:
Labour Relations- we recognise and appreciate the Constitution is imperative through which Military Trade Unions are established, and welcome the DOD'S move to resuscitate Military labour bargain discussions regarding pending labour relations matters to bring them to a speedy resolve.
This include the issue of the office of the Military Ombudsperson.
FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE:
During period of Roman Emperor of around 476AD under the leadership 7heodosias1: The Roman citizens after experience of several attacks by the invaders They once and for all decided to stand up; first rebuilt themselves as a nation. They the became a powerful force to reckon with
But cracks developed- e.g. militarily the Romans bourgeoisie and middle class started not to pay attention to the Defence Force. Most of them did not want to swell the ranks of the army as we all know that the army requires hard work, high level of discipline and sacrifice. Thus, only the poor, the working class joined the Country's Defence- the Roman Empire. nd of course they would not be enough and were further joined by the outsiders. Who became more and more growing within the ranks until they had an influence I directing or rather misdirecting the Empire's Defence Force which became one of the reasons that led to the fall of the then once powerful Roman Empire
Period- Century: 476 AD.
Possible neighbours/ or attackers
Hans/ Germans
Its leader at the time
Emperor: 7 heodosias 1