Podcasts about south african defence force

I greet you in Jesus' precious Name. It is Monday morning, the 9th of December, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.We go to the Gospel of Mark 2:5:”When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Determination! Those four friends of that paralysed man were determined at all costs to make sure that Jesus was able to pray for him. The crowd was immense. They couldn't get anywhere near the front door. So what did they do? Yes, they made a plan. They climbed up onto the roof of the house, removed the tiles and let the paralysed man down with ropes and placed him right in front of the Master. You talk about persistence! There's no ways they were going to let the Lord leave without praying for their dear friend. I looked up the meaning of the word, “determination”. This is what it says: “Persistence in continuing to do something even when it is difficult.” Now that event touched Jesus tremendously. So much so that Jesus healed the paralysed man immediately and forgave his sins.I want to tell you the story of a determined young man. He lived in my house. He is a son of mine in the faith. He joined the elite Parabat Regiment, one of the elite regiments in the South African Defence Force. He was on his last event when he jumped out of an aeroplane with all the other soldiers and something went terribly wrong, some of the ropes of the parachute caught his fingers and amputated a couple of them. It was just before he was going to graduate and get his purple beret with his wings. But he did not give up. He went to the officers in charge and said to them, ”I want to do the course again.” This course is an extremely hard course. Many men don't finish - and that young man did the whole course twice. You talk about determination! That's the kind of man that I would like to go to war with. Oh, by the way, he's now fully committed into God's army.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, Goodbye.

The South African Defence Force has been plunged into mourning once more, as the grim toll of the conflict-torn DRC claims another soldier. A South African soldier, deployed under the United Nations Mission (MONUSCO), has lost their life while serving in the country. This latest casualty comes on the heels of a recent mortar attack by M23 rebels on a base in eastern DRC, which claimed the lives of two SANDF troops and left 20 others injured last month. Joining Elvis Presslin for the latest on this developing story is SANDF spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont noted on Friday that patronage politics has no place in ActionSA, announcing the resignation of its Limpopo provincial chairperson Letsiri Phaahla and termination of his party membership. This after the party learnt about Phaahla joining the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, associated with former President Jacob Zuma. Beaumont explained that ActionSA leadership had received communication from Phaahla on Thursday on his intent to resign, citing resource-related challenges. However, Beaumont said that it was later found out that Phaahla had been negotiating his membership with the MK Party for some time, while "extolling the virtues of ActionSA" in the campaign. He alleged that Phaahla was offered considerable financial inducement to join MK, according to "credible sources". Beaumont said Phaahla's move was an indictment on himself. "Any person who leaves ActionSA to join MK clearly has been ideologically confused and, clearly, has a casual commitment to the notion of ethical leadership if they align with the values of Former President Zuma," said Beaumont. He said patronage politics had become too common in South Africa and candidate deadlines have become "like transfer windows" for those whose political alignment is for sale. "ActionSA welcomes the departure of such compromised leaders from its ranks prior to an election before they sit in a legislature where they abuse the role of public servant for their own ends," Beaumont said. He announced that Victor Mothemela - having served as the head of the party's campaigns in the province since 2022 - will take on the role of provincial chairperson. He said Mothemela had served as a Corporal in the South African Defence Force and a Detective Sergeant in the South African Police Service before going into business.

The police and South African Defence Force have seized chrome stockpiles estimated at R15-million at ga-Phasha village, outside Burgersfort in Limpopo. The operation was part of measures by authorities to rid the mineral-rich Sekhukhune district of illegal mining operations. Mining equipment worth millions of rand was also seized and 19 people were arrested. Pimani Baloyi filed this report.

The South African Defence Force has described allegations related to a torture squad operating within the force as mere fabrications. Chief of the SANDF, General Rhudzani Maphwanya has been addressing the media in Pretoria where he encouraged anyone with information to the contrary, to approach law enforcements agencies. General Maphwanya has been responding to a report by NGO, Open Secrets which details allegations of torture, kidnapping and murder within the force. Open Secrets also claims the squad is responsible for the murder of Hawks Investigator, Colonel  Frans Mathipa, who was shot in the head in August while investigating the SANDF. General Maphwanya maintains that all recent allegations about the SANDF are without merit.

4 of the 5 suspects arrested in connection with the spate of arson attacks on trucks will appear in the Ermelo magistrate's court, In Mpumalanga today. Four suspects were arrested in Mpumalanga and another in Limpopo. Meanwhile, the South African Defence Force has been deployed in areas identified as hotspots, after 20 trucks were set alight last week in Mpumalanga, KZN, Limpopo and the Free State. Elvis Presslin spoke to Mpumalanga provincial Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi...

30.05.23 Pt 1 - Gareth is livid after hearing the chief of the South African Defence Force swear blatantly, live on TV at a media briefing yesterday. Lebang discusses her birthday celebrations after her “no-plans weekend” turned upside down. And the team is fascinated by the latest divorce scandal in the local headlines.

A very good morning to you, I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 30th of March, 2023 and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted,…” 2 Corinthians 7:10“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” Luke 19:8Four hundred per cent, the tax collector Zacchaeus was prepared to give back to anybody that he had stolen from! Now, that is godly sorrow. That's what it means. It means to produce repentance, to change his ways when he realised that the King of Glory had come to his house and dined with him. Folks, godly sorrow leads to repentance and repentance to salvation. I just want to tell you a little story. I know an old couple in their eighties. He is a former Major General of the South African Defence Force, a highly decorated soldier. His wife is a gifted musician and a choir leader. Do you know, they gave it all up? That's right. They are now running a mission Bible college in the bush. They are teaching Bible students from all over Africa, lots and lots of nations, and when I met him and I spoke to him, a godly man, he said to me, “Angus, now I have found my real purpose in life because Jesus is everything to me."There is a church, somewhere up in the Johannesburg area, that I went to. As I walked through the door, there was a big neon sign up on the wall. “Missionary work is gratitude for Calvary.” When you realise what Christ has done for you, there is nothing else you want to do but to serve Him and serve His people.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to withdraw members of the South African Defence Force by ending the national state of disaster. The state of disaster was initially declared back in March 2020 and extended in August of this year by a month as a response to the corona virus pandemic. Winde however says a differentiated approach needs to be adopted when implementing lockdown restrictions stating it should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. Winde adds that an electronic vaccination system needs to be adopted in order to save as many jobs as possible ahead of the COVID-19 forth wave

This is episode 23 and we’re dealing with the fallout from Operation Savannah which began in October 1975 and ended in March 1976. What started as the deepest and fastest invasion of any country by a mobile army since World War Two turned into a strategic blunder for the South Africans. The South African Defence Force battle groups had fought well and the opportunity had presented itself early in the engagement for the chance to change Angola’s history. A combination of diplomatic and military setbacks through December 1975 and into January 1976 altered that picture. Operation Savannah had mixed consequences for the SADF. The main issue was equipment that was dated – the officer corps was also still trying to wrench itself free from the decades of neglect that had followed World War II. And that big brother and the first major breakthrough in terms of equipment was the design of a radically new armoured car – the Ratel IFV. Three years after the Ratel’s first prototype rolled off the test facility, the Minister of Defence reported in parliament that the vehicle was ready for production. I fought alongside Ratels in Angola and can attest to their incredible firepower, speed and manoevrability over an African landscape. They appear to float over rough terrain traveling at up to 80 kilometers per hour smoothly. Watching them is a thrill and facing them – not so much so. It’s only major weakness was the fact that it did not have a stabilised gun and had to stop to fire gave up much of its mobility.

This is episode 23 and we’re dealing with the fallout from Operation Savannah which began in October 1975 and ended in March 1976. What started as the deepest and fastest invasion of any country by a mobile army since World War Two turned into a strategic blunder for the South Africans. The South African Defence Force battle groups had fought well and the opportunity had presented itself early in the engagement for the chance to change Angola’s history. A combination of diplomatic and military setbacks through December 1975 and into January 1976 altered that picture. Operation Savannah had mixed consequences for the SADF. The main issue was equipment that was dated – the officer corps was also still trying to wrench itself free from the decades of neglect that had followed World War II. And that big brother and the first major breakthrough in terms of equipment was the design of a radically new armoured car – the Ratel IFV. Three years after the Ratel’s first prototype rolled off the test facility, the Minister of Defence reported in parliament that the vehicle was ready for production. I fought alongside Ratels in Angola and can attest to their incredible firepower, speed and manoevrability over an African landscape. They appear to float over rough terrain traveling at up to 80 kilometers per hour smoothly. Watching them is a thrill and facing them – not so much so. It’s only major weakness was the fact that it did not have a stabilised gun and had to stop to fire gave up much of its mobility.

South Africa has recently experienced its worst violence since the end of apartheid. The deadly unrest has taken more than 200 lives and is threatening the legitimacy of the country's political system. Steve Forbes on what is fueling the turmoil in South Africa and on the drastic steps that should be considered to curb the violence and revitalize the nation's weak economy.Steve Forbes shares his What's Ahead Spotlights each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

This is episode 16 and we’re covering Operation Savannah which took place between October and December 1975. That was the invasion of southern Angola by the South African Defence Force in response to the outbreak of a civil war in the country involving the three main independence movements that had fought against Portuguese colonial rule. These were the MPLA, Unita and the FNLA. Our focus in this episode shifts in a while to the FNLA’s assault on the Capital Luanda. But first an update about the SADF. Brigadier Schoeman who was in charge of the region had setup his base at Cela in the south east and he had plans. The first was to replace the commanders of both Task Forces. So he duly summoned Zulu’s Colonel van Heerden to a meeting. Van Heerden left Battle Group Alpha behind at the port of Sumbe south of Luanda and arrived in Cela on the 13th November along with 500 members of his now ragged force. He was told that Task Force Zulu was to be led by Colonel CJ Swart. Commandat Eddie Webb also received the military equivalent of a Dear Jonnie and he was replaced as Foxbat officer commanding by Commandant George Kruys. The SADF swapped out these hardened soldiers at precisely the same time as the anti-MPLA forces were to suffer a reversal of fortune. Earlier in November on the 4th , Magnus Malan and Constand Viljoen had paid a secret lightning visit to Holden Roberto at his port laire where they tried to convince him that a direct assault along the main roads was not the wisest military strategy. Roberto refused to entertain other options - a decision which turned out to be suicidal.

This is episode 16 and we’re covering Operation Savannah which took place between October and December 1975. That was the invasion of southern Angola by the South African Defence Force in response to the outbreak of a civil war in the country involving the three main independence movements that had fought against Portuguese colonial rule. These were the MPLA, Unita and the FNLA. Our focus in this episode shifts in a while to the FNLA’s assault on the Capital Luanda. But first an update about the SADF. Brigadier Schoeman who was in charge of the region had setup his base at Cela in the south east and he had plans. The first was to replace the commanders of both Task Forces. So he duly summoned Zulu’s Colonel van Heerden to a meeting. Van Heerden left Battle Group Alpha behind at the port of Sumbe south of Luanda and arrived in Cela on the 13th November along with 500 members of his now ragged force. He was told that Task Force Zulu was to be led by Colonel CJ Swart. Commandat Eddie Webb also received the military equivalent of a Dear Jonnie and he was replaced as Foxbat officer commanding by Commandant George Kruys. The SADF swapped out these hardened soldiers at precisely the same time as the anti-MPLA forces were to suffer a reversal of fortune. Earlier in November on the 4th , Magnus Malan and Constand Viljoen had paid a secret lightning visit to Holden Roberto at his port laire where they tried to convince him that a direct assault along the main roads was not the wisest military strategy. Roberto refused to entertain other options - a decision which turned out to be suicidal.

We ended last week with the growing signs of an Angolan civil war becoming a major problem for South West Africa and the South African Defence Force. The number of incidents involving SWAPO had risen through early 1975 – but there was also UNITA which continued to attack Portuguese-developed infrastructure in southern Angola. FJ Du toit Spies writes about this in his work, Operation Savannah, published in 1989. UNITA had threatened to destroy Calueque which fed water to Ovamboland and was part of the Ruacana hydroelectric power project. Calueque was based inside Angola but as far as the South African’s were concerned, it was a key point feeding their Ruacana power station. By August 1975 UNITA had forced out the last Portuguese engineers based at Calueque – then men escaped seeking help from the South African Police based in Ovambo. They left a handful of Portuguese soldiers and a few pump operators behind, but the system was shut down breaking the flow of the all-important water to the strategic town of Ovambo. On the 7th August, ten South African workers traveling along the border were held up by UNITA soldiers who demanded money and cigarettes. The SADF was called in to protect the South Africans who travelled back to Calueque. But the three remaining Portuguese pump operators there refused to stay – despite the SADF being based nearby. The details of the crisis at the pumping station was now discussed by the SADF Director of Operations Brigadier W Black. IT just happened that he was in Rundu on the western edge of the Caprivi Strip and then travelled to Oshakati to meet other SADF officers. They had to do something about the Ruacana Water project which was in danger. On the 8th August 1975 it was decided that 2 South African Infantry based in Walvis bay should be readied to be deployed to the border.

We ended last week with the growing signs of an Angolan civil war becoming a major problem for South West Africa and the South African Defence Force. The number of incidents involving SWAPO had risen through early 1975 – but there was also UNITA which continued to attack Portuguese-developed infrastructure in southern Angola. FJ Du toit Spies writes about this in his work, Operation Savannah, published in 1989. UNITA had threatened to destroy Calueque which fed water to Ovamboland and was part of the Ruacana hydroelectric power project. Calueque was based inside Angola but as far as the South African’s were concerned, it was a key point feeding their Ruacana power station. By August 1975 UNITA had forced out the last Portuguese engineers based at Calueque – then men escaped seeking help from the South African Police based in Ovambo. They left a handful of Portuguese soldiers and a few pump operators behind, but the system was shut down breaking the flow of the all-important water to the strategic town of Ovambo. On the 7th August, ten South African workers traveling along the border were held up by UNITA soldiers who demanded money and cigarettes. The SADF was called in to protect the South Africans who travelled back to Calueque. But the three remaining Portuguese pump operators there refused to stay – despite the SADF being based nearby. The details of the crisis at the pumping station was now discussed by the SADF Director of Operations Brigadier W Black. IT just happened that he was in Rundu on the western edge of the Caprivi Strip and then travelled to Oshakati to meet other SADF officers. They had to do something about the Ruacana Water project which was in danger. On the 8th August 1975 it was decided that 2 South African Infantry based in Walvis bay should be readied to be deployed to the border.

It was inevitable that the South West African People’s Organisation or SWAPO would begin to mobilise south of the border. Pretoria’s response according to war researcher Leopold Scholtz was based on their unwillingness to acknowledge that SWAPO formed a real danger to South Africa’s domination in South West. The first years of the battle against SWAPO was going to be led by the South African Police and not the army. Much has been said and written about this approach with the military hawks in the National Party pressing for a more determined response and the political leadership referring to avoid escalation. They were watching what the Americans were facing in Vietnam and did not like what they were seeing. The South African Army at this stage was pretty neglected compared to what would happen in the late seventies. They suffered from the after-effects of the Second World War. They also suffered from an ideological shift where many of the top officers had been pushed out of the SADF by the Nationalist led Afrikaan’s speaking political order of the day. The English were not wanted by these nationalists whose narrative was one of extremism, particularly when it came to that terrible war of 1899-1902 – the Anglo-Boer war. The minister of Defence, Frans Erasmus had institute affirmative action to promote Afrikaners at all costs – and if that meant weakening the army in the short term he didn’t care. As long as the people who looked and sounded right were promoted he was a happy man. So were his fellow Nationalists. This has a curious ring to it in the 21st Century, with the African Nationalists basically doing the same thing to whites in the military.

It was inevitable that the South West African People’s Organisation or SWAPO would begin to mobilise south of the border. Pretoria’s response according to war researcher Leopold Scholtz was based on their unwillingness to acknowledge that SWAPO formed a real danger to South Africa’s domination in South West. The first years of the battle against SWAPO was going to be led by the South African Police and not the army. Much has been said and written about this approach with the military hawks in the National Party pressing for a more determined response and the political leadership referring to avoid escalation. They were watching what the Americans were facing in Vietnam and did not like what they were seeing. The South African Army at this stage was pretty neglected compared to what would happen in the late seventies. They suffered from the after-effects of the Second World War. They also suffered from an ideological shift where many of the top officers had been pushed out of the SADF by the Nationalist led Afrikaan’s speaking political order of the day. The English were not wanted by these nationalists whose narrative was one of extremism, particularly when it came to that terrible war of 1899-1902 – the Anglo-Boer war. The minister of Defence, Frans Erasmus had institute affirmative action to promote Afrikaners at all costs – and if that meant weakening the army in the short term he didn’t care. As long as the people who looked and sounded right were promoted he was a happy man. So were his fellow Nationalists. This has a curious ring to it in the 21st Century, with the African Nationalists basically doing the same thing to whites in the military.

AV Education — Confronting the ghosts of war Paul Morris went to Angola in 1987. He was a young soldier who had been conscripted into the South African Defence Force as it waged a brutal bush war against its neighbours. For 25 years Angola was the country of Paul’s nightmares. He returned to the country in 2012 - this time he wasn’t a 20-year-old soldier in an army’s armoured buffel; he was a middle-aged man on a bicycle. He cycled 1500km across the country to witness Angola in peacetime; to enjoy the beauty of the bush and to meet the people who live there. One of the people he met was Roberto, a Cuban, who had been fighting in Angola against the apartheid army - the meeting with Roberto was the most profound moment of Paul’s life. In Back to Angola, Paul's memoir published in 2014, he writes about a journey that took him back into the past as well as into the present.

This second part of three teachings dubbed “The Holy War” is titled “Basic Training”. Once again, David passionately shares his heart on the need for Christians to be equipped for holy war. A soldier cannot just go out onto the battle field without basic training. First he must know his enemy and choose his side, but then secondly, he must be trained to go out to battle!! David shares his personal experiences being trained as a soldier in the South African Defence Force and parallels this with the spiritual training undertaken in God’s army!!

Dr. Peter Hammond is a missionary who has pioneered evangelistic outreaches in the war zones of Mozambique, Angola and Sudan.Rev. Peter Hammond is the Founder and Director of Frontline Fellowship, the Founder and Chairman of Africa Christian Action, the Director of the Christian Action Network and the Chairman of The Reformation Society. He is the author of The Greatest Century of Missions, Holocaust in Rwanda, the Great Commission Manual, Faith in Action, amongst many, many others.For over 28 years, Peter has been dedicated to assisting persecuted Christians and to working for Reformation and revival in Africa. Peter has developed the Biblical Worldview Seminar and Great Commission Course to mobilise Churches to comprehensively apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life and to fulfill the Great Commission.He was converted to Christ in 1977, worked in Scripture Union and Hospital Christian Fellowship, served in the South African Defence Force and studied at Baptist Theological College, Cape Town. He also earned a Doctorate in Missiology and was awarded an honourary Doctorate of Divinity.

Dr. Peter Hammond is a missionary who has pioneered evangelistic outreaches in the war zones of Mozambique, Angola and Sudan.Rev. Peter Hammond is the Founder and Director of Frontline Fellowship, the Founder and Chairman of Africa Christian Action, the Director of the Christian Action Network and the Chairman of The Reformation Society. He is the author of The Greatest Century of Missions, Holocaust in Rwanda, the Great Commission Manual, Faith in Action, amongst many, many others.For over 28 years, Peter has been dedicated to assisting persecuted Christians and to working for Reformation and revival in Africa. Peter has developed the Biblical Worldview Seminar and Great Commission Course to mobilise Churches to comprehensively apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life and to fulfill the Great Commission.He was converted to Christ in 1977, worked in Scripture Union and Hospital Christian Fellowship, served in the South African Defence Force and studied at Baptist Theological College, Cape Town. He also earned a Doctorate in Missiology and was awarded an honourary Doctorate of Divinity.

In February 2002, British journalist James Brabazon set out to travel with guerrilla forces into Liberia to show the world what was happening in that war-torn country. To protect him, he hired Nick du Toit, a former South African Defence Force soldier who had fought in conflicts across Africa for over three decades. What follows is an incredible behind-the-scenes account of the Liberian rebels known as the LURD as they attempt to seize control of the country from government troops led by President Charles Taylor. In this gripping narrative, James Brabazon paints a brilliant portrait of the chaos that tore West Africa apart: nations run by warlords and kleptocrats, rebels fighting to displace them, ordinary people caught in the crossfire and everywhere adventurers and mercenaries operating in war’s dark shadows. It is a brutally honest book about what it takes to be a journalist, survivor, and friend in this morally corrosive crucible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In February 2002, British journalist James Brabazon set out to travel with guerrilla forces into Liberia to show the world what was happening in that war-torn country. To protect him, he hired Nick du Toit, a former South African Defence Force soldier who had fought in conflicts across Africa for over three decades. What follows is an incredible behind-the-scenes account of the Liberian rebels known as the LURD as they attempt to seize control of the country from government troops led by President Charles Taylor. In this gripping narrative, James Brabazon paints a brilliant portrait of the chaos that tore West Africa apart: nations run by warlords and kleptocrats, rebels fighting to displace them, ordinary people caught in the crossfire and everywhere adventurers and mercenaries operating in war’s dark shadows. It is a brutally honest book about what it takes to be a journalist, survivor, and friend in this morally corrosive crucible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In February 2002, British journalist James Brabazon set out to travel with guerrilla forces into Liberia to show the world what was happening in that war-torn country. To protect him, he hired Nick du Toit, a former South African Defence Force soldier who had fought in conflicts across Africa for over three decades. What follows is an incredible behind-the-scenes account of the Liberian rebels known as the LURD as they attempt to seize control of the country from government troops led by President Charles Taylor. In this gripping narrative, James Brabazon paints a brilliant portrait of the chaos that tore West Africa apart: nations run by warlords and kleptocrats, rebels fighting to displace them, ordinary people caught in the crossfire and everywhere adventurers and mercenaries operating in war’s dark shadows. It is a brutally honest book about what it takes to be a journalist, survivor, and friend in this morally corrosive crucible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices