Unique South African Army Tradition Shared with Honorary Colonels, 17 July 2009, South African Army College

Article by Major Thérèse Bester, South African Army Corporate Communication
Photographs by Staff Sergeant Yolande Snyman

The Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke hosted the annual formal dinner with the Honorary Colonels of the South African Army. Lieutenant General Shoke and his Command Cadre utilised this opportunity to interact with the Honorary Colonels and to express gratitude towards their continuous support in promoting the South African Army.

Back - From Left to Right: Colonel R.L. Jackson (Honorary Colonel Light Horse Regiment), Colonel (Doctor) I. Khoza (Honorary Colonel Department of Defence Logistic Support Formation), Colonel P.L. Zim (Honorary Colonel 2 Field Engineer Regiment), Colonel A.J. Holtman (Honorary Colonel Regiment Eastern Transvaal) and Colonel J.R.J. Jullienne (Honorary Colonel Regiment President Kruger) Front - From Left to Right: Colonel (Professor) S. Vil Nkomo (Honorary Colonel Regiment Noord Transvaal), Colonel G.J. du P. van der Walt (Honorary Colonel Regiment Mooiriver), Lieutenant General S.Z. Shoke (Chief of the South African Army), Colonel Z.N.R. Kunene (Honorary Colonel 5 Signal Regiment) and Colonel E.L. Richardson (Honorary Colonel Durban Light Infantry)

Formal dinners have formed part of the unique South African Army traditions since the mid 19th century. Military traditions have been practised for so long that they have almost become a force of law and one of the traditions is the appointment of Honorary Colonels in the South African National Defence Force. Military traditions inspire comradeship, pride, love for the military, courage and discipline. Officers are required to be familiar with the traditions and customs of their Arm of Service and their unit. The Chief of the South African Army sees this as an ideal opportunity to give the Honorary Colonels exposure and involve them in South African Army Military traditions and customs.

The Silent Guard, from the National Ceremonial Guard

The Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General S.Z. Shoke on arrival

From left to right: Brigadier General L.C. Nobanda (General Officer Commanding South African Army Engineer Formation) and Colonel P.L. Zim (Honorary Colonel 2 Field Engineer Regiment)

From left to right: Colonel J.R.J. Jullienne (Honorary Colonel Regiment President Kruger) and Colonel (Professor) S. Vil Nkomo (Honorary Colonel Regiment Noord Transvaal)

An appointed Honorary Colonel could be any prominent citizen of the Republic of South Africa interested in the preparedness and well-being of the South African National Defence Force and of a unit in particular. The term "Honorary Colonel" refers to a titular appointment and not a rank. Only one Honorary Colonel may be appointed per Regular or Reserve regiment, unit or similar establishment.

Honorary Colonels assist and maintain regimental or unit traditions as well as foster esprit de corps (comradeship, unit pride and high morale) and represent regimental and unit interests.

From left to right: Major General L. Rudman (Chief Army Corporate Services), Brigadier General J.D. Magasela (General Officer Commanding South African Army Intelligence Formation) and Colonel (Doctor) I. Khoza (Honorary Colonel Department of Defence Logistic Support Formation)

Colonel (Doctor) I. Khoza (Honorary Colonel Department of Defence Logistic Support Formation) and Colonel P.L. Zim (Honorary Colonel 2 Field Engineer Regiment)

South African Army College, Paratus Club, Anté Room

Lieutenant General S.Z. Shoke (Chief of the South African Army)

The Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke delivered his speech and emphasized the following:

"The appointment of Honorary Colonels is a universal practice that is inseparably intertwined with military culture and traditions. As the South African Army, we are proud to take a leaf from that African adage: WE ARE, BECAUSE OF YOU.

We are conscious of your various roles and functions in our society and are humbled by the time you set aside in order to grace this occasion.

The South African Army, I'm leading, is currently in a process of re-engineering itself to become relevant and combat ready to conduct operations across the future spectrum of conflicts. Our experience in external peace missions over the past years, taught us that there is fusion between what we initially thought to be primary and secondary functions of the South African National Defence Force.

As we celebrate ten years of promoting peace and security in the continent, the greatest joy of our hearts comes from the fact that with your mandate, the South African Army has given the children of Africa a renewed sense of hope for a better continent in the course of the 21st century.

The long list of our operational successes in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular gives testimony to this assertion.

The South African Army is a NATIONAL ASSET that must be jealously protected and appropriately equipped and funded to execute its mission.

Although Honorary Colonels do not form a direct part of the military chain of command, all of us have a responsibility to assist the South African Army to foster esprit de corps, comradeship and high morale of our men and women in uniform and the South African Army's interests in general to ensure that our soldiers are appropriately equipped and funded. This is my humble plea to you.

It is a mammoth task to be charged with the responsibility of leading the South African Army in these hard and trying times of competing strategic priorities but with your support, we can and will continue to make the nation proud.

In the same vein, I also wish to thank my General Staff, Commanders, soldiers on the ground and civilians at all levels of the South African Army for their loyalty and dedication in serving the nation. By performing your duties professionally and diligently throughout these years, you have earned my respect.

I wish to leave you with one message which we must convey to all our strategic partners. This Army needs more boots on the ground. We need well-funded, well-equipped and well-trained soldiers in order to defend our country and to execute foreign policy requirements and expectations. Let us all continue to be ambassadors who communicate this message to our strategic partners and stakeholders: THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY IS A NATIONAL ASSET".

South African Army College, Paratus Club, Dining Hall

From Left to Right: Mess President: Major General K.M. Mokoape (Chief Army Reserves), Brigadier General S. Mahlobo (General Officer Commanding South African Army 46 Brigade Headquarters) and Major General L. Rudman (Chief Army Corporate Services)

From left to right: Brigadier General N. Yengeni (Deputy Chief Army Corporate Services), Colonel E.L. Richardson (Honorary Colonel Durban Light Infantry), Lieutenant General S.Z. Shoke (Chief of the South African Army) and Col (Doctor) I. Khoza (Honorary Colonel Department of Defence Logistic Support Formation)

From left to right: Colonel Z.N.R. Kunene (Honorary Colonel 5 Signal Regiment) and Colonel M.P. Shashape (Chief of Staff South African Army Signal Formation)

Colonel R.L. Jackson (Honorary Colonel Light Horse Regiment)

From left to right: Colonel A.J. Holtman (Honorary Colonel Regiment Eastern Transvaal) and Colonel L.K. Mbata (Personal Staff Officer to Chief of the South African Army)

From left to right: Colonel G.M. Ingram (Chief of Staff South African Army Armour Formation) and Colonel G.J. du P. van der Walt (Honorary Colonel Regiment Mooiriver)