SA Army Hospice Handing Over Ceremony, 5 August 2009, Lenz Military Base in Johannesburg

Article by: Lieutenant Colonel Mafi Mgobozi, South African Army Corporate Communication
Photos by: Staff Sergeant Chené Kruger, South African Army Corporate Communication

“General, I have been sick for a long time and my family has rejected me. I have no place to go now”. Those were the words from a story which Brigadier General L.C. Nobanda related during the handing and taking over of the South African Army Hospice, which took place on 05 August 2009 at Lenz Military Base in Johannesburg.

Hospice Donors Board at Lenz Military Base

The main functionary at the event was the honourable Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla. The event started with the handing over of the symbolic key to the South African Military Health Services’ representative, Brigadier General Moremi, by the Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General S.Z. Shoke.

Symbolic key

From left to right: Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla, Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke and South African Military Health Services’ representative, Brigadier General Moremi

“I was not supposed to deliver any speech today but the Deputy Minister said I must speak” said Lieutenant General Shoke during his opening address. He started with the short history of why the South African Army took a decision to build this hospice. “Looking at our soldiers who are sick, drove us to build this palliative care centre in order to take care of our terminally ill soldiers. Without the support of Industries and individuals it would not have been possible to realize our dreams. Today I want to thank you for the support you gave to us,” concluded Lieutenant General Shoke.

Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke

From left to right: Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla

During his address, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans said, “I listened to what the Code of Conduct says about the uniqueness of the Defence Force from the community”. “This is the first project completed by the members of the Defence Force Works Capability and is not the last one, said Mr Makwetla.

Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla

“The building of this hospice shows that we are a caring society, it shows that the Defence Force has Ubuntu. We want to ensure that our terminally ill members have a dignified life in their last days.” He thanked the corporate world for their contribution to the project. “This shows the importance of partnership between the corporate world and the government. I would like to thank the members of the Defence Works Capability for a job well done", concluded Mr Makwetla.

Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla

The Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General S.Z. Shoke, then handed over the collage of the building to the Deputy Minister.

Collage of the South African Army Hospice Building

South African National Defence Force Representatives and Donors

The invited guests were entertained by the choir from 1 Construction Regiment.

1 Construction Regiment Choir