Article by: Major Thérèse Bester, South African Army Corporate Communication
Photographs by: Warrant Officer Class 1 Hennie Booysen, Photographer, 1 Military Printing Regiment
Sergeant Elias Mahuma, Photographer, South African Soldier

The Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke, hosted the annual media briefing and breakfast at the Bailey Club, South African Army Engineer Formation, Lyttelton on 25 March 2010.

Breakfast table

The annual media breakfast gives the media the opportunity to speak to Chief of the South African Army in person. Amongst the invited guests were members of the Army Command Cadre, internal as well as external media.
The media have the power to inform a large number of people, by utilizing mass media, the South African Army effectively reaches its objective.

A relaxed atmosphere filled the venue while the guests enjoyed a buffet breakfast prior to the proceedings. This gave the members of the media an opportunity to mingle with the members of the Army Command Cadre before the Chief of the South African Army took the stand.

FLTR: Brigadier General Chris Gildenhuys, General Officer Commanding SA Army Armour Formation, Mr Louis Oelofse, ETV News and Brigadier General Addinal Fredericks, SA Army Training Formation

FLTR: Brigadier General Lawrence Smith, General Officer Commanding 43 SA Brigade and Mr Peter McIntoch, Armed Forces Journal

Brigadier General Spinks Nobanda, General Officer Commanding SA Army Engineer Formation, and Mr Tshifhiwa Shonisani, The Citizen

Lieutenant General Solly Shoke highlighted a few aspects with which the South African Army is currently busy. He emphasised that the South African Army is:

• ready and prepared to support the FIFA World Cup 2010;

• taking over border control;

• building bridges in support of communities in the Eastern Cape;

• committed to social responsibilities such as the Hospice in Johannesburg, Ditshepo School in Limpopo and Kiddy College in Lyttelton.

Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke during his interaction with the media

Chief Petty Officer Bongani Khuzwayo, Defence Television

The media were afforded the opportunity to ask questions and Lieutenant General Shoke responded positively. Thereafter, a few interviews were given before the guests departed to attend the next event, namely the Chief of the South African Army’ s donation ceremony at Kiddy College, Tek Base, Lyttelton.
The invited media gave media coverage and informed the citizens of our country about the South African Army’s current state of affairs.

Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke during a media interview

Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke during the interview with Bush Baby Productions

Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke during the interview with SABC News

Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke during the interview with Radio 702