Article and photographs by Major Merle Meyer, SA Army Corporate Communication

Female Infanteers, Engineers and Signallers represented the SA Army at the Battalion in Review Women’s Parade held at the Defence Sport Club at Thaba Tshwane on Friday 24 August 2012.

The Battalion Warrant Officer of the parade was Master Warrant Officer Elmarie Twigg, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the School of Tactical Intelligence in Potchefstroom. The SA Army also provided Colonel Annetjie Richter, Chief of Staff of the SA Army Training Formation, as one of the Personal Staff Officers of the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Chaplain Dudu Mpisana of the SA Army Headquarters Unit led the scripture reading and prayer.

The parade was held for the second time and it was also the maiden appearance of the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said that women of the South African National Defence Force were the pride and honour and of the country and that more had to be done to elevate women to the command posts. She also honoured the memory of women who had contributed to bringing peace to our country and she encouraged families to remain strong in support of women in the South African National Defence Force.

The parade was concluded by a platoon of female soldiers who had deployed to the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo followed by girls from four primary schools in the Pretoria area, our future soldiers.

A platoon of signalers, engineers and Ordnance Service Corps	SA Army ladies on parade

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula	Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula saluting the women