Praise from new Commander-In-Chief
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has showered South African soldiers with praise for their continued respect of the country’s constitutional order and the rule of law ahead of the SA’s Armed Forces Day celebrations on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa, the new Commander-In-Chief of the SA military was speaking at the inter-faith church service, in Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre, Kimberley yesterday, where he was accompanied by Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
The new head of state who was sworn into office last Thursday, said this year’s Armed Forces Day was more special as it coincided with the centenary celebrations of their first Commander-In-Chief in democratic South Africa, former president Nelson Mandela.
Also, the peaceful transition of power following the ANC conference in Nasrec in December was testament that South African soldiers abided by the law and the Constitution, said Ramaphosa.
“This year, these celebrations carry a profound and special meaning for our nation. They occur at a time when our defence force has once again confirmed the depth of the roots of our democracy and the flourishing of constitutional order.
“They occur as our nation celebrates the change of leadership in the governing party without any appetite for senseless bloodshed because our defence force is led by wise women and men who abide to the ideal of the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.
“It is this SANDF, the people’s national defence force, that our founding father Nelson Mandela envisaged as a non-partisan unifier and defender of all South Africans,” he said.
The annual Armed Forces Day is an event meant to commemorate the South African soldiers who died during the sinking of the S S Mendi in the English Channel in 1917.
Ramaphosa said the commemoration was a reminder that for all who live to enjoy freedom, peace and justice today, there were those who laid down their lives.
To this end, it was paramount for all to safeguard the human rights guaranteed by the Constitution in honour of the fallen heroes.
The president also promised that his government was committed to work with the SANDF in its endeavours to absorb young people into training and employment opportunities.
Ramaphosa will be addressing the Armed Forces Day celebrations on Wednesday morning before heading off to parliament for the budget speech. —