44 artisans graduate

THE SANDF has welcomed 44 SA Air Force (SAAF) artisans who have completed training at various institutions.

The newcomers will ensure that SAAF aircraft are serviced and ready to fulfil the mandate of the service.

The ground crew members – 28 men and 16 women – graduated at a reclassification parade at Air Force Base Swartkop on Friday. They qualified as aircraft survival technicians, aircraft reconnaissance technicians, armaments, radio and radar technicians, fitters and turners, motor mechanics, aircraft structure and aircraft instrument technicians, and aircraft and ground electricians.

Maropeng Mabelebele, 35, was top of the class and said it was due to hard work and determination. She said it had been three tough years and that she thought of giving up at times.

“I used to take breaks, cry my eyes out and block out everything, then start again. Here I am today, top of the class, and I hope my career blossoms throughout my time in the air force,” she said.

For three years the members received intensive training. They also underwent practical training on different types of aircraft and systems for a year.

On completion of their technical practicals, they were theoretically evaluated on all the modules covered in the programme. The successful candidates were sent to different air service units to further their apprentice training.

SAAF chief Lieutenant-General Zimpande Msimang, during his address at the graduation, said it was the beginning of the lifelong journey for the graduates. He said they must ensure that the air force’s systems were safe and air- worthy.

He told them to be genuine in their commitment to serve with diligence, and encouraged them to constantly think about how the rest of their career would play out at the SANDF.

He said the newly classified artisans represented the next generation of technicians and urged them to stay focused, to accept responsibility and accountability, to maintain direction, to be innovative and to always stay positive.