₦airaland Forum

This third iteration of Vuk’uhlome saw 7 170 troops partake in exercises leading up to the Distinguished Visitors Day, which culminated in a capability display from various units. Elements from the SA Army’s Specialist Infantry Capability (SAASIC), 1 Tactical Intelligence Unit, Motorised Infantry, 43 Mechanised Brigade, Special Forces, South African Air Force’s 2 Squadron and 85 Combat Flying School all showed off their skills and firepower.

The capability demonstration began with a large explosion detonated by engineers, a crowd control scenario (with dogs, horses and South African Police Service vehicles amongst others intervening), followed by a parachute drop from a BK 117 helicopter and air strikes by Hawks and Gripens, with two Hawks firing their 30 mm cannons. Three Gripens demonstrated their lethal accuracy with unguided Mk 81 120 kg bombs, dropping eight bombs each, totalling 2 880 kg of ordinance.

Special Forces demonstrated their disciplined tactical proficiency and gave visitor’s a peak at their new CZ Bren 2 assault rifles, chambered in both 5.56 NATO and 7.62×39 mm. Supported by mortars, ZPU-2 and ZU-23 anti-aircraft autocannons, mounted on Toyota Land Cruisers affectionately named the GOAT (gun on a truck), they executed a fire and movement to a defensive position, catching a ride on their iconic Hornets.

A battery of four Bateleur FV2 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) fired a volley of 160 127 mm pre-fragmented high explosive rockets, commencing the mechanised assault by elements of 43 Mechanised Brigade. A platoon of six Olifant MK1A Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) led the way, with two platoons of Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) following through the dust and chaos. The mechanised assault was supported by a distant battery of G5 and G6 howitzers, and an Anti-Tank (AT) platoon of Ratel 90s.

With smoke and fire in the air, the day was an awesome display of firepower, bound to impress those guests present. Minister of Defence, Angie Motshekga, experiencing the exercise for the first time, noted the exercise left her feeling humbled.

bidexiii:
[/b]Highlights from the Career Expo at the South African Army Combat Training Centre Lohatlha’s Mount Huxley on Wednesday 20 November 2024 during #ExerciseVUKUHLOME_III [b]

In total, 5,746 Marmon–Herrington armoured cars were built. About 4,500 were used by South African units, while others were employed by British, Indian, New Zealand, Greek, Free French, Polish, Dutch East Indies, and Belgian forces. After World War II, a few were given to the Trans-Jordan and saw combat with the Arab Legion in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The Mk IVF saw combat as late as July–August 1974, during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, when it was used by the Cypriot National Guard. The Greek army used Marmon–Herringtons in the islands of the Aegean well into the 1990s, in mechanized infantry battalions of special composition, alongside Jeeps, M-113s, and Leonidas AFVs. They were finally phased out of service with the introduction of VBL AFV, six decades after their introduction.

GreenandGold:
The Houthis are making the Cape Route great again...

GreenandGold:
A man who lives in Cape Town has no bias preference to his hometown.

.... Me, living inland totally cheers for Johannesburg, and trust me, I'm not biased in any form

Attached, is an image I took myself

SAS Amatola returns to the fight with successful Ibsamar VIII

Dean Wingrin

The sea phase of the multinational maritime Exercise Ibsamar VIII has wrapped up successfully off the Cape West Coast, showcasing the combined efforts of South Africa, Brazil and India.

This latest iteration of the naval drill involved South Africa’s SAS Amatola, India’s INS Talwar and Brazil’s BNS Defensora, which departed Simon’s Town Harbour on 10 October after an alongside phase from 7 to 9 October. Upon departing the safety of the harbour, the ships immediately faced simulated attacks by fast incoming attack craft, setting the stage for a series of complex manoeuvres and exercises over the week-long training period.

The drills included close-proximity ship manoeuvring, helicopter operations, replenishment at sea (RAS) exercises, seamanship evolutions and air defence activities with two South African Air Force Hawks which had deployed to Air Force Base Langebaanweg. The fleet also simulated warfare against each other as well as a live Gunex evolution using a “Killer Tomato” added to the range of training.

According to Captain Dieter Jones, Officer Commanding SAS Amatola, the exercise emphasised the enduring cooperation between South Africa, Brazil and India, having taken place eight times over the past 16 years.

For SAS Amatola, the exercise marked a significant milestone. After years of inactivity due to maintenance issues, the ship was brought back into service earlier this year through the dedicated efforts of its crew. However, since then, Amatola has regained operational momentum by conducting border safeguarding patrols under Operation Corona off the West Coast of South Africa and participating in exercises with a visiting Chinese frigate.

Reflecting on the challenges and achievements during the exercise, Jones emphasised the remarkable growth of the crew, especially the younger sailors.

“The most rewarding part as a Captain is seeing how my young people have developed over the six days at sea,” he said. “Their knowledge base, competence and confidence have grown significantly.”

Continuing, he said: “We don’t get the opportunity to do these exercises often, so operating at sea in a multi-threat environment with other ships in close proximity really hones the skills.”

“We have skilled warfare operators on board who operate various systems,” Jones noted. “During the exercise, we operated in both Combat State One and Two threat environments, staying in a tense warfare setting for several hours. This involved conducting surveillance, compiling a recognised maritime picture and defending ourselves against simulated attacks. You can’t fully replicate the real thing, but this time it was real, and they did it.”

The crew also gained valuable experience in RAS operations, which involved conducting tight formations and transferring gear between ships.

“These are tasks we don’t often get to perform, so from a command perspective, it was great exposure,” Jones explained, “The precise pilotage required for station-keeping demonstrated the capability of the teams on board.”

The exercise also strengthened the interoperability between the participating navies.

“The culmination of very close manoeuvres showed that we have all grown in our ability to operate together,” Jones observed. He highlighted the camaraderie that developed among the younger sailors, who bonded with their counterparts from the other nations.

“Seeing the youngsters who have never been involved in these types of exercises bond with others from different countries was a positive outcome. When we exchanged personnel or brought visitors on board, it was clear that these experiences left a lasting impact,” he said.

For the Commanding Officer of SAS Amatola, this was Jones’ first time leading an exercise of this nature in command.

“It involved a lot of sleepless nights, but it was worth it,” he said. “It provided a clear picture of what is required when operating a warship at sea, and I am proud of how well the crew performed.”

The successful completion of Exercise Ibsamar VIII has not only bolstered the maritime skills of all involved but also deepened the ties between South Africa, Brazil and India. As the ships returned to Simon’s Town on 16 October, they did so with enhanced capabilities and stronger bonds, ready for the next chapter in their ongoing efforts to ensure regional maritime security.

Following a brief rest period for the crew, Amatola is set to undertake a three-month anti-piracy mission in the Mozambique Channel as part of Operation Copper. These deployments underline the ship’s return to active service and its ongoing contributions to regional maritime security.

MiddleDimension:
What's wingeria?

GreenandGold:
What's the occasion?

rugged7:
This is not an excuse.

Nigeria spent billions, lost thousands of men, stayed for decades in countries despite broken contracts and agreements from your south Africa, DRC, Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra leone, Mali, Sudan, still received insults from those they went to help.

South africa ran away with it's tail between it's legs.

All this yapping doesn't mean crap.

The only thing south africa is good at is xenophobia and a$$-kissing their Boer thieving oppressors.

However, i support an independent WHITE country of Orania, Klopfontein & the cape area.

GreenandGold:
Lol

Don't know if it was was a great idea to make Ronald Lamola the minister of foreign affairs though, I mean he's arrogant, immature and hot-headed. He's doing international politics like he's at an ANCYL township meeting.

Lurker4Long:
Mmhh...interesting...

NabiAsli:
Can we call this mission accomplish ?

Lurker4Long:
SANDF equipment being shipped home to Durban from Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

GreenandGold:
@Lurker4Long

Do you have an idea what vehicle this is? I just spotted series of them coming out of (the) Dhuva Power Station.

Ukraine’s new Foreign Minister to strengthen ties during visit to South Africa this weekend
Ukraine’s new foreign minister Andrii Sybiha is scheduled to visit South Africa this weekend on a tour of five Middle Eastern and African countries.

Sybiha has already visited Türkiye and will visit Oman, Egypt and Angola before arriving in South Africa on 27 October 2024 for a two-day visit, according to his office.

It will be his first visit to South Africa as foreign minister. He is scheduled to meet his counterpart, Ronald Lamola, and may meet President Cyril Ramaphosa, sources say.

Sybiha, who replaced Dmytro Kuleba in a cabinet reshuffle by President Volodymyr Zelensky last month, will hold talks with “high-ranking South African officials, representatives of the business community, leading experts and the Ukrainian community,” his office said.

Kuleba made the first visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister to South Africa in November 2023, meeting then international relations and cooperation minister Naledi Pandor.
Peace efforts

Sybiha is expected to focus on Ukraine’s peace efforts in his meetings with Lamola and possibly Ramaphosa. On 20 September he had a phone conversation with Lamola and posted afterwards on X that he had “a fruitful talk with Minister @RonaldLamola. We appreciate RSA’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zelenskyy #Peace Formula. Agreed to continue our work together until a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine is established.”

Read more: War in Ukraine

South Africa and Ukraine have had a complicated relationship since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. As Sybiha said, Lamola had upheld the principles of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. But Kyiv has been unhappy with Pretoria’s refusal to explicitly criticise Russia’s invasion, and specifically South Africa’s abstention from several UN General Assembly resolutions in 2022 and 2023 condemning Russia’s aggression.

But Ramaphosa’s visits to Ukraine and Russia in 2023 at the head of an Africa peace mission eased relations somewhat. Ramaphosa agreed that South Africa would participate in the international talks Zelensky was then about to launch on his 10-point Peace Formula.

Ramaphosa assigned his national security adviser Sydney Mufamadi and Zane Dangor, the director-general of international relations and cooperation, to participate in a series of talks around the world on the Peace Formula.

These culminated in an international summit in Switzerland in June on some aspects of the Peace Formula that issued a communiqué supporting the formula. But South Africa declined to endorse the communiqué, ostensibly because of the presence of Israel at the summit and because the communiqué criticised threats (by Russia) to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. The South African government said the communiqué failed to condemn nuclear weapons more generally.
Objection

However, Lamola later told Daily Maverick that his government’s objection to the summit was because Russia did not participate. Ukraine has said it will invite Russia to a follow-up summit, but Russians officials have said they would not attend.

Daily Maverick asked Lamola in an interview this month if South Africa would attend such a summit if Russia was not there, and he said Pretoria would make that decision at the time.

On his visit to South Africa, Sybiha might also discuss arrangements for Zelensky to visit South Africa. The head of his office, Andriy Yermak, told South African journalists in an online briefing this month that Ukraine and South Africa had agreed in principle on a visit by Zelensky, but that no date had been set.

He also urged South Africa to play a stronger role in peace efforts, saying this was becoming urgent for Ukraine as its situation was becoming increasingly difficult.

Ukrainian sources say the timing of Sybiha’s visit is turning out to be uncomfortable for Kyiv, which is dismayed about the images of Ramaphosa warmly embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit in Kazan Russia this week.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Zelensky hopes Ramaphosa will help him get invite to G20 summit

Daily Maverick reported earlier that Zelensky is hoping that Ramaphosa will persuade Brazilian President Lula da Silva to invite him to the G20 summit in Brazil next month for a broader discussion on how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. DM