Message from the Surgeon General

It is a great pleasure to address you today and to bring you a message of thanks and appreciation at the start of 2007. 2006 was indeed a year full of great challenges but also great achievements for the South African Military Health Service, achievements that would not have been possible without your commitment, support and positive attitudes. I would like to take a moment to not only reflect on some of the highlights of 2006 but also what we need to achieve in 2007.

Just more than a year ago I was appointed as the Surgeon General of the South African National Defence Force. In my first Festive Season message to you, I said that being the Surgeon General is an opportunity for me to make a contribution toward nation building, entrenching democracy and the realisation of all the ideas and principles contained in the Freedom Charter and in the democratic Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

As this year is drawing to a close I can reflect with some contentment that we are on our way in achieving this.

ROLE IN AFRICA (PEACEKEEPING)

Our Commander in Chief, President Thabo Mbeki, called the SANDF “the midwives of peace”. To no one is this more applicable than to our members wearing the SAMHS uniform.

SAMHS members have showed their readiness to execute not only their constitutional mandate but also to deploy in peacekeeping operations as they arise from obligations flowing from our government’s foreign policy.

Except for the sterling work that our members are doing in countries like the Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a SAMHS contingent of 122 men and women deployed on short notice during June to the Comoros to assist with that country’s presidential election process.

These members who are working effortlessly throughout our continent alongside their comrades from so many other countries are making us proud – not only as members of the SAMHS but also as South Africans.

With the greater role that South Africa is playing, and will be playing, in the future on our continent, it is my wish that all SAMHS members must be prepared to forfeit their comforts here at home to assist our brothers and sisters in realising their dreams of peace.

We do this because we are convinced that our peace, security and stability, as well as our economic prosperity are linked to that of the region and the continent.

SOUTH AFRICA

I have spent many hours this year visiting all the areas in South Africa during my road shows, and next year I will start visiting the different units. It is important for me to hear firsthand about the successes, but also the challenges that our members face every day.

It is only when we have addressed some of these issues that service delivery as intended in Government’s Batho Pele initiatives will truly be part of the SAMHS.

To this effect we have already made a start with the Inspector General of the SAMHS obtaining the ISO 9000 international accreditation. This massive achievement deserves our total praise and support, as this shows clearly that we are on our way to becoming an organisation of world standard.

TRANSFORMATION

Another highlight for me this year was the progress that we made with our transformation process in the SAMHS and I wish to point out certain milestones.
Firstly, seven brigadier generals were appointed with promotion in 2006. All these brigadier generals are people of colour and, significantly, four of them (ie 57,1%) are women.

In terms of promotions of colonels, 23 lieutenant colonels were promoted, and nine (ie 39,1%) of these are women. This number is more than 50% of the total number of new colonels promoted in the entire SANDF. In terms of other officers, after careful consideration 364 promotions were signed and promulgated. Of this total, 238 (ie 65,4%) are people of colour. Coincidentally 238 (ie 65.4%) are women. The next round of promotions will be aimed at staffing all the vacant posts created as a result of the above lieutenant colonels having been promoted to colonel.

It is also with pride that we note that the highest-ranking female officer in the SANDF is a SAMHS member. Major General Motumi was appointed the Chief Director Transformation Services, otherwise known as Equal Opportunities (EO), with effect from 1 April 2006. She is mainly charged with the responsibility of ensuring equity in the South African National Defence Force. In terms of gender representivity, I am pleased to inform you that 85% of female generals in the whole of the SANDF come from the SAMHS.
In terms of promotions, late last year a good number of warrant officers of colour were promoted. In terms of promotions of NCOs a total of 372 was approved.

The SAMHS is well on its way to becoming the transformed organisation we all hope for, and the re-designing of our organisation is making progress with the appointment of consultants to assist us in this regard. This process will gain more momentum in the New Year.

These initiatives are all part of my long-term strategy to build capacity in our organisation and to develop skills to raise the efficiency levels of the SAMHS. However, my success in all my endeavours is dependent on each and every one of you.

It is my request to every one of you that we cultivate a culture of success and service delivery in the SAMHS during the New Year. We can only do this if we approach our work with pride, enthusiasm, passion and commitment.

HIV/AIDS

But all these plans will come to no fruition if we as SAMHS members do not accept our responsibility as the custodians of security of our country in terms of HIV and AIDS.

Allow me this opportunity to remind you about the importance of knowing your HIV and AIDS status. It is an imperative that you go for voluntary counselling and testing.

Just as I know my status, it is my wish that every SAMHS member will know his or her status. HIV and AIDS is not only a threat to our loved ones and us, but also a threat to the economy and the security of our country.

To that effect the SAMHS is providing a service to all its members that compares with the best in the world in terms of HIV and AIDS research and treatment. Make use of this opportunity.

For those of you who will spend time on the roads travelling this time of the year, please drive safely, don’t drink and drive and respect the road rules and regulations. I wish you safe trips and returns from all your designated destinations.

To those of our colleagues who will be working over the festive season, thank you for your dedication and caring approach.

Thank you for all your support and hard work during 2006; let us look forward to an even better new year, aiming higher and achieving more. Let us make every effort to ensure that SAMHS will be an organisation of world-class service.

Let me remind you that all this is possible through commitment and excellence.

Peace be with you.

I thank you and good luck.