The joint technical officer commanding of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Limpopo, Col Chuene Samuel Mabotja, commended SANDF members for their hard work in securing the country. Mabotja was speaking during the official ceremony to release more than 700 SANDF battalion members who had completed their six months' deployment period around the Musina area.
The event took place at Musina Operational Army Base on Wednesday, 5 October, where members were also awarded certificates of appreciation. The members were deployed around Musina on 30 March this year and were also securing areas such as Madimbo, Pontdrift and Swartwater. The members are now allowed to take a rest at their respective homes for 24 days before they resume their official duties.
Mabotja said the members needed to be admired because they had put their country and its citizens first. He added that, because the members had worked under difficult conditions and sometimes with limited resources, it demonstrated their love and commitment towards their work. "Your discipline, hard work, loyalty and dedication make you stand out in your work to protect the country. We wish you all the best as you go to your respective homes to take a rest," said Mabotja.
He thanked the outgoing battalion commander, Lt Col Nyolo Martin Ntsieng, and various local stakeholders for outstanding work. "You have led this outgoing battalion very well and we encourage you to do the same in your next deployment. We have no doubt that the support and love you received here from different stakeholders will also be the same with the new incoming battalion commander. Special thanks to the SAPS, Department of Agriculture, SARS, Department of Transport, Port Health, Messina Hospital, Border Management Authority and Musina Municipality for supporting our outgoing battalion commander and our members, so that they could carry out their duties with ease."
Ntsieng said the successes of his battalion were the result of teamwork and dedication. He also passed on his gratitude to the local stakeholders and the members under his command for giving him the needed support to perform his duties diligently.