WATCH: Chief-General Shoke salutes members one last time
In celebration of his outstanding tenure, SANDF held a farewell parade for Chief-General Solly Zacharia Shoke at the Bluff Military Base.
THE highest-ranking official in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) donned his uniform for the last time on Monday, 24 May.
In celebration of his outstanding tenure, SANDF held a farewell parade for Chief-General Solly Zacharia Shoke at the Bluff Military Base.
He bade farewell to his provincial commanders from KZN and Eastern Cape and was accompanied by his successor, Lieutenant-General Rudzani Maphwanya.
Chief-General Shoke expressed his gratitude to the various commanders of units in KZN and the Eastern Cape.
“My message to the commanders was simple and straightforward – to thank them for having done well in the execution of their tasks.
“Commanders are a link between the high command and the soldiers on the ground. But it would be amiss of me to thank the commanders without acknowledging people on the sharp end, who execute missions and those are ordinary soldiers.”
“I felt it import that I say to men and women in uniform of this defence force, to say thank you very much for the good work that you are doing. You might not be aware of the good that you do, but from the platform from where I operate, I must say, you’ve done exceptionally well,” he said.
“While talking to commanders this morning up to this afternoon, I told them that the success of the rainbow nation is visible in the SANDF.”
“This is a defence force that is composed of seven former opposing forces. You forget about the differences but placed the interest of our people at heart. That is what is required of a soldier.”
“This is a message that I felt, before I took off my uniform, is a message that I must convey to you that you have done exceptionally well,” he added.
Chief-General Shoke joined uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) on 30 September 1976.
He later transferred to the SANDF on 27 April 1994, and was appointed to the highest rank in the SANDF in 2011.
To ensure the success of the parade, most of the units in KZN such as the SA Army Support Base KZN, Air Force Base Durban, the Naval Base Durban, Area Military Health Unit in KZN, Joint Operations Tactical HQ, KZN Signal Unit, DOD Maintanence Ordnance Support Deport Millitary Police Durban, Regional Works Unit KwaZulu-Natal together with members from SANDF level 2 were present to ensure the parade was a success.
Chief-General Shoke received the farewell from Durban members. The incoming Lt-Gen had a glimpse of what the SANDF members in KZN are capable of.
The SA Army Band was also part of the procession and members participating in the parade consisted of all Arms of Service of SANDF.
