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11 April 2008

MEC for Education: Mr Siphosezwe Masango
MEC for Public Works: Mr Madala Masuku
Executive Mayor: Cllr Inah Masombuka
Head of Department for Department of Public Works; Ms Nkwinika
Regional Director: Mr JJ Mabena
Members of the Youth Commission
Members of Senior Management (Dept of Education and Public Works)
Members of the Department of Defence
Department of Home Affairs
MSDS member: Ms Dineo Maleka (Navy)
Principals
Educators
Representative council of learners
Educator unions
School governing bodies
Councillors
Regional representative
Independent Electoral Commission
University of Limpopo
Tshwane University of Technology
University of Venda
MSC College
Nkangala Further Education College
Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust
SASA
Umsobomvu Youth Fund
Members of the media

May I take this time to acknowledge the good partnership and relations between the Department of Education in the Province and the Department of Defence for setting the stage for our youth to source out critical information about many routes to career development.

I subscribe to the biblical scripture that correctly points out that in the absence of knowledge people perish. This scripture captures the reality in our country today where enormous opportunities are made available by government yet a number of people still plead ignorance.

We are here today to tell you that unless you seize these opportunities presented by your own government, you shall perish and shall have no one to blame but yourselves. However, as government we will continue to advocate the message of hope through our youth-targeted skills development programmes so that our conscious are found blameless, our souls at ease that the country will be in good hands tomorrow.

I speak here as the Deputy Minister of Defence with no weaponry but armed with career ammunition that with great certainty will respond to the socio-economic challenges faced by many of young people present here. President Nelson Mandela once said and I quote: "There can be no contentment for any of us when there are children, millions of children, who do not receive an education that provides them with dignity and honour and allows them to live their lives to the full.

"We should not underestimate the power of education in creating a just world," he said. Certainly, issues of good education and skills development are close to our hearts in the Department of Defence, thus we have developed the Military Skills Development System.

Let me talk more about our skills programme

The Military Skills Development System (MSDS) was started in 2003 to ensure the enhancement of the South African Development Force's (SANDF) mission readiness through the systematic rejuvenation of its human resource composition through yearly intakes of the country's youth.

What does that mean to all these young people sitting here?

It means all deserving, healthy and fit young South Africans of all races between the ages of 18 to 22 are provided with a lifeline opportunity to emerge as disciplined, better skilled personnel having been equipped with priority skills to contribute meaningfully to the growth of our economy.

In January this year, we absorbed into the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) programme 2954 recruits to join the South African National Defence Force 2008. However, we can do more provided; you learners of Mpumalanga come on board. After intense assessment, we found that there's little response from the learners of this province. This is primarily why we are here. We want to see more of the applications from Mpumalanga learners because we intend to scale the intake of the programme up to 10 000 learners per financial year.

Let me break down the four components of the SANDF and how the MSDS fits in.

The South African National Defence Force consists of SA Army, SA Navy, SA Air Force and Military Health Services.

Training in SA Army

The SA Army's mandate focuses on the provisioning of combat ready forces and plays a leading role in landward operations. After completion of basic military training, members may be selected for training in the combat, technical or other support mustering. The combat mustering includes the infantry, engineers, armour, artillery, air defence artillery and intelligence. Most of the members will however, be selected for the Infantry, which is the largest fighting corps in the SA Army. The technical mustering includes the technical service, signal and the ammunition.

Training in the navy

After completion of basic military training, members may be selected for further training in a specific field such as Combat Officers, Student Engineers, Student Naval Technical Officers and Support Personnel.

Training in the SA Air Force

Careers available in the SA Air Force include command and control, air traffic control, mission control, telecommunications and operation, technical assistant, material support clerk, protection services, caterer, fire fighter and pilot training and military intelligence.

Training in the SA Military Health Service (SAMHS)

Following the basic military training, career opportunities in SAMHS include physiotherapy, radiography, BSc human movement, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing diploma and medicine amongst others.

We are building a National Defence Force with capabilities that will, ensure that, working with our neighbours in the region, we contribute meaningfully to the objectives of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) for the benefit of all who live in it.

The Military Skills Development System provides the Department with a tool and mechanism to contribute to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) in terms of providing job opportunities as well as skills development for the youth of the country. It is therefore important that you and you join the MSDS programme not only because we are on the drive to scale the intake up to 10 000 young people for training but because, government has budgeted R700 million for this programme. I must say, it is not my intention to see this budget returning back to the Treasury. It's meant for you and you must seize the opportunity.

In our drive to scale the intake, we wish to begin absorbing 4445 and 5173 youths into the MSDS in 2009 and 2010 respectively. You ought to ensure that you are part of these numbers. We need to reach this target through the help of many amongst you.

I urge all grades 11 and 12s not to go home today before visiting our career exhibition stall to hear more on the programme and receive applications forms.

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Defence
11 April 2008