Question NW1662 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
15 June 2021 - NW1662
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether, with reference to the qualifications of a certain person (name and details furnished), more specifically the insignias the specified person was wearing on the left and right chest when the Commander-in-Chief announced the person’s new appointment in the SA National Defence Force, the person completed the academic and practical training in order to wear the insignias of a Special Forces operator, as well as a qualified paratrooper; if not, (a) what are the reasons that the person wore the two insignias, (b) what qualified the person to wear it on the left and right chest and (c) who awarded the person the right to wear the insignias; if so, (i) on what dates did the person complete the required training, (ii) what total number of Special Forces operations did the person take part in and (iii) what total number of parachute jumps has the person completed?
Reply:
1. (a) and (b)The member completed similar courses in Cuba in 1983.
(c) and (i)On a parade officiated by erstwhile C J Ops on 24 March 2006, the member was awarded honorary Special Force (SpecF) insignia; and again on a parade hosted by then Officer Commanding 44 Parachute Regiment on 05 September 2016, he was awarded honorary Dispatcher wings.
(ii) SpecF operations is a top secret matter.
(iii) Only operators currently executing SpecF tasks are required to maintain a jump log, it is not applicable to the member being enquired on.