2014 Kwa-Zulu Natal Military Tattoo

Article by: Ms R.D. Khashane-Defence Reserves Photographs by: KZN Reserve Provincial Office

The South African Army Reserves together with the Kwa-Zulu Natal Reserve Provincial

Office hosted the 2014 Kwa-Zulu Natal Military Tattoo at the Natal Mounted Rifles

meadows from 9 to 12 July 2014.

This year‟s tattoo was themed around the celebration of South Africa‟s 20 years of

freedom: “Celebrating 20 years in Defence of Democracy”.

The unusually cold Durban winter weather did not discourage the people from

attending; on the contrary they came in for this four-evening Tattoo and were looking

forward to the performance of both the Regular and Reserve soldiers of the South

African National Defence Force.

The Tattoo opened with a massed band performance led by Lt Col Gerald Seekola, the

Director of Music for this years Tattoo. Each Arm of Service was allocated an evening to

officiate as the Functionary, with Brig Gen Kamffer (Director SA Army Reserves)

officiating the opening tattoo evening of 9 July 2014, followed by Rear Adm Naidoo

(SAN Director Maritime Plans), Maj Gen Rudman (Deputy Chief of the Army) and Brig

Gen Visser (Director SAAF Corporate Staff).

SA Army Bands of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Kroonstad and Polokwane, the SA Navy Precision

Drill Squad from Naval Station Durban, the Durban Girls High School Drum Majorettes,

Durban Regiment troops in their Mamba IPV, SA Air Force and 121 SAI Bn choirs, the

Pipes and Drums from 1 Medical Battalion, Natal Mounted Rifles and Durban Regiment,

the South African Army Specialist Infantry Capability (SAASIC), G1 Guns of Natal Field

Artillery , the destruction of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) by the SA Engineer

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Corps and the South African Military Health Service Band kept the audience spellbound

during the four-evenings.

As we were celebrating 20 years of freedom and democracy, the audience enjoyed

various re-enactments on the formation of the South African National Defence Force,

its‟ mandate, and the roles and responsibilities with a trip down memory lane to when

the unified SANDF was formed.

The flags of the South African Defence Force and the Defence Forces of

Bophuthatswana, Venda, Transkei and Ciskei, which were merged with the forces of

Umkhontho we Sizwe, and APL, represented by their flags, were proudly paraded

before the audience at this four-evening Tattoo which was definitely not lacking either in

entertainment or education.

These flag demonstrations were performed by the SAASIC members on motor cycles

depicting the integration of all these forces that formed the South African National

Defence Force, together with the four services (SA Army, SA Air Force, SA Navy and

SAMHS) and the Mamba IPVs of Durban Regiment adding the flags of SANDF

footprints on peace mission operations in other African countries. The deviation from the

norm was well received as it revisited the history of the Nation‟s Defence Force, what it

stood for then and what it means to the people of this blossoming Nation today.

The first president of a democratic South Africa and the first SANDF Commander-in-

Chief, Dr Nelson Mandela, was honoured posthumously for his selfless fight for freedom

and his successful efforts in uniting and healing a country that was racially divided for

many decades.

The event drew to a close with some fine massed band performances, good music, gun

fire and fireworks.

Credit must go to the KZN Defence Reserve units: Natal Field Artillery, Natal Mounted

Rifles, Umvoti Mounted Rifles, Durban Regiment, 19 Field Engineer Regiment, 84

Signal Unit, 1 Medical Battalion Group, and different sponsors for hosting such an

impressive four-evening Tattoo. A Tattoo portrays Military culture and music at their

best and this year‟s production of the KZN Military Tattoo was a great success by all

accounts.

Military bands and units that were involved playing with, pomp and ceremony to the background

of a fireworks display marking the end of yet another successful KZN Military Tattoo.

Members of the Durban Regiment with the Mamba IPV carrier during a demonstration and flag parade to depicting the role of the SANDF in Peace Support Operations in the various African

countries.

SA Army band KZN rocked the audience.

The drummers from the South African Military Health Service Band dispensing a unique form of

health care!

There are two major factors contributing to a professional Defence Force. The first is discipline

– „adhering to orders and instructions‟ – even to the extent of anticipation in the absence

thereof. The SA Navy Precision Drill Squad from Naval Station Durban with a captivating

performance during the event.

The Durban Girls High School Drum Majorettes perform together with the SAMHS band during

a performance to demonstrate „collateral capabilities‟.

What would a Tattoo be without the pipers?

Members of DR, NMR, 1 Med Bn and SAMHS in action.

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