Colonel Busisiwe Morodi and six of her Joint Tactical Headquarters Free State Operation Corona management team hit the ground running early this year, calling on two operational and all 13 temporary bases under her command.
The six-day duty tour between 17 and 23 January saw Team Morodi take in the northern and southern sectors of her assigned area of responsibility on the Free State provincial borders with landlocked Lesotho.
At the Ladybrand operational base, where Lieutenant Colonel SV Hakim is Officer Commanding, the tactical headquarters command group engaged with soldiers and support personnel, assessed living conditions and evaluated operational readiness. The same happened at the Fouriesburg base where Bravo Company of the Mafikeng infantry battalion is tasked with Operation Corona border protection duties.
After visiting 13 temporary bases in seven days, provincial tactical headquarters communication officer Captain Tshwanantai Tsolo reported the staff visit provided leadership with first-hand insight into challenges and successes experienced on the ground.
The visit further strengthened command presence, reinforced leadership support and emphasised the provincial joint tactical headquarters commitment to effective command and control, troop welfare and sustained mission readiness.
Free State Joint Tactical Headquarters personnel accompanying their OC on the visit were Staff Officer 1 Intelligence, Lieutenant Colonel de Bruin; Staff Officer 2 Land Operations, Major D Ruiters; Staff Officer 3 Operational Communication, Captain T Tsolo; Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), Master Warrant Officer M Sithole and Technical Staff Officer, Warrant Officer HWS Liebenberg.
On the other side of Lesotho, where Operation Corona is managed by the Eastern Cape Joint Tactical Headquarters, soldiers boosted by police and provincial field rangers, impounded 367 head of cattle on the Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve earlier in January. This “bust” also goes into the lines book of 10 SAI.
SANDF soldiers on border patrol duties had a busy festive season period. According to December Operation Corona statistics from the Joint Operations Division of the SA National Defence Force, a total of 2 733 illegal immigrants were apprehended, including 2 422 Zimbabweans. Soldiers seized R7.45 million worth of contraband on the borders, recovered R3.2 million worth of stolen vehicles, arrested 22 criminals, and impounded livestock worth R2.7 million.
A sizeable quantity of drugs was seized by soldiers in December, including R2.2 million worth in Limpopo, and R1.3 million worth in KwaZulu-Natal. In total, R4 million worth of drugs were seized during Operation Corona patrols.
