The South African National Defence Force 4 SA Infantry Battalion (TF Charlie) is preparing to deploy to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In preparation, the soldiers are training hard, ensuring they are well equipped and fully prepared for the mission ahead. Every soldier understands the gravity of their mission and the importance of the task at hand.
The Battalion will be ready to go at a moment’s notice. All personnel are undergoing rigorous physical training, as well as drills and simulations to prepare them for the mission.
The Jungle Warfare Training Orientation (Exercise MADULO) is taking place over a period of 16 February 2023 to 21 March 2023 at Thohoyandou, Entabeni Training Area.
Headquarters 43 South African Brigade has been commissioned by the Chief of the South African Army to conduct and facilitate Exercise MADULO.
Every soldier is being issued the necessary gear and equipment to ensure they are as safe and effective as possible in the field. The Battalion is confident they will be able to carry out their tasks in the DRC with the utmost professionalism, skill, and determination.
The aim of this training is to validate the Operational Concepts, Procedures and Combat Readiness of Task Force Charlie and the Quick Reaction Force.
The objective is realizing a lasting Peace and Stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and our immediate neighbouring County such as Mozambique.
The Second in Command of Headquarters 43 SA Brigade, Colonel V.C. Mlondobozi, who is appointed as the Exercise Director welcomed all the forces on the ground and declared the Exercise opened on behalf of General Officer Commanding Headquarters 43 SA Brigade, Brigadier General M.A. Mantshiyane.
He further encouraged the members to cooperate with the instructors during the training as they will be taking the members to prepare them for the tough task that lay ahead and to impart on the skills and knowledge in mastering the application of tactics, techniques and procedures for Integrated Jungle Warfare.
After the training the forces will be handed over to Chief of Joint Operations for Mission Readiness Training deployment.
This Jungle Warfare Training orientation is used to cover the special techniques needed for the soldiers to survive and fight in the jungle terrain.
The Entabeni training area has a variety of positive attributes to the training, with its dense vegetation similar to that of Democratic Republic of the Congo, providing ample advantages for camouflage and concealment and plenty of material which can be used to build fortifications.
The training include inter alia protection of civilians, Civil-Military Co-operation, Fighting in Build-Up Area (FIBUA), River and Swamp crossing, and all other training objectives which were not achieved during Exercise VUKUHLOME that was conducted at the Combat Training Centre in November 2022, with the main focus on External Operations in the Northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Eight months ago, the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF’s) 10 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion Group based in Mafikeng also underwent jungle warfare training at Entabeni ahead of the next RSABATT (RSA Battalion) rotation to the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While two years ago, troops of the South African Army 21 Infantry Battalion (21 SAI) also underwent a month-long jungle warfare training in Limpopo’s Entabeni State Forest, as part of it’s rotation for the MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
