Minsters van/of Verdedeging/Defence
DIE VAANDEL - SIMBOOL VAN EENHEID EN TROTS
Vlae, vaandels, standaarde en baniere herinner 'n mens dikwels aan vergange besluite, roemryke dade en helde van ouds. Van die vroegste tyd af het dit 'n saambindende funksie gehad, want mense het hulself deur middel van 'n vlag of vaandel met 'n bepaalde groep ge'i'dentifiseer. Aanvanklik was vlae suiwer godsdienstig van aard en die gebruik van Nasionale vlae het geleidelik ontwikkel. 'n Nasionale vlag het eenheid en integriteit by 'n nasie gesimboliseer en sy oorhoofse doel is om die idee tuis te bring dat almal, ten spyte van groepsverskulle, aan dieselfde nasie behoort. So ook is die vlag van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika tot die enigste simbool van nasionale onafhanklikheid verklaar.
THE NATIONAL COLOURS - SYMBOL OF UNITY AND PRIDE
Flags or their equivalents have often served to remind men of past resolves, deeds and heroes. From the earliest time when men fought in organised bodies of troops, they have possessed some form of insignia visible over all the field of battle, serving as a rallying point for the men of the corps. Early flags were almost always of a religious character, and the use of national flags developed gradually. A na­tional flag symbolized unity and integrity in a nation and its overall purpose was to convey the idea that each individual soldier, irrespective of group differences, belongs to the same nation. Similarly the flag of the Republic of South Africa has been declared the only symbol of national independence.
Military history was made on 28 April 1988 when the first National Colours together with unit colours were presented to the State president's Unit.
'n Historiese gebeurtenis het op 28 April 1988 plaasgevind toe die staatspresidentseenheid sy eenheidsvaandel asook die eerste Nasionale Vaandel in ontvangs geneem het.
Die waardigheid waarmee vlae en vaandels vandag beje'e'n word, is nie oornag verwerf nie, maar het ontstaan as gevolg van 'n gestadige evolusie. Die woord "vlag" is van ermaanse oorsprong en die verskillende stamwoorde beteken: "in die wind wapper" of "heen en weer beweeg". Die soort vlag wat aan 'n horisontale dwarsstok hang, word meestal 'n banier of vaandel genoem. Die standaard was nie bedoel om soos gewone vaandels in 'n geveg gedra te word nie, maar het slegs gedien om die aanwesigheid en juiste posisie van die eienaar tydens seremoniele aangeleenthede aan te dui. Standaarde was sierlik, groot, lank en puntig met omboorde kante en heraldiese simbole. Die woord "standaard" stam van 'n woord wat oorspronklik "onwankelbaar" beteken.
Selfs nog voor die Romeine, Grieke en Egiptenare die gebruik van vaandels en standaarde ingestel het, het die primitiewe mens uitkentekens op sy lyf geverf om stamverwantskap aan te dui. Hoewel vaandels nie net in 'n militere verband gebruik is nie, word reeds in die Ou Testament al van die militere saambindende funksie van vaandels melding gemaak: "En die kinders van Israel moes laer opslaan, elkeen op sy laerplek en elkeen by sy vaandel, volgens hulle leerafdelings." (Numeri 1 vers 52). Die gebruik van vaandels dateer ook uit die antieke tyd. Simbole is deur Egiptenare, Assiriers, Perse, Grieke en Romeine gebruik en die dra daarvan was 'n besondere eer. Lank voor die twaalfde eeu is vlae al in Sjina op land en ter see gebruik. Daarna is daar in verskeie Oosterse lande van vlae melding gemaak. Die Germane se vaandel het bestaan uit 'n struk lap wat dikwels in die vorm van 'n wolf of 'n draak uitgesny en aan 'n stok of spies vasgebind was.
In die vroegste rye is die leier van 'n vegtende groep deur 'n banier aangedui. Hierdie banier was 'n groot vierkantige doek met 'n familiewapen op.Tydens 'n geveg was hierdie onderskeidingstekens oor die hele slagveld sigbaar. Mettertyd moes die edelman plek maak vir die beroepsveldheer in die aanvoering van geoefende en gemeganiseerde afdelings voetsoldate. Waar sulke beroeps-aanvoerders nie oor familiewapens en eie standaarde beskik het nie, het hulle kleiner vlaggies met kenmerkende kleure gebruik.
Die Romeinse leer se Adelaar (Vexillum) het dieselfde betekenis gehad en morele rol gespeel as die hedendaagse vaandels wat die samehorigheid van 'n eenheid versinne-beeld en aanspraak maak op die toewyding van elke soldaat. Deur die Vexillum is een legioen van die ander onderskei. Die oorsprong van moderne regimentsvaandels kan dus hier gesoek word.
Tydens die Middeleeue het drie soorte vaandels in Brittanje bestaan, al 'n Nasionale Vaandel of Koninklike Ba­nier, die vaandels van die adelstand wat hul private leers aangevoer het en die vaandels van die kapteins en hul landhere. In 1751 is bepaal dat slegs twee soorte vaandels voortaan gebruik sou word, al die koninklike vaandel en die regimentsvaandel. Hierdie gebruik bestaan nog steeds.
Die eerbiediging van vaandels en die seremoniele plegtighede daaraan verbonde, spruit hoofsaaklik uit die gebruike van die voormalige "Landsknechten" (Duitse afde­lings van 300 man) vir wie die vaandel 'n simbool van regimentslewe en trots was. Destyds was die hedendaagse gebruik om vaandels te vereer en spesiaal onder die sorg van 'n wag van uitgesoekte manne te plaas, reeds in swang. Die vaandels van die sestiende eeu was nie soos die baniere van die edelmanne, die onderskeidingstekens van indiwiduele persone of leiers nie, maar wel die sinnebeeld van 'n gemeenskaplike bestaan en eensgesindheid van 'n eenheid. Aangesien die uniform, soos dit vandag bekend is, eers later ontstaan het, het die vaandel dus 'n belangrike onderskeidingsfunksie vervul.
Soldate het altyd in die verwarring en warboel van 'n slagveld om hul vaandels as saamskaarpunte saamgetrek en die buitmaak of verlies van 'n vaandel was 'n noemenswaardige gebeurtenis in die geskiedenis van 'n eenheid. Om 'n vaandel tydens 'n slag te verloor, was 'n onherstelbare verlies, want dan het so 'n eenheid so te se ontbind en het nie meer bestaan nie.
Die dra van die standaard/vaandel is in die verlede aan 'n verteenwoordiger van die adel of 'n vername persoon van burgerlike herkoms opgedra. Hy het bekendgestaan as die standaarddraer en het dit as sy plig geag om sy lewe op te offer vir die kosbare pand wat aan horn toevertrou is. Om hierdie rede was die sterftesyfer onder die vaandeldraers gevolglik bale hoog.
The honour accorded to regimental colours today, did not occur overnight but has its origin as the result of a steady evolution. The word "flag" is of Germanic origin and the different stem words mean: "wave in the wind" or "move to and fro". The type of flag suspended horizontally, is generally called a banner or standard. The standard was not meant to be carried in battle as are ordinary colours, but served only to point put the presence and exact position of its owner during ceremonial proceedings. Standards were ornate, of noble size, long and tapering with bordered edges and heraldic symbols. The word "standard" stems from a word originally meaning "unwa­vering".
Even before the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians started using colours and standards, primitive man painted their bodies for tribal identification. Although standards were not used solely in a military connection, the military-colligative function of standards is already mentioned in the Old Testament: "The rest of the Israelites shall set up camp, company by company, each man with his own group and under his own banner." (Numbers 1 verse 52).
The use of standards also dates from antiquity. Symbols were used by the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks and Romans and the wearing thereof was a singular honour. Long before the 12th century flags were already used in China on land and at sea. After that flags were mentioned in several Eastern countries. The Germanic standard consisted of a piece of cloth, often cut out in the shape of a wolf or a dragon and fastened to a pole or a pike.
In the earliest times the leader of a fighting group was indicated by a banner. This banner was a large square cloth bearing a family crest. During a battle this insignia was visible over the entire battlefield. As the professional captain ousted the noblemen from the command of the trained and mechanised infantry, the leaders of such bod­ies of troops, no longer possessing coat-armour and indi­vidual banners, had recourse to smaller flags of distinctive colour instead.
In the Roman army the eagle (Vexillum) had all the moral and sentimental importance of the colours of today, signi­fying the corporate body and claims the devotion of each individual soldier in the ranks. By means of the Vexillum one legion was distinguished from another. The origin of modern regimental colours can accordingly be sought here.
Throughout medieval times three colours were used in Britain, namely the National Colours or Royal banner, the colours of the nobility who commanded their own armies, and the colours of the captains and their squires. In 1751 it was decreed that only the royal colours and the regimental colours were to be displayed. The custom persists to this day.
The ceremonial observances and honours paid nowa­days to the colours of the infantry were established for the most part by the "Landsknechten" (German companies of 300) for whom the colours, carried by their ensign, were symbolic of the intense regimental life and feeling. The now universal custom of constituting the Colour Guard of picked men and the saluting of colours were in equal honour then. The 16th century colours were not the dis­tinction of one man, as was the personal banner of the nobleman, but the symbol of the corporate life and unity of the regiment. Since the uniform, as it is known today, only came into existence at a later stage, the colours played an important role as insignia. The old soldier rallied to the colours as a matter of habit in the confusion of battle. The capture or loss of colours has always been considered a special event, glorious or the reverse, in the history of a regiment. The importance of this was mainly sentimental, but having as a real back­ground the fact that, if its colours have been lost, a regiment was to all intents and purposes dissolved and dispersed.
Standard bearers were selected from the nobility or more affluent bourgeoisie, who defended the standard with their lives. As a result, the number of casualties among standard bearers were very high.
States President's Guard raising the flag at Grootte Schuur in Newlands.
Die vlag word gehys deur die Staats President's Wag in Grootte Schuur in Nuweland.
Die Gebruik van die Vandel in Suid-Afrika
Die eerste verwysing na 'n vaandel in Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word gevind in 'n resolusie van die Politieke Raad (die hoogste regeringsliggaam aan die Kaap tussen 1652 en 1795) op 11 November 1664. Hiervolgens is die burgers en boere wat weg van die Fort gewoon het as 'n kompanie op die been gebring en 'n blou standaard is aan hulle toegeken. In 1672 is alle werknemers van die Hollands-Oos-Indiese Kompanjie in vyf kompanies ingedeel en elke kompanie het 'n eiesoortige gekleurde vaandel ontvang.
Die Britse besetting van die Kaap het 'n nuwe fase in die ontwikkelingsgeskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse vaandel gebring deur die kennismaking met die toekenning van koninklike vaandels en regimentsvaandels aan Infanterie eenhede.
Met die ontwikkeling van moderne oorlogvoering, is besef dat die vaandel nie meer tuis hoort op die slagveld nie (veral as geyolg van die hoe sterftesyfer onder vaan­deldraers) en die vaandel is vir die laaste keer in 1881 tydens die Eerste Vryheidsoorlog deur 'n Britse regiment gebruik. Vaandels is sedertdien slegs op die paradegrond en tydens seremoniele geleenthede gebruik. Op 31 Maart 1947 het koning George VI by die SA Militere Kollege agt regiments en ses koninklike vaandels aan Burgermageenhede van die Unieverdedigingsmag oorhandig. Met die totstandkoming van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika op 31 Mei 1961, is alle koninklike vaandels met die nodige seremonie weggele.
Sedert Uniewording is regimentsvaandels aan verskeie eenhede toegeken, onder andere aan twee Staandemag eenhede, al die Spesiale Diensbataljon en die Suid-Afrikaanse Militere Kollege (tans SA Leerkollege). Dit is interessant om daarop te let dat met die toekenning van die vaandel aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Militere Kollege, dit ook die gebruik geword het om die Springbok as die nasionale embleem bo-op die vaandelstok aan te bring.
The Use of Colours in South Africa
The first reference to a colour in South African context occurred on 11 November 1664, when the ruling Political Council of the Cape of Good Hope (1652-1795) formed a company of burghers and farmers living outside the fort and presented them with a blue standard. In 1672 all employees of the Dutch East India Company were divided into five companies and each company received a distinc­tive coloured standard.
The British occupation of the Cape brought about the introduction of royal and regimental colours to infantry regiments.
With the development of modern warfare, it was real­ized that the standard no longer belonged on the battle­field. It was accordingly decided no longer to use standard bearers in the battle because of the high mortality rate. The standard was used for the last time in 1881 by a British regiment during the Anglo-Boer War. Today regimental colours are only displayed on important military occa­sions.
On 31 March 1947, during the Royal Visit to the SA Military College, King George VI presented eight regimen­tal colours and six royal colours to Citizen Force units of the Union Defence Force. At the founding of the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961, all royal colours were ceremoniously laid up.
Since the founding of the Union, regimental colours have been awarded to a number of units, among others to the Special Service Battalion and the South African Mili­tary College (presently the SA Army College). It is inter­esting to note that with the presentation of the colours to the South African Military College, it became custom to place the Springbok emblem at the top of the flagstaff.
Staats/State Presidents Vlag/Flag 1984 - 1994
The State President, Mr P. W. Botha presented the first National Colours to the State President's Unit.
Die eerste Nasionale Vaandel word deur Die Staatse President, Mnr P. W. Botha aan die Staatspresidentseenheid oorhandig.
Die SA Weermag het ook sy stempel afgedruk op die ontwikkeling van die vaandel en die tradisie daaraan gekoppel. Die vaandel bly die een visuele simbool waardeur die eer, tradisies en dade van 'n eenheid na vore gebring word.
'n Eenheidsvaandel word uit duursame materiaal, soos satyn of sy, vervaardig met 'n geborduurde embleem en 'n goue, silwer of satynvoering. Die geborduurde tema op die vaandel bevat gewoonlik simbole wat die eenheid, gebied of streek van die eenheidstandplaas voorstel. Op 'n vaandel word ook die gevegsonderskeidings geborduur wat die eenheid verwerf het. 'n Gevegsonderskeiding is 'n toekenning aan 'n regiment of skip ter erkenning van die aandeel daarvan in 'n militere veldtog, aksie of skermutseling en waarop vorige, huidige en toekomstige lede trots kan wees.
So 'n vaandel word normaalweg slegs dertig jaar lank gebruik, waarna 'n nuwe vaandel toegeken word. Sodra die nuwe vaandel ontvang word, word die ou vaandel of opgesny en 'n stuk aan elkeen van die dienende offlsiere van die eenheid toegeken, of dit word in die oudste kerk in die regiment se gebied gedrapeer waar dit sal bly tot dit begin om uitmekaar te val.
Republiekwording op 31 Mei 1961 het 'n nuwe beleid tot gevolg gehad. Die geleentheid is geskep om alle aspekte van vaandels op 'n geordende grondslag te plaas. In die verlede is slegs infanterie, pantser en pantserkareenhede toegelaat om regimentsvaandels te vertoon. Hierdie ge­bruik is in 1970 uitgebrei sodat die eenhede van al die Weermagsdele en die ondersteuningsdiens, op 'n vaandel aanspraak kan maak. Sekere artillerieregimente soos die Kaapse Veldartillerie besit egter geen vaandels nie, maar beskou die kanon as hul vaandel.
Met die toekenning van eenheidsvaandels aan 2 en 24 Eskaders van die SA Lugmag op 3 Mei 1966, is die vaandeltradisie ook na die Lugmag oorgedra. 'n Eskader is tans die enigste formasie in die SA Lugmag wat geregtig is om 'n eenheidsvaandel te dra. Tot op hede het 21 Staandemageskaders en sewe Burgermageskaders reeds 'n eie eenheidsvaandel ontvang.
Die SA Vloot beskik nie oor afsonderllke eenheidsvaandels nie. In 1952 is magtiging ontvang vir die vertoning van die Vlootvlag by spesiale geleenthede. Op 12 April 1969 is 'n amptelike vaandel aan die SA Vloot oorhandig vir gebruik by sekere toepaslike geleenthede.
As Weermagsdeel het die SA Geneeskundige Diens erkenning vir sy ondersteuning in gevegte en andersins ontvang deurdat eenheidsvaandels toegeken is aan 1 Militere Hospitaal, die SAGD Opleidingsentrum en 1, 3, 4 en 5 Mediese Bataljongroepe.
The SA Defence Force also put its stamp on the develop­ment of the colours and the tradition attached thereto. The colours remain the one visual symbol whereby honour, traditions and deeds of a unit are brought to the fore.
Unit colours are manufactured from durable material such as satin or silk with an embroidered emblem with a gold, silver or satin lining. The embroidered theme is usually associated with a symbol exclusive to the unit, area or region of the unit concerned. Battle honours for which the unit qualified, are also embroidered on the colours. A battle honour is an award made to a regiment or a ship in recognition of its participation in a battle, operation, action or skirmish and of which previous, present and future members may be proud.
Such colours are normally used for thirty years only, after which new colours are awarded. On receipt of the new colour, the old ones are either cut up and a piece awarded to each of the serving officers of the unit, or are laid up in the oldest church in the regimental area, where they will remain until they start falling apart.
The founding of the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961 brought about a new policy on colours. In the past only infantry units, armoured regiments and armoured car regiments, were permitted to display regimental colours. During 1970 this custom was extended to all Arms of the Service and the Supporting Service. However, certain artillery regiments such as the Cape Field Artillery have no colours and regard the guns as their colours.
With the awarding of unit colours to 2 and 24 Squadrons of the Air Force on 3 May 1966, the colour-tradition was also granted to the Air Force. A squadron is at present the only formation in the Air Force entitled to carry unit colours. To date 21 Permanent Force and seven Citizen Force squadrons have received their own unit colours.
The SA Navy has no separate unit colours. In 1952 authorization was given for the display of the Navy Flag at special occasions. On 12 April 1969 official colours were presented to the SA Navy for use on certain appropriate occasions.
As an Arm of the Service the SA Medical Service has received acknowledgement for its assistance during battles and otherwise. Unit colours have been granted to 1 Military Hospital, the SAMS Training Centre and 1, 3, 4 and 5 Medical Battalion Groups.
The march past with the National and Unit awarded Colours of the States President Guard Unit.
Die verbymars met die Nasionale en Eenheids Vaandel van die Staatse President Wag Eenheid.
Die Nasionale Vaandel
Soos uit die geskiedenis blyk, is die gebruik van koninklike vaandels nie vir die SA Weermag vreemd nie. In verskeie lande het die tradisie ontstaan om die vaandel van die staatshoof, dws konings, koninginne of presidensiele vaandels aan regimente met hul eie regimentsvaandels toe te ken. Die koninklike vaandel is in die waarheid die Nasionale Vlag en word in verskeie lande, bv in die VSA, Paraguay, Chilli, die Republiek van Sjina en Frankryk, as die Nasionale Vaandel beskou.
Die ingebruikneming van die Nasionale Vaandel deur die SA Weermag is op 8 Maart 1988 deur die Staatspresident goedgekeur. Die Nasionale Vaandel verskil van die Nasionale Vlag in die opsig dat dit van sy vervaardig word en 'n goue fraiingstrook rondom het, asook twee goue koorde met tossels onderaan.
Met seremoniele parades word die Nasionale Vaandel te alle tye deur eenhede waaraan dit toegeken is, vertoon. Wanneer die Nasionale Vaandel saam met die eenheids­vaandel vertoon word, beklee dit te alle tye die senior posisie en word die eer en waardigheid van die eenheids­vaandel ook daaraan toegeken, met die uitsondering dat die Nasionale Vaandel vir niemand laat sak word nie. Die Nasionale Vaandel sal slegs by geleenthede alleen deur 'n eenheid vertoon word wanneer daardie eenheid nog nie met 'n eenheidsvaandel toegeken is nie.'
'n Historiese gebeurtenis het op 28 April 1988 plaasgevind toe die Staatspresidentseenheid hul eenheidsvaandel asook die eerste Nasionale Vaandel in ontvangs geneem het. Die vaandels is deur die Staatspresident, Mnr P.W. Botha, tydens 'n indrukwekkende vaandelontvangsparade in Kaapstad oorhandig - net drie dae voor die eenheid se een-en-twintigste verjaarsdag. Hierdie historiese geleentheid het die oorhandiging van die Nasionale Vaandel aan eenhede van die SA Weermag regoor die land ingelei.
Gedurende 1988 is die Nasionale Vaandel ook aan die volgende Suid-Afrikaanse Leereenhede oorhandig: Infanterieskool; SA Vroueleerkollege; Regiment Langenhoven; Oudtshoorn Kommando; 7 SA Infanterie bataljon; Regiment Christiaan Beyers; Phalaborwa Kom­mando en 116 Bataljon.
In 1989 het die volgende SA Leereenhede die Nasionale Vaandel ontvang: Provoosskool; Durban Light Infantry; 1 Valskermbrigade; 1 Spesiale Diensbataljon; 1 SA Infanteriebataljon; Pantserskool; Regiment Noord-Natal; 6 SA Infanteriebataljon; Kaffrarian Rifles; Winterberg Kom­mando; 121 Bataljon; 2 Seinregiment; 5 Seinregiment; 3 Elektroniese Werkplaas; 4 Elektroniese Werkplaas; 8 SA Infanterie Opleidingseenheid; Kimberley Regiment en Vaalharts Kommando.
Op 1 Julie 1988 het Lugmagbasis Durban die eerste Lugmageenheid geword om die Nasionale Vaandel te ontvang. In dieselfde jaar het hierdie eer ook Lugmagbasis Waterkloof te beurt geval. Gedurende 1989 is die Nasio­nale Vaandel aan die volgende SA Lugmageenhede oor­handig: SA Lugmag Kollege; Lugmag Gimnasium; Skool vir Logistieke Opleiding; Sentrale Vliegskool Dunnottar; Lugmagstasie Voortrekkerhoogte; SA Lugmag Regiment en Lugmagbasis Swartkop.
Die Vlootbasis Durban het ook op 1 Julie 1988 die Nasionale Vaandel ontvang en tot op hede het die Marinierbrigade, Vlootbasis Simonstad, SA Vlootkollege, Vlootstafkollege en ook die SAS Simonsberg die Vaandel in ontvangs te neem.
Twee eenhede van die S A Geneeskundige Diens - 1 en 5 Mediese Bataljongroepe - het gedurende 1988 die Nasio­nale Vaandel ontvang, terwyl 'n verder vier eenhede, 1 Militere Hospitaal, die SAGD Opleidingsentrum, asook 2 en 3 Mediese Bataljongroepe in 1989 die Nasionale Vaandel in ontvangs geneem het. The National Colours
Historically, the use of royal colours in the South Arican Defence Force is not unusual. In several countries the tradition originated to award the colours of the Head of State, that is king's, queen's or presidential colours, to regiments with their own regimental colours. The royal colours are in actual fact the National Flag, and are dis­played as the National Colours in countries such as USA, Paraguay, Chile, The Republic of China and France.
The introduction of the National Colours by the SA Defence Force was approved by the State President on 8 March 1988. The National Colours differ from the Na­tional Flag in that they are manufactured from silk and firnbriated with a gold fringe, as well as two gold cords with tassels hanging from the bottom of the cord.
The National Colours are displayed at all times during ceremonial parades by units to which they have been presented. The National Colours will always occupy the senior position when paraded with unit colours during ceremonial parades. They are accorded the same honour and dignity as the unit colours, except that they will not be lowered for any person. The only occasion when National Colours will be paraded alone by a unit, is when that unit has not been presented with unit colours
Military history was made on 28 April 1988 in Cape Town when the first National Colours together with unit colours were presented to the State President's Unit. The Colours were presented by the State President during an impressive colour presentation parade in Cape Town only three days before the unit's 21st anniversary. This historic event introduced the presentation of the National Colours to units of the SA Defence Force throughout the country.
The National Colours were presented to the following SA Army units during 1988: Infantry School; SA Army Women's College; Regiment Langenhoven; Oudtshoorn Commando; 7 SA Infantry Battalion; Regiment Christiaan Beyers; Phalaborwa Commando and 116 Battalion.
The following SA Army units received the National Colours in 1989: Provost School; Durban Light Infantry; 1 Parachute Brigade; 1 Special Service Battalion; 1 SA Infantry Battalion; School of Armour; Regiment North Natal; 6 SA Infantry Battalion; Kaffrarian Rifles; Winterberg Commando; 121 Battalion; 2 Signal Regiment; 5 Signal Regiment; 3 Electronic Workshop; 4 Electronic Workshop; 8 SA Infantry Training Unit; Kimberley Regi­ment and Vaalharts Commando.
On 1 July 1988 Air Force Base Durban became the first Air Force unit to receive the National Colours. In the same year the National Colours were also presented to Air Force Base Waterkloof. The National Colours were presented to the following SA Air Force units during 1989: SA Air Force College; Air Force Gymnasium; School for Logistic Training; Central Flying School Donnottar; Air Force Sta­tion Voortrekkerhoogte; SA Air Force Regiment and Air Force Base Swartkop.The Naval Base Durban also received the National Co­lours. To date the Marine Brigade, Naval Base Simon's Town, the SA Naval College and the Naval Staff College as well as the SAS Simonsberg received the National Co­lours.
Two units of the SA Medical Service, 1 and 5 Medical Battalion Groups, received the National Colours in 1988, while a further four units, 1 Military Hospital, the SAMS Training Centre, as well as 2 and 3 Medical Battalion Groups received the National Colours in 1989.