ACTING CAF SPEAKS TO CARTE BLANCHE

By CO Solomon M. Kotane, Ad Astra magazine and photos by WO2 David Nomtshongwana

The acting Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Maj Gen Job Ngema, on 31 May 2010 reassured the crew of the digital satellite television (Dstv) programme, Carte Blanche, that from the SAAF perspective,   “everything humanly possible has been done to guarantee the security and safety” of the patrons during the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. The programme is aired every Sunday evening at 07:00. 

Maj Gen Job Ngema being interviewed by Mr Robin Rabec and Mr Bongani Binqwa at Swartkop Airfield

Gen Ngema, who refused to disclose the security numbers and location of all the equipment and personnel that would keep a close watch on all movement around the stadiums, noted that the organising teams had already installed thousands of sophisticated cameras that could pick up moving objects in the sky, even if very small. He was speaking during a joint interview between the Dstv programme, Carte Blanche, and the Ad Astra magazine at Swartkop Airfield.

He told the Dstv crew, who had already flown with the SAAF aircraft around Pretoria, that the Air Force (AF) was dealing with more practical matters and was leaving nothing to chance. Quizzed about the USA threat story that appeared in the Sunday Times on 30 May 2010, the General cautiously responded that it was not “an operational area” of the SAAF.

The SAAF mainly contributed with logistics. He noted, however, that the Joint Operations of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had already dealt extensively with the matter. The Carte Blanche crew included Robin Rabec (Contributing Producer), Gordon Hiles (cameraman) and Bongani Bingwa (presenter).

Some of the Oryx and Agusta helicopters that will monitor security during the World Cup

Asked why the Defence Force was including “heavy equipment” such as the Gripens for security operations, he said this was not over-kill, but a thoroughly rehearsed measure to counter any type of aircraft within a 50-mile radius from any stadium.

He emphasised that spectators should not be worried about any perceived threats as the SAAF and other joint forces were “on high alert for anything that would breach the flying zone in the sky” during the soccer tournament. The General also revealed that it would be difficult for any aircraft to enter within 30 miles of the airspace because, he reckoned, by that time the aircraft would have been already probed.

Furthermore, he reminded the interviewers that there were other friendly countries such as Kenya and Tanzania, who had been targeted for attack by asymmetric fighters. He also explained that it would take seconds to intercept any unknown aircraft and also noted that the SAAF was preparing for any eventuality.

The Joint Operational Forces, including the South African Police Service and other State Departments, had simulated all possible threats to the tournament with other arms of services. Moreover, he announced that the SANDF had already dealt with all kinds of theoretical interception manoeuvres in the sky.

“Any unknown aircraft or any aircraft failing to adhere to its filed flight plan” would be intercepted within the 5O miles radius. “Such aircraft,” he said, “would have appeared on the monitoring screen” and would be quickly probed and sent out of their deviation line long before they reached the edges of the 50 mile zone”.

Additionally, he said about 29 modern radars had been mounted and that SAAF worked closely with the civilian aircraft organisations. He further said that they had also placed an undisclosed number of mobile radars around South Africa. Although a catastrophic situation like the US 9/11 could not be completely be ruled out, it could not be “totally anticipated”.

Other aircraft that would be monitoring the airspace include Hawks and Cessnas.