Lieutenant General Lawrence Khulekani Mbatha, Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), officially opened the 2024 Officer Commanding/Regimental Sergeant Major (OC/RSM) course at the SA Army Gymnasium in Heidelberg on May 14th, 2024.
Mbatha addressed the current and future OCs andRSMs enrolled in the developmental program. He highlighted the importance of the course in preparing them for leadership roles within the SANDF.
“We don’t attend courses for promotion,” Mbatha stated. “We attend to be prepared, competent, and masters of our environments.” He emphasized the critical role OCs and RSMs play in leading by example and fostering trust within their units.
Accountability was a central theme in Mbatha’s address. He reminded students of the “Accountability of the Extended Army Command Cadre” held earlier in Potchefstroom, emphasizing the importance of responsible asset management and maintaining a clean audit trail.
Mbatha expressed his pride in SANDF members deployed both domestically and internationally, highlighting their role as ambassadors for South Africa.
“Leadership isn’t about knowing everything,” Mbatha concluded. “We learn from each other. The Army’s footprint is visible because of us. Together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.” With these words, he declared the 2024 OC/RSM course officially open.
