The Saldanha Military Academy commemorated its 75th Anniversary with a series of events.
The important milestone was marked from Friday 28 and Sunday 30 March.
Established in April 1950 under the auspices of the (then) University of Pretoria, the mission of the academy was to provide military personnel with opportunities in higher education and training.
The initial curriculum offerings included BA Mil and BSc Mil. Today it has expanded to accommodate the ever-evolving international military landscape.
At first the academy only catered for Army and Air Force cadets. However, in December 1957 the headquarters of the Military Academy moved to Saldanha to accommodate naval students.
As was the case with other South African institutions in those days, the academy was an exclusive white, male institution.
It has since come a long way to what it is today, reflecting the full spectrum of the country’s population.
The face of the new South Africa was on full display over the weekend celebrations. The occasion started on Friday with an 8 kilometer fun run and family gathering on the sport field.
On Saturday morning the community of Saldanha witnessed the Military Academy students participating in a Freedom of the City Right of Entry Parade, where they were addressed by mayoral representative Councillor Jaco Kotze.
He emphasised the importance of the academy as an integral part of the community and a partner the council was proud to be associated with.
This was followed by an Open Day at the academy, where the community and alumni could view the facilities and obtain information on its offerings.
In addition to hundreds of visitors, many of whom were former students, the new Vredenburg High School had a specific contingent of Grade 10 and 11 learners who were eager to know about possible military career opportunities.
The highlight of the weekend, no doubt, was a gala evening attended by invited guests and dignitaries. In addition to the senior staff of the academy, led by Commandant, Brigadier-General AJ de Castro and the acting Dean of the Faculty of Military Science, Dr Frankie Monama, the Guest-in-Chief was SA National Defence Force Chief of Human Resources Division, Lieutenant-General Malungisa Sitshongaye.
Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch, Prof Nico Koopman, Kotze and numerous local business partners.
The weekend events, fittingly, concluded on Sunday with a Memorial Parade and wreath-laying ceremony in honour of members of the academy who has passed on, uniformed and civilian.
De Castro said the institution is about people, its programmes and property. He said the members who came before him and others laid the groundwork for what the institution has become.
The programmes are internationally bench-marked and conform to the highest standards. The property and assets belong to the people of South Africa and it is important for the institution to be accountable to it, De Castro said.
