South Africa’s economy could well withstand the impact of the series of bombings that hit the country this week, Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni told journalists in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Speaking after his inauguration as the first honorary colonel of One SA Tank Regiment of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), Mboweni said investors had confidence in the country’s democratic institutions and the ability of the authorities to crack down on the perpetrators.
There was therefore not much reason to worry about the bombings damaging the economy.
Nine blasts rocked Soweto in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The detonator of a tenth device exploded in Bronkhorstspruit later in the day. The attacks have been described as terrorism.
Mboweni said the conferment of the honorary title was a great privilege and ”a welcome opportunity” to play a role in the military.
Mboweni, who had trained during the struggle against apartheid for a few months as a soldier in Angola, said he had always regarded some military experience as essential for a ”boy to become a man”.
”I had always believed that a man who did not have some military experience at one time or another, was uncircumcised. This is still my belief,” Mboweni said.
Mboweni was inaugurated by commanding officer Lt Col William Nondala of One SA Tank Regiment on the unit’s parade ground at the Tempe military basis in Bloemfontein, encircled by a ring of armoured tanks with names such as Alexander the Great and Apocalypse. After the conferment of the title, the tanks’ engines were started noisily to confirm the inauguration.
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, who had approved Mboweni’s appointment, also attended the ceremony.
Nondala said Mboweni had replied ”At your command, Sir” when approached to accept the title of honorary colonel. He said Mboweni had earned his total respect as a soldier, as an individual and as Reserve Bank governor.
The One SA Tank Regiment was established in April 1999, composed of members of the old Tank Wing of the Defence Force’s School of Armour. It supplies the only full-time tank force to the SA Army Armour Foundation. Nondala was the first black commanding officer appointed in the country’s Armour Corps.
Representative Major Jammies Jamneck said the appointment of an honorary colonel is an established tradition in the Defence Force. Any prominent citizen interested in the preparedness and well-being of the force and a particular unit may be appointed. It is a purely titular appointment and confers no military status or power of command on the holder. ? Sapa