The outgoing Chief of Defence of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) General, Solly Shoke, has thanked President Cyril Ramaphosa and South Africans in general for showing confidence in him to lead the country’s armed forces.
Shoke is retiring on Friday after ten years at the helm of the SANDF.
Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force HE President @CyrilRamaphosa announced appointments to the Military Command Council last month. General Shoke retires on 31 May 2021 and Lieutenant-General Maphwanya will takes over from 1 June 2021. pic.twitter.com/MqqtAKYkd6
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) May 28, 2021
Chief of the SA National Defence Force | Change of Command Parade | 28 May 2021 | General Solly Zacharia Shoke | OMBG, OMS, MMS, SBS | Outgoing Chief of the SA National Defence Force.
Photographs by #GCIS#sandf#SANDF pic.twitter.com/23QBuFRQtR
— SA National Defence Force (@SANDF_ZA) May 28, 2021
Chief of the SA National Defence Force | Change of Command Parade | 28 May 2021 | General Solly Zacharia Shoke | OMBG, OMS, MMS, SBS | Chief of the SA National Defence Force.#sandf#SANDF pic.twitter.com/ypmVYOaeKX
— SA National Defence Force (@SANDF_ZA) May 28, 2021
Shoke will be replaced by Lieutenant-General Rhudzani Maphanywa.
Speaking in his farewell speech, Shoke said although he was stepping down, he would continue to lobby for more resources for the SANDF to allow soldiers to meet and execute their constitutional mandate.
The video below is on proceedings of General Shoke’s farewell: