'Failures' in a pilot project

The department of defence is considering sending student pilots who fail their exams to Botswana to find out whether they deserved to fail or not.

Speaking on behalf of Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and defence secretary January Masilela, the department hinted to the portfolio committee on defence that some students failed because certain instructors were racist.

Rafeek Shah, the Democratic Alliance's spokesperson for defence, said on Tuesday the defence force's strategy for human resources was a mess.

"If there are racist instructors in the air force, then the department must deal with them.

"What message do plans like this send to other countries in southern Africa on the quality of training in the defence force?" he asked.

Retrenched officers on grounds of race

His comments came after a student pilot, who had failed numerous tests, was allowed to continue his training - and went on to damage an Astra training plane in landing.

According to Shah, the defence force trapped itself when it retrenched officers purely because of their race.

According to him, the defence force recently let 77 colonels go - of whom 76 were whites.

He also condemned the defence force's move to promote certain low-ranking soldiers.

Scores of reintegrated soldiers were promoted - some from adjutant-officer to lieutenant-colonel.

Shah said this had resulted in high-ranking officers not having the experience necessary for their posts.

Helmoed Romer-Heitman of Jane's Defence Weekly said that if student pilots were sent to Botswana for evaluation, it translated into an "unfortunate breakdown in trust" between the department and its instructors.

He said if this was the case and he was an instructor, he would resign.

News24