Officers in the South African Air force are unhappy after the appointment, by President Cyril Ramaphosa, in June 2021, of a new commander who can not fly a plane.
The Sunday Independent reports that Lieutenant-General Wiseman Mbambo does not possess a pilot’s license and is just an air traffic controller.
The newspaper said Mbambo left South Africa for 17 years to join Umkonto we Sizwe and joined the SANDF on his return in 1994.
In his CV published on the SANDF website, Mbambo is credited as ” a commander to the first aviation group of Umkonto we Sizwe cadres who trained as pilot’s and technicians in the Soviet union from 1987 to 1991″
However, two former MK soldiers who were in Russia with Mbambo told the Sunday Independent that this is not true.
Some officers told the newspaper that Mbambo’s appointment is a disgrace and has made them a laughing stock in the defense world.
All Chiefs of Air Forces worldwide are puzzled at this appointment.
Please read the full story in the Sunday Independent – 6 February 2022.Â
