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Lohatla Exercise Vuk’Uhlome III


By Trevor Cohen


The land of Diesel and Dust, they left out and heat. We practice as we fight.


On a very hot 21st of November, the Media were flown from Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria to the Metropolis of Upington in a newly repainted and Fresh interior 737 300 operated by Cobra Aviation. It felt like we walked into an oven not out of the aircraft to get into our bus for the convey to Lohatla 3 hours away. On arriving at the base due to time constraints, we moved straight to the operation a further 45 minutes away.

The show was already underway, marking the culmination of a three-week exercise where each branch of the armed forces participated in a real-life attack scenario, defending against a formidable enemy unfolding below us in the valley.

Many civilians have often commented on social media and asked me if are we not wasting our time and money. The answer is emphatically no. An army cannot wait to be attacked or attack to start practising. The members must be on a war footing at all times. The members of our armed forces must be at one with their weapons and use of them. There is no substitute for practice.

The objective of the exercise is to integrate new and old soldiers into the battleground to protect South Africa, her borders and her people.


The SA Army's Combat Training Centre in Lohatla conducts the exercise to demonstrate readiness for conventional warfare. This operation unites the five newly established brigades—motorized, mechanized, airborne, light, and infantry—on the battlefield to collaborate in a combat scenario.

The operation started with the infantry and cavalry demonstrations of fire and movements then there was the air force who dropped bombs with their Hawks MK120 out of TFD. Then the Caspirs moved in with troops again to advance on the targets.

In a simulated aircraft crash, a Bk 117 was tasked to rescue the downed pilot. Flown by the talented and friendly Butter fingers Oberholzer.

The Anti-Aircraft weapons kicked in to protect the airspace above and the 81mm mortars and automatic g. Then 6 Bateluers let rip firing the 127mm unguided rockets to soften the targets.

The second wave of SAAF jets bombed the target area with Jas39 Gripen dropping their bombs on the target. One clear of the range

The G5’s and G6’s started bombarding the target area as well. The Rooikats and Rattles accompanied by the Oliphants then moved in a pincer movement to subdue those enemy tanks that were still operational and any of the enemy still fighting in general. All are controlled by a command and control rattle.

The operation finished with the withdrawal of armed vehicles and the parade of the army in front of the dignitaries.

These are a few of the numbers rounded from the operation. Due to South Africa being involved in 2 other countries in a peacekeeping role and timing of force movements, there were half the amount.

There were just over 7000 personnel that took part, less than half of Vuk’Uhlome 2023. There were just over a hundred mechanized vehicles. three helicopters and five fighter aircraft. Unfortunately, there were no Navy personnel or weapons fired or equipment that took part.

The guys that get the tanks to the range by truck. These guys do not have air conditioning in the tanks or these trucks or buses. They drive long distances at night and by day. These are the guys who are prepared to lay down their lives to protect our country and its citizens.

We thank you for your service.

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