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24 November 2011 :: Defence Minister Sisulu and Industry meets in Stellenbosch…

Reutech Radar Systems played host to the first ever formal engagement between the Honorable Minister of Defence and Military Veterans – Dr LN Sisulu and members of the AMD Board (lead by its Chairman Mr Riaz Saloojee of Saab and the Executive Director of AMD – Mr Simphiwe Hamilton) as the recognised representatives of the SA Defence Industry (SADI) on 11 November 2011. Aimed at cementing the relationship between the SADI and the Minister, this engagement was the initiative of the Minister who was accompanied by senior advisory staff from her office.

Having received an introductory presentation from AMD, the Minister emphasised the relevance and importance of the SADI to the SANDF, the MoD&MV as well as to the SA Government and economy at large.  She conveyed a strong message of her unwavering support to the SADI and invited the SADI to participate constructively in the evolving strategic policy formulation process within her Ministry.

Many other key issues were discussed and these include but are not limited to:

• How best the SADI can be supported in its exports drive including the participation of the SADI in official Defence Committee Bi-national engagements between the RSA and other nations; and

• The role of AMD in educating various stakeholders on the SADI and its value to society and the economy.

Minister Sisulu concluded the meeting by emphasising that Industry and Government are partners and that they are dependent on each other.  The Minister will be exploring the possibility of establishing a liaison forum which would meet on a predetermined basis to deal with various issues that relate to and affect the SADI.

Lulu Mzili has been appointed as Reutech Solutions' Business Development Executive.

Before joining Reutech, her career portfolio included Relationship Management and Sales and Marketing roles in various industries ranging from retail to public health and social development.

She has a B Com (Hons) degree which she obtained from the University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She is currently in the process of completing her MBA. Lulu serves on the board of the Helen Joseph Hospital and is a member of Reutech Solutions' Executive team.

The Reutech Group of Companies exhibited at the tri-services defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates during late February.

Reutech, as South Africa's largest privately-owned defence group, displayed a significant presence on the South African Pavilion with a wide variety of radar systems, fuzes, remote controlled weapon systems and military communications systems on display. 

IDEX is the largest defence expo in the Middle East and showed a record attendance of more than 60,000 visitors, 1,060 exhibitors from 52 countries, and attendance from over 100 official delegations.

The following story appeared in the Exhibition Newsletter of the African Aerospace and Defence 2010 Show held in Cape Town, South Africa, during September 2010.

An impressive display in Hall 2 shows the Reutech Group to be a significant source for radars and remotely operated gun and observation systems.

The company scored a major success when it responded to an invitation to tender from the Norwegian Navy, which wanted a radar cable of close range detection and a high data update rate for helicopter guidance.

Reutech was the only company to meet the demanding requirement precisely, as the difficult terrain of the Norwegian fjords and frequent poor visibility demand that helicopters being recovered to a naval ship must have the very best guidance possible.

The X-band naval air/sea surveillance radar now has the unique record of having been chosen by a NATO navy and it also has an application in gun fire support.

The Sea Rogue remotely operated gun and observation system has been chosen for the South African Navy, which is fitting them to its frigates as a close-in weapon system. Capable of mounting 12.7mm or machine guns of other calibres, Sea Rogue is now being offered as the Land Rogue, which has attracted the interest of several South African manufacturers for mounting the system on an armoured vehicle.

Spurred by this success, Reutech is developing the Super Rogue, a stabilised weapon platform capable of mounting a 20mm cannon. Its simplistic design has given rise to inherent reliability, low maintenance costs and ease of operation.

Congratulations to Frik Kruger on his appointment as CEO of Reutech Solutions. Frik, a long time Reunert stalwart, started his career in the Reunert Group in 1982 as a Project Planner in ESD, a company that was formed through an amalgamation of Barlows Electronic Systems and Marconi South Africa. He held various positions in the Group, including Business Unit Manager at Avionic Systems, Panasonic and Saco Systems. His most recent position was in a Business Development role in Reutech Radar Systems. Frik is well known and highly respected in the industry.

Selwyn Newnes, the current CEO, has been appointed as CEO of CBI Electric in Brits. Selwyn will be remembered for having steered Reutech Solutions from a Military business to a well balanced Military / Commercial enterprise.

At a ceremony in Pretoria on 22 July, Peter van der Bijl (Chief Operating Officer of Reutech) handed over a letter of support to Brig Gen Octavia Mcetwya (Director Command & Control of the SA Air Force) to continue Reutech’s commitment to the Command & Control Sport Week for the following three years.

The aim of the Sport Week is for the group to get together and build camaraderie. It’s the second oldest Sport Week in the country.

"It is a privilege for Reutech to be in a position to be part of the Command & Control fraternity’s esprit de corps. We have been involved in the Sport Week for the past four decades and we intend to be involved for many years to come," says Peter van der Bijl.

The event will take place from 16 – 19 August in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.

Reutech has again combined forces with the Defence Athletic Club on 17 April 2010 to present a 5 X 5 km run and 3 X 5 km walk in Simonstown Dockyard. Representatives from all units of the four arms of service in the Western Cape gathered to participate in the Reutech Health Relay.

R/Adm (JG) Mosuwa Hlongwane (SAN Chief of Staff) was patron of the event and started the Relay. Carl Kies, CEO of Reutech Radar Systems, announced that Reutech will continue their support in future and that the event will be called the “Piet Smit Memorial Relay” as from next year. Piet Smit, who started the event more than ten years ago, passed away last year.

The winners were:

• Running Team Handicap – Dodgers; Walking Team Handicap – HQ Dapper Stappers.
• Fastest running and walking teams were SAS Mendi B and Cable Hills respectively.
  Congratulations to all our participants!

Carl Kies has been appointed as managing director of RRS with effect from 1 February 2010. Carl started Acuo Technologies in 2002 and has held various software and electronic engineering positions since 1988. He holds an MEng. (Electronic Engineering) and an Executive MBA from Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town Business School respectively. 

James Verster, the current MD, will move to Johannesburg to look after corporate business development. James has been with RRS since 1989.