By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Defence has confirmed the passing of retired Lieutenant-General Gilbert Ramano, a respected freedom fighter and diplomat.
Ramano, 85, died earlier today at 1 Military hospital in Tshwane.
Ramano left the military in 2004, on the eve of his 65th birthday, after almost 42 years’ service, 30 of which were spent outside South Africa’s borders fighting against apartheid for Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) — the former armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
“Ramano played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s defence force, particularly during the integration of former liberation armies into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1994. His leadership and dedication to building a unified professional defence force have left a legacy, said the department in a statement this evening.”
Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga, the acting secretary of Defence, Dr Thobeka Gamede and the Chief of SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya have extended their heartfelt condolences to Ramano’s family and friends.
Details regarding the official memorial and funeral service will be communicated in due course.
Ramano was born in Sophiatown. He completed his schooling at Madibane High School and worked as a senior clerk at the WNLA mines depot in Johannesburg from 1961 to 62.
He left South Africa in 1962 to join the armed wing of theMK. He attended a number of military courses in Tanzania, Egypt (special operations) and the Soviet Union, including a Soviet Army Staff Course in 1971. He returned to South Africa in 1992 and attended the Zimbabwe Army Staff Course in 1994.
In 1995, he attended the SANDF Joint Staff Course and was appointed General Officer Commanding Northern Cape Command in July of that year.
In May 1997 he was appointed Deputy Chief of the Army and on 1 July 1998 he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed Chief of the Army.
Ramano was active in the integration process which saw what was the SA Defence Force (SADF) integrate with what the statement terms “liberation armies” as well as the former TBVC (Transkei Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei defence forces) to become the SANDF.
Apart from overseeing and being part of transformation not only in the service he commanded but also across the other three SANDF services, Ramano leaves a permanent and visual memory of his time in uniform in the form of the “Pride of Lions” insignia. He was the driving force behind replacing the stylised “bokkie” (springbok), which had long adorned berets, caps and other landward force flags and ceremonial regalia.