29 May 2022

Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has donated a two-bedroomed house to retired Lance Corporal Jacobus Matthys.

Rt. Lance Corporal Matthys was part of the forces that were deployed to Somalia in 1993 and a landmine accident left  him disabled with both his legs amputated below the knees.
After the incident he continued serving in the BDF as a Registry Clerk and was ultimately retired in 2005 on medical grounds, having served for 14 years.

Presenting the house to Rt. Lance Corporal Matthys in Struizendam recently, BDF Commander Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo said he was one of the brave men who left their loved ones and responded to the national calling, to be ambassadors in the national quest to restore peace among Somalis and for Somalia’s peaceful co-existence with her international neighbours.

“His heroics and bravery remain within our memory. We do not celebrate the injury, but rather the gift God has given us in his survival,” Lt Gen. Segokgo said.

 “Theirs was a response to the national call to defend the country’s national interests and its international obligations to global peace. He was part of those who answered the call to protect the international human rights and the vulnerable in Somalia within the ambit of a peacekeeping operation called the United Nation Mission in Somalia,” he said.

He revealed that ‘Project Matthys,’ was not only for compassionate reasons but also symbolised unity of the nation.  
The project valued at P398 400 was funded through contributions of his former colleagues at BDF.

Lt Gen. Segokgo commended all BDF members for the invaluable sense of humility, compassion and tolerance towards their former colleagues.
He said the project reflected their moral obligation of compassion, empathy and unity which formed part of the bedrock of national values.

“It symbolises the value of esprit de corps by members of the Botswana Defence Force and all our valued stakeholders outside the BDF, and further reflects on our commitment, not only as members of the armed forces but as a nation towards the wellbeing of the unfortunate amongst us,” he said.

Lt Gen. Segokgo said the BDF had a moral obligation to be compassionate to one another, adding that their cohesion as a force had been witnessed by single-mindedness towards contributing to the success of the project.
Appreciating the project, the Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Sam Brooks said Rt. Lance Corporal Matthys' retirement in 2005 was forced by circumstances relating to his health, a situation he was struggling to come to terms with.

Mr Brooks said staying at home, unemployed and even unable to engage in any way meaningful to earn income was never easy to overcome.
Mr Brooks said given the years that had passed since Rt. Lance Corporal Matthys’ retirement, one was likely to conclude that the BDF had forgotten its former employee.
The MP, who is also chairperson of the parliamentary committee of governance and social welfare mandated among others to address issues of people with disabilities, applauded the BDF for remembering one of their own, who was injured while serving the nation.

He said the project was a sign that BDF officers were determined to uplift the lives of one another.
Mr Brooks added that Rt. Lance Corporal Matthys's incident was an indication that peacekeeping missions were not a walk in the path as the officers faced life-threatening situations. Therefore, Mr Brooks said BDF officers deserved accolades for their bravery in ensuring the security of the country and that of other African nations.

For his part, Rt. Lance Corporal Matthys said he was overwhelmed with delight, adding that providing him with shelter was a sign that he was not forgotten.
He said the he was hopeful that the BDF would continue with their support and even extend  it to others in need.

The charitable initiative was funded by voluntary contributions from uniformed and non-uniformed members of the BDF and also received support from local partners who made contributions in cash and in-kind.  ENDS