Brave hearts honoured

One led her company of soldiers out of a skirmish, the other hid millions of rands under clothes.

Now the two women - operations medic Corporal Molatelo Nkoana and civilian accounting clerk Susette Gates - who were caught up in the battle of Bangui in the Central African Republic, have become the first women in the South African National Defence Force to receive medals and commendations for bravery.

The two, who were on their first deployment, were thrust into the thick of things when Seleka rebels overran the CAR's capital, Bangui, in March last year.

Nkoana, a paratrooper and medic with 7 Medical Battalion, had been on patrol with her company when they were ambushed by heavily armed rebels. She and 16 fellow soldiers were separated from their company.

With two of her colleagues seriously wounded, Nkoana, nicknamed the "human navigator", took charge.

Without maps and unable to use radios because the sound would give away their positions, Nkoana stayed in contact with her commanders via SMSes.

"We could hear them as they searched for us. Sometimes they were right next to us," she said.

At one point Nkoana and her troop found themselves at a wall. Unbeknown to them, on the other side was one of the main Seleka holding areas. She held that position for 16 hours until a ceasefire was reached.

"When the rebels saw us, they were so surprised. They had no idea we were there."

Just kilometres away, Gates, who was in charge of the South African force's finances, including R3-million in foreign currency, had been watching movies on her laptop in her "rented home" at the start of the battle when her sister phoned to find out if she was all right.

"I was surprised. Everything was so quiet."

Ordered to return to main base, Gates ensured she went past her base first. "I was so worried about the money. All I could think about was securing it."

But moments later rebels forced their way onto the base.

"The rebels were so aggressive. They tried to take my bag, where I hid the money, but I pleaded for them to leave it, saying it was the only clothes I had left."

Unsuspecting, the rebels left it.

Safe at home, the women both say they had no regrets.

"We have a job to do and we will do our jobs, no matter where."