Brigadier-General Chetty's heroic actions earn prestigious Brazilian medals

IN RECOGNITION of his swift coordination efforts to rescue a Brazilian sailor, Brigadier-General Donavan Chetty of the South African Air Force (SAAF), was recently conferred with two prestigious military medals. 

Chetty, who is the SAAF’s Director of Corporate Staff Services, was recently awarded the Brazilian Navy’s Order of Naval Merit and Santos-Dumont Merit Medal at a ceremony at the Embassy of Brazil in Pretoria. 

The Order of Naval Merit is awarded to both Brazilian naval personnel and foreign individuals who have distinguished themselves in naval activities or have contributed to Brazil's maritime interests.

The Santos-Dumont Merit Medal is a Brazilian decoration created to honour civilians and military, Brazilian or foreign, for outstanding services rendered to the Brazilian Air Force.

Chetty, 49, of Pretoria, said he was “surprised” as his goal was to help save the life of the sailor who had a heart attack while on board a Brazilian warship during Exercise Ibsamar VIII, a joint naval exercise involving Brazil, India, and South Africa in October last year. 

The exercise focused on enhancing interoperability and maritime security through a series of drills conducted both ashore and at sea. 

“At the time I was coordinating the air force's airshow in Newcastle, when I received a call from the defence attaché of Brazil requesting assistance. He said they had a ship coming in from the Cape West Coast with the sailor who required immediate medical attention. However, they were only able to communicate via satellite phones, and could not reach the South African navy or air force.

“Having served as a maritime pilot, I knew what was to be done in such a situation. As maritime pilots, when we have to do search and rescue, we know that time is of the essence. I managed to coordinate the entire aero-medical rescue in about an hour. 

"It involved ensuring I had pertinent information such as the coordinates of the ship and state of the sea, as well as to obtain overflight clearance which allowed for a foreign aircraft to land on our military base. 

“Later that day I received a call to say that the sailor was rescued and transported to hospital in time. I was also thanked. However, while the coordination of the rescue was over and above my normal duty, it is what I have been operationally trained to do, as both a flying and maritime instructor,” he said. 

Chetty, who is also the Acting Officer Commanding Air Force Command Post, added that he was informed of the recognition in June. 

“I received an email that I had been nominated for the medals, and that a motivation was sent to the chief of the Brazilian Navy and chief of the Brazilian Air Force. It had thereafter been approved by the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“It was a great honour, especially after it was said during the ceremony that it was the first time in history that both medals were awarded to a person on the same day, and I am the only South African to have both." 

In October 2018, the POST published an article on Chetty, who hails from Isipingo Beach in Durban, after he was appointed as the Officer Commanding of the Central Flying School in Langebaanweg, Pretoria. 

He said during the time he had three years of zero failures and had received the best training unit award for three consecutive years.

Chetty said he was thereafter appointed the Officer Commanding of the Air Force Base Overberg in the Western Cape in 2021. In December 2023, he was promoted from colonel to brigadier-general. 

“I was appointed as the Director of Corporate Staff Services in January last year. My sphere of work has since changed from the operational side to more of a corporate delegation.  In this position, I oversee the air force’s foreign relations. 

“In addition, as the Acting Officer Commanding Air Force Command Post, which is the “heart "of the air force, my role involves the coordination and execution of all SAAF operations." 

Speaking about his future goals, Chetty said it was to remain in the SAAF until his retirement. 

“Over the years, I have had many offers from the defence industry and commercial sector, but I am a uniformed member and I love serving my country, so there is nowhere else I would want to be than with the air force. 

“However, in terms of climbing the ladder, the next jump would be as a major-general. I would also like to serve our country as a defence attaché abroad." 

He added that he enjoyed playing golf and spending time with his family. 

He is married to Joelaine, a scientist at the Medical Research Council, and they have two children, Callum Cole, 21, a pilot and an aeronautical science student at the military Academy,  and Jordan Shemariah, 18, a matric pupil.

In addition, Chetty said over the years he had pursued further studies. 

He obtained a postgraduate degree in international security studies, a business administration degree in defence management, and a diploma in operational and international studies.

THE POST