SANDF Unleashed To Deal With Possible National Shutdown Disturbances

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been deployed to assist the South African Police Services (SAPS) and other State Departments during the planned EFF National Shutdown protest marches across the country.

The decision was made by the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, who has been tasked and authorised to deploy various SANDF elements to provide additional support to the SAPS and other State Departments.

“The SANDF elements will be deployed from 17 March 2023 to 17 April 2023 under “Operation PROSPER”, stated SANDF spokesperson Brigadier General Andries Mokoena Mahapa.

They will be controlled through the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS) with direction and guidance by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) accordingly, pending the re-assessment of the situation.

The primary focus of the SANDF deployment will be to provide protection for National Key Points under threat, as per prevailing intelligence/information on hand per respective PROVJOINTS, and to respond to situations that go beyond the control of law enforcement agencies in support of the police, as determined by the respective PROVJOINTS.

More on the National Shutdown
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TPT DCT to Remain Operational on EFF National Shutdown Day, 20 March 2023

The SANDF deployment comes at a time when tensions are high as various groups have announced their intention to hold protests across the country.

The deployment will provide additional support to the SAPS and other State Departments to ensure that the protests are peaceful and that the safety and security of all South Africans are maintained.

The deployment of the SANDF is in line with one of the government outcomes of making sure that all South Africans are and feel safe.

The SANDF, from time to time, gets requested to assist the SAPS in crime prevention operations.

It is important to note that the SANDF is governed by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and the deployment is in terms of Section 201(2) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, read with Section 19 of the Defence Act (Act 42 of 2002).

The SANDF force elements will be deployed as required by the PROVJOINTS and NATJOINTS for the duration of the deployment period.

The SANDF deployment is expected to provide additional support to the SAPS and other State Departments and will ensure that the planned National Shutdown protests are peaceful and that the safety and security of all South Africans are maintained.