ASSISTING LOCKDOWN
BY JESSIE TAYLOR
The defence force: Offering support to government departments in the fight against Covid-19
W
hile the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is known for defending our national borders, it has also played a key role in supporting government departments on the frontline during the global pandemic. The SANDF has deployed its members on multiple occasions to support the services or healthcare and frontline workers, during periods in which South Africa’s Covid-19 numbers have spiked. Boots on the ground The latest deployment of the SANDF was during the country’s second wave in December and January, when over 2000 troops were allocated to aid in the government’s response to the global pandemic. Amid the second wave of Covid-19 cases, the country moved from level 1 to adjusted level 3 on 28 December 2020. The deployment, which ran
from 29 December 2020 to 31 January 2021, was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa as part of this tightening of regulations. The President authorised the employment of 2 122 members of the SANDF for “service in order to preserve life, health or property in emergency or humanitarian relief operations”, in support of other government departments. The SANDF members also worked in cooperation with the South African Police, to prevent crime and enforce restrictions under the adjusted Level 3 lockdown regulations. The SANDF members have assisted the National Department of Health by providing professional Doctors, Nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Of the troops deployed in the front line against Covid-19 are soldiers tasked with border safeguarding operations
48 | Public Sector Leaders | April 2021
between Zimbabwe, eSwatini, Mozambique and Botswana. Other SANDF members have provided support to the South African Police Service, to enforce regulations such as curfew, the ban on the sale and distribution of alcohol, the prohibition of public gatherings, and the legal requirement to wear a face mask while in public. The deployment of so many troops is no small feat and comes at a cost estimated at around R95-million.
SANDF will be critical in the rollout of vaccines across the country
The most recent deployment, at the beginning of the year, to assist the Covid-19 effort follows three others in the last 12 months.
