Tag: South African National Defence Force

South Africa, USA in joint military exercise

US defence and Army attaché Colonel Daniel L Hampton (right) with Major General Luvuyo Nobanda of the SANDF
US defence and Army attaché Colonel Daniel L Hampton (right) with Major General Luvuyo Nobanda of the SANDF

The South African and US armed forces will conduct a joint exercise in the Eastern Cape, the SA National Defence Force said on Thursday.

SA Navy Captain Jaco Theunissen said the militaries would share technical expertise during the exercise, which would start on July 24 and end on August 5, and would involve 5000 soldiers.

“We are exercising to do a human support intervention in an unstable country,” said Theunissen.

“What we simulate is what is currently happening in a lot of countries in the world, especially in the African continent.

“You’ve got warring factions destabilising the country…. We are exercising the war fight, where you will fight against rebel groups.”

Medical units would also practice giving basic medical healthcare to a local population in an unstable warring environment.

All branches of the SANDF — the army, air force, navy, and health –would participate. – Sapa

South African army and Air Force placed on alert over Mandela

Members of the South African National Defence Force

The Johannesburg newspaper Beeld reported that the South African National Defence Force had been placed on 24-hour standby and the Air Force’s flight crews warned to keep their cell phones with them at all times while the whole country was holding its breath over former president. Nelson Mandela.

Soldiers were already warned about ten days ago when Mandela had fallen ill that the military’s contingency plan was in force.

The exact terms of the plan was classified as “top secret” and therefore not disclosed.

The engineers corps, which is tasked with the creation of facilities and infrastructure, has already helped in the Eastern Cape to improve the water and electricity supply to the affected areas. Mandela’s birth province of the Eastern Cape is notoriously ill administered with corruption and poor infrastructure, compared to the rest of South Africa.

According to Beeld around 1200 soldiers would be involved when Mandela’s health reach a turning point.

This involvement “includes everything from flights to the VIP reception and ceremonial displays.”

1 Military Hospital has also a room on standby for Mandela, if there should arise a need for an alternative hospital to the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria where he is being treated at the moment.

The army is at present engaged in the Eastern Cape with Operation Shared Accord, a joint exercise with the American army.

According to sources, the soldiers involved in that exercise may also be deployed to Mandela’s home village of Qunu, should the need arise.