Protection of national key points ‘primary focus’ for SANDF on Monday

The Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, has been tasked and authorised to deploy various elements to render assistance to the police and other state departments in anticipation of the planned national shutdown protest marches across the country.

The EFF is planning a national shutdown to call for an end to load shedding. 

The party also wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign. 

“The SANDF elements will be deployed under “Operation PROSPER” as from 17 March 2023 to 17 April 2023 and 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 SANDF said in a statement on Friday.

“The primary focus of the SANDF deployment will be to render protection of National Key Points under threat as per prevailing intelligence/information on hand per respective PROVJOINTS. Response to situations which go beyond the control of the law enforcement agencies in support to the police as determined by the respective PROVJOINTS”.  

The force says its deployment will also ensure the safety of South Africans. 

“It must be noted that the SANDF gets requested from time to time to assist the SAPS in crime prevention operations. This is executed in line with one of the government outcomes of making sure that all South Africans are and feel safe”.  

Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema has vowed that the party’s protests will be peaceful. 

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has vowed to intensify the protests against load shedding and youth unemployment beyond Monday’s national shutdown. 

The trade union federation will be part of the EFF-led shutdown. 

South African Airways says it will be offering travellers who are set to fly on Monday one free change of ticket. 

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