President Ramaphosa Deploys Military, Police To Enforce 21-day Lockdown

Commander-in-Chief of the South African Armed Forces, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening deployed the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to lead the way as the country enters a 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

Addressing SAPS officers at the SAPS College in Tshwane, President Ramaphosa said:

Officers, I send you off now to go and be amongst our people. I send you to conduct service amongst our people and shower our people with guidance, advice and leadership right now in the Republic of South Africa.

Let us make sure that we as the police service do not do anything that will violate the rights of our people by mistake or unintentionally. Let us go and do right by the people of South Africa and save their lives. This is the hour. This is the moment that you were trained for.

President Ramaphosa then proceeded to the SANDF Doornkop Army Base in Johannesburg where he urged the military to provide assurance to South Africans. He said:

Your mission is to save lives. We are not the only country waging war against an invincible enemy – Coronavirus. In you, our people have a defence mechanism.

Tonight, you begin the most important calling of your mission, to save the lives of South Africans.

From midnight this Thursday, South African Police Services (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will enforce the nations’ compliance with the restriction of movement of people under the National State of Disaster and lockdown.

More: SA News