The National Assembly and the (acting) Speaker have been briefed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the extension of the South African National Defense Force’s (SANDF) employment in several foreign obligations.
The extension is for services in fulfillment of major international tasks in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and South African Development Community (SADC) maritime security policy, in compliance with section 201(2)(C) of the Constitution.
According to Presidential Spokesman Vincent Magwenya, the President has extended the employment of 1,495 SANDF troops in order to fulfill South Africa’s international duty to the SADC Region.
“As part of Operation VIKELA, the deployment will assist in preventing acts of terrorism and violent extremism that threaten Mozambique’s northern regions.
The SANDF personnel who are employed will carry out their duties of stopping acts of terrorism and violent extremism for the duration of 16 April 2024 to 31 December 2024, at an estimated cost of R984 368 057.
“The extended employment of 1 198 members of the SANDF at the estimate expenditure of R805 057 755 is for service in fulfilment of an international obligation towards the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission (“MONUSCO”) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
Magwenya goes on to say that the remaining 200 SANDF members are covered by an extension of employment as part of the nation’s international duty to the SADC Maritime Security Strategy (“SADC MSS”).
This deployment is expected to assist in mitigating the threat posed by piracy and other illicit marine operations along the Indian Ocean coast of Southern Africa.
The estimated costs associated with this deployment come to R35 325 852.
Leave a Reply