By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is pulling out all the stops to ensure a safe municipal election on Monday.
Briefing the joint standing committee on defence on the deployment of 10 000 soldiers, SANDF chief of joint operations Lieutenant-General Siphiwe Sangweni said a need was determined to involve the army to form part of the government’s effort to ensure a safe and secure environment for the holding of the elections.
“The SANDF capability is required to deploy in cooperation with the SAPS to provide the required support and assistance in line with the constitutional legislative framework,” Sangweni said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of 10 000 soldiers in all provinces from Saturday until Wednesday at a cost of R47.2 million.
A report Sangweni presented to the committee said the soldiers would protect the national key points and critical infrastructure.SANDF would also provide a reaction capability on standby to react to eventualities as and when required.
It also stated that SANDF would also provide air transport support during the election as well as provide members to be trained as electoral officials.
Furthermore, he said deployments at “higher tactical level” would be coordinated through the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS) and directed through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS).
“[We are on] standby to respond to situations which have gone beyond the control of the Law Enforcement Agencies (police, metro and traffic officers) as determined by the respective PROVJOINTS. [A] medium transport helicopter (MTH) [is] on standby for quick re-deployment (trooping) of soldiers where necessary. MTH is to assist in the transportation of voting material to inaccessible areas. Emergency voting officials [are] on standby to effect the continuation of the voting process in crisis situations of unavailability of IEC voting officials as determined by the PROVJOINTS and NATJOINTS,” he said in his presentation.
Sangweni also said two oryx helicopters would be strategically placed “in accordance with the prevailing national intelligence picture”.