Parliament, Tuesday, 24 March 2020 – The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans welcomes the deployment of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) during the 21-day lockdown operations as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday, 23 March 2020.
As directed by the President, the SANDF will support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in ensuring that the measures announced to disrupt the chain of transmission of Covid-19 are implemented.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Cyril Xaba, said the committee is pleased, and whole-heartedly supports the decision taken by the President. He further draws attention to the importance of supporting the brave men and women who have been mandated with such an enormous task.
Mr Xaba said: “We call on all South Africans to fully cooperate with the directions of our troops. These troops, along with health workers, members of the SAPS, emergency personnel and all those on the list of essential services who will be exempted from the lockdown are serving the country at the risk of their health and their lives to ensure that millions of South Africans are saved from infection. There are no words to describe the gratitude owed to them, as citizens we need to play our part by fully cooperating with the measures imposed,” said Mr Xaba.
The committee extends its appreciation and well wishes to those deployed during the battle against Covid-19.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS, MR CYRIL XABA.
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