THE SANDF AIMS TO PROTECT THE NATION

THE SOUTH African National Defence Force deploys today to protect the nation – literally from itself.

It is no exaggeration whatsoever to say that this is our greatest challenge and, indeed, our greatest honour in our 25-year history as the people’s national defence force.

Only once before has this country faced a crisis of this magnitude – in 1918. Then, the Spanish Flu landed on our shores as the Great War in Europe was coming to a close.

This time the threat is as real, the prospects of catastrophe even greater because of the speed at which the coronavirus is spreading across the world, but the differences are massive.

This time, we have a Commander-in-Chief in President Cyril Ramaphosa who is resolute; we have a very real plan; an unequivocal mandate; and a vital mission.

We dare not and we will not fail. This is the second time we have been asked to operate during the global Covid-19 crisis; the first was our textbook-perfect mission, in tandem with the Department of Health and SAA, to evacuate our nationals stranded in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, China, earlier this month.

There are few sectors in which we have not been involved, and very few areas to which we have not been deployed in the past 25 years. This deployment, though, will literally be our biggest and our most important yet. Our men and women will be literally putting their lives on the line to ensure that the selfishness of a few does not endanger the well-being of the many.

We will be on the front line to ensure that the plan of the president’s National Command Council to flatten the curve of infections will work.

This is our greatest Thuma Mina moment

as a nation

To do so will take a level of professionalism and dedication to duty that we are confident the members of your SANDF have at this time of great peril, but it will also require them to fulfil their duties with a single-mindedness of purpose that will deter the minority who refuse to believe either the evidence of the scientists or the seriousness of the president.

We will not brook any deviance from this lockdown. Our members have been trained not to be intimidated. They will use whatever means within the law to protect the lives and property of the innocents. Let us all commit here and now not to force them to do that in the next 21 days – or ever.

We are here to serve you and to protect you, if necessary, from yourselves. Our members will be on the streets and they will be backed by the full resources of the SANDF, including our highly trained and well-equipped military health specialists who are standing by to assist should the need arise.

Two Sundays ago the president challenged all of us once again to heed the call. This is our greatest Thuma Mina moment as a nation.

The SANDF has already responded; we need you to do the same – but all you have to do is stay at home while we patrol the streets to keep you safe from every possible threat – including yourselves. Let’s rise to the occasion. Let’s work together, Mzansi.

Vuka sizwe, let’s beat this threat against all of us.