[ad_1]
A member of SANDF, with the police in the background.
Brenton Geach, Gallo Images
- SANDF members who were deployed from the start of the Level 5 lockdown have returned to the barracks.
- Initially, 2,820 soldiers were deployed in March to enforce the blockade, and later 73,000 more were deployed.
- His deployment expired on September 30 after his “successful” contribution to curbing the spread of Covid-19.
South African soldiers deployed to enforce one of the world’s strictest closures to control the spread of the coronavirus have returned to barracks as new infections have declined, the SANDF said on Friday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa initially mobilized 2,820 soldiers in late March to help the police enforce the lockdown measures.
But a month later, he deployed an additional 73,000 troops to help implement the national lockdown.
READ | No money to modernize current SANDF equipment, hear Parliament
The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said on Friday that its deployment had expired on September 30.
The soldiers had “successfully contributed” to the “national effort to mitigate the spread of Covid-19,” it said in a statement.
“The forces deployed will be limited to operational bases until further notice, with contingencies to provide assistance in the event of a second wave,” the SANDF added.
READ HERE | Man arrested for allegedly supplying expired food to SANDF members during lockdown
Some security forces have been accused of being heavy handed in enforcing South Africa’s lockdown rules.
Military medical personnel were also dispatched to some state hospitals to help shore up the health service, which was weakening due to the increase in cases during the July peak.
READ ALSO | SANDF cautions against members getting involved in ANC affairs
Despite its strict lockdown, South Africa has been relatively affected, with more than 676,000 infections and 16,866 deaths recorded to date, just under half the total number of cases detected on the continent.
