President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s strategic autonomy and commitment to peace, saying the country will continue to assert its sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Delivering the keynote address at Armed Forces Day at Thavhani Mall in Thohoyandou, Limpopo on Saturday, the President said members of the SANDF serve in an era of great geopolitical tension.
“South Africa remains steadfast in our policy of non-alignment. We refuse to be drawn into the spheres of influence of competing global powers. We assert our strategic autonomy and sovereignty. And we conduct all our operations under strict civilian oversight and in absolute adherence to international humanitarian law,” the President said.
President Ramaphosa emphasised that the nation is called upon to adapt to new realities.
“There has been a shift on the battlefield from traditional weaponry to high-tech autonomous and unmanned systems such as drones, digital warfare and the use of artificial intelligence. These changes require a SANDF that is responsive, relevant and agile,” he said.
As Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), President Ramaphosa told dignitaries, military leadership and members on parade, that he was honoured to address the Armed Forces Day.
“We are gathered here in the Vhembe District to honour our men and women in uniform, the patriotic soldiers, sailors and airmen and airwomen who for 32 years have stood in defence of our democracy.
“Our armed forces reflect the diversity of the South African nation, a people of different identities and varied origins, united in our shared nationhood and common purpose. We are united in advancing the values of our democratic Constitution and in safeguarding the fundamental rights of our country’s people,” the President said.
Paying homage to the legacy of those who came before, President Ramaphosa said the nation’s soldiers carry forward the courage and sacrifice of past generations.
“You are the shield that ensures our people know lasting peace, security and stability. You stand on the shoulders of giants: great warriors like King Makhado, the Lion of the North, and King Thohoyandou, whose leadership shaped our destiny, and of the soldiers who refused to betray the cause of freedom at the Battle of Mutale River. Their legacy is mirrored in the resolve of the modern SANDF,” he said.
Armed Forces Day is commemorated annually in remembrance of the 616 members of the Native Labour Corps who perished when the SS Mendi sank on 21 February 1917 during the First World War.
“It is recorded that they met their end not with cries of fear, but with a death dance of defiance and unity. The tragedy of SS Mendi reminds us of the importance of unity and solidarity, that despite great peril, those brave soldiers stood together as they faced their fate. Their courage and spirit continue to inspire us today,” the President said.
He paid tribute to fallen soldiers and expressed condolences to their families, saying that Armed Forces Day honours all the soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving the Republic outside of its borders and in internal operations.
“This day is a tribute to the courage of those who wear uniform, and we bow our heads in memory of those who never returned from the horizon. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and comrades of those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
The President also acknowledged the SANDF’s role in disaster response following heavy rains and flooding in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and neighbouring Mozambique.
“The SANDF brought its expertise to assist in the relief efforts, working together with local and provincial authorities: deploying engineers to support disaster management, repair roads and bridges, purify water and erect temporary structures for those affected. This recovery effort extended to our neighbouring country, Mozambique, where the SANDF rescued citizens from raging floodwaters,” he said.
During the Armed Forces Day programme, the South African Military Health Service rolled out Project Owethu, providing medical care, mental health services, ophthalmology, oral health and orthopaedic care in Sekhukhune, Waterberg and Vhembe districts. More than 85 cataract procedures were conducted at Elim Hospital over the past week.
Turning to public resources, the President said the country’s military was having to adapt at a time when public resources were constrained.
“Given the critical importance of the SANDF to our security, sovereignty and development, additional resources have been allocated from the budget.
“This is a targeted intervention to close funding gaps, improve efficiencies and ensure our operational ambitions are matched by our resources,” he said.
President Ramaphosa further announced a phased withdrawal of South African troops from the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
“Having assessed our current priorities, I have decided to draw down our participation as a troop-contributing nation in the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as MONUSCO.
“This will be done in a phased and well-orchestrated manner to ensure the safe return of our troops and their equipment. As we withdraw, we pledge our continued support to continental peace and security initiatives under the UN, the African Union and SADC,” he said.
On the domestic front, the President confirmed he had authorised the deployment of SANDF elements to support the South African Police Service in tackling crime.
“I have authorised the deployment of SANDF elements to support the South African Police Service in a targeted offensive against brazen criminality, illegal mining and ruthless gangs.
“From the Cape Flats to Gauteng, our message is clear: the rule of law will be enforced and the safety of our citizens will be secured. This deployment is a shield for the vulnerable, so that a child in Nyanga, Eldorado Park or New Brighton can walk to school without the shadow of a bullet haunting their steps,” he said.
The President called on young people to consider careers in the defence force.
“To the young people present here today and watching across the country, I invite you to see the SANDF as a career and as a calling.
“We need your capabilities in engineering, medicine, technology, strategy and many other disciplines. Join the SANDF for the love of your country. By serving your people, you build your own future and you contribute to a better nation,” President Ramaphosa said.
The Armed Forces Day commemoration featured a wreath-laying ceremony, a fly-past by the South African Air Force and live military capability demonstrations aimed at deepening public understanding of the SANDF’s role in safeguarding the nation.
The President stood in salute as various divisions of the SANDF paraded past, observing military vehicles, advanced weaponry and specialised units on display in a show of operational readiness. – SAnews.gov.za
