After receiving the daily situation report on the deployment of soldiers in hospitals, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu said the letters and calls from South Africans from across all spectrum extending their message of appreciation shows that the whole country appreciate and value the presence of SANDF teams that are not only providing medical relief but providing protection and security in hospitals.
The minister said over 3 500 soldiers are deployed in 57 hospitals on request of the Minister of Health and commanded by the Commander in Chief.“ As instructed by the Commander in Chief, President Jacob Zuma and the Cabinet all divisions of the SANDF are on standby and ready to deal with any emergency, we are ready and up to the task,” she said.
Responding to comments that the SANDF might be over stretched, she said the SANDF is a disciplined and well organised force of international reputation. “The SANDF was deployed for the world cup, we are currently deployed in the border, we just finished an operation with the SAPS to stop intimidation of foreign nations, within twenty four hours of approval granted the SANDF was deploying in hospitals, we are always ready and very capable,” she said.
She added that the Commander in Chief, Cabinet and many South Africans who are calling our call centre, writing letters and talking to our soldiers in 57 hospitals have expressed how they appreciate the presence of the SANDF in this critical time. “Our soldiers deployed and those on standby must know that their government and all South Africans appreciate and value the work that they are doing, many lives would have been lost if it was not of the SANDF, many health workers who did not want to strike but to help patients would have been intimidated, but the presence of the SANDF prevented this, and the leadership of the SANDF and all soldiers must be very proud of what they are doing for their country,” she said.
The minister added that those who are on strike must not intimidate those who are not striking. “As we respect the rights of others to strike, they in return must respect the rights of other not to, as law enforcement agencies we will respond appropriately to all reports of intimidation, the lives of our people takes priority,” she said.
