The South African National Defence Force to host the annual Armed Forces Day Celebrations for 2020 in Polokwane
The President of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) proclaimed that 21 February each year will be observed and commemorated as Armed Forces Day (AFD). In celebrating the 2020 edition of Armed Forces Day, members of the media are invited to attend various events and supporting activities that have been scheduled as part of the programme to build-up to the main Armed Forces Day parade in Polokwane in the Limpopo Province on Friday, 21 February 2020. These events include the following;
- AFD Media Launch – Wednesday, 29 January 2020 (Date Changed from 15 Jan 2020)
The SANDF will host a media launch on Wednesday, 29 January 2020 in Polokwane, Limpopo Province. The media launch will be held at the Army Support Base (ASB) Limpopo. The aim of the Media Launch is to announce various activities scheduled as part of the AFD 2020 celebrations. The Chief Executor, Chief of the SA Army, will address the media to give an overview of the AFD 2020 celebrations. A Question and Answer (Q&A) session has been scheduled between the appointed Chief Executor, supported by a panel of various senior SANDF / DOD cadre and members of the media.
You are cordially invited to send a journalist and or a cameraperson to attend and give coverage to the Media Launch.
Interested / assigned members of the media based in Gauteng will be flown from Air Force Base Waterkloof (AFB Wklf) in the morning of Wednesday, 15 February 2020 and back to Pretoria in the afternoon of the same day. Reporting time in the morning at Air Force Base Waterkloof, Centurion will be confirmed and communicated in due course.
RSVP`s for member of the media based in Gauteng must reach Major Kuselwa Kutshwa at 076 410 6798 or Captain Thabo Sello at 071 885 0949 or office number (012) 355 6388 on or before Monday, 06 January 2020 no later than 16:00 and to include full name and surname, ID no, media house and contact details. RSVP`s will be treated on a first-response-first-seat basis as seating is limited on the aircraft. No exceptions will be made for late RSVP`s.
- Capability Demonstration - Tuesday, 18 February 2020
Accredited members of the media are invited to attend the Capability Demonstration at the Roodewal Bomb Range. All fighting elements of the SANDF will take part in a mock “simulated joint warfare” at the range. These elements will also include all supporting elements in the joint warfare simulation from the various Arms-of-Services in formation.
Members of the media based in Gauteng will be flown from Air Force Base Waterkloof (AFB Wklf) on the morning of Tuesday, 18 February 2020 to Polokwane, Limpopo Province and back to AFB Wklf in the evening of the same day. Reporting time in the morning at Air Force Base Waterkloof, Pretoria will be announced in due course.
RSVP`s (accredited journalists based in Gauteng) must reach Major Kuselwa Kutshwa at 076 410 6798 or Captain Thabo Sello at 071 885 0949 or office number (012) 355 6388 on or before Monday, 10 February 2020 no later than 16:00 and to include full name and surname, ID no, media house and contact details. RSVP`s will be treated on a first-response-first-seat basis as seating is limited on the aircraft. No exceptions will be made for late RSVP`s.
- Armed Forces Day Parade - Friday, 21 February 2020
The main event of the Armed Forces Day celebrations will be held at Thabo Mbeki Street in Polokwane, Limpopo Province. All Arms-of-Service of the SANDF will take salute from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. As part of the day`s programme, there will be a national and SANDF flags fly-past, various landward, air and sea elements on display during the parade.
Accredited members of the media based in Gauteng will be flown to Polokwane on Friday, 21 February 2020. Reporting time at AFB Wklf will be confirmed and communicated in due course. The aircraft will return to AFB Wklf in the afternoon of the same day.
RSVP`s (accredited journalists based in Gauteng) must reach Major Kuselwa Kutshwa at 076 410 6798 or Captain Thabo Sello at 071 885 0949 or office number (012) 355 6388 on or before Monday, 10 February 2020 no later than 16:00 and to include full name and surname, ID no, media house and contact details.
RSVP`s will be treated on a first-response-first-seat basis as seating is limited on the aircraft. No exceptions will be made for late RSVP`s.
The opening dates for all accreditation centres for AFD 20 will be confirmed and announced in due course. Members of the media are advised to apply for accreditation prior to the opening of the accreditation centres.
Requests for media accreditation must be forwarded to the Defence Media Liaison section at this email address: sandfmedialiaison@gmail.com. Please take note that the accreditation process takes longer than 24 hours and cannot be finalised and granted within a short notice. No member of the media will be allowed access to the Capability Demonstration and AFD parade without media accreditation.
Enquiries:
Colonel Ronald Maseko
Cell: 083 410 1665
RSVP:
Major Kuselwa Kutshwa
Cell: 076 410 6798
Tel: 012 355 6381
Captain Thabo Sello
Cell: 071 885 0949
Tel: 012 355 6388
