We welcome the suspension of the Public Service strike. During the strike the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed over 4 700 soldiers in 73 hospitals to ensure that all emergencies were attended to and all hospitals were safe for those who were not on strike to work and for patients to receive the necessary medical assistance.
Today we stand proud that the SANDF has done a sterling job as a force ever ready, to respond to the call of our nation where need arises. The SANDF deployed teams from the South African Medical Health Services (SAMHS) and the South African Army both divisions of the SANDF to protect the hospitals and also offer medical assistance.
We take this opportunity to thank all the young men and women of the SANDF, doctors and nurses of our medical services, and other skilled professionals of our armed forces, who have discharged their responsibilities with commitment, discipline and precision known only in the SANDF.
I would like to thank each and every member of the SANDF for a job well done. South Africans can go to work and schools knowing that the SANDF is forever on alert and ready to protect and defend all citizens. Our first deployment was three hours after Cabinet approval and that shows that we are forever ready.
On behalf of the government and our people, I therefore commend the SANDF members who assisted in hospitals, those who cancelled their holidays to be on alert, deployed in borders, peace keeping missions and other operations we are involved in every day.
We are proud of you. Your discipline, positive attitude to various deployments and the high standard of your work has been exemplary.
On behalf of the Commander in Chief, President Jacob Zuma I would like to say you continued to make us proud as Government and the people of South Africa during this difficult time.
Letters, e-mails and comments from the public published in the media thanking the SANDF for their sterling work show that South Africans are proud of their SANDF.
We also received many calls from South Africans who just wanted to say THANK YOU SANDF.
Contact:
Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Cell: 083 645 7838
E-mail: defmedia@mweb.co.za
Statement by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu to thank soldiers who worked during the public service strike
