President Cyril Ramaphosa deliver well wishes to South African Police Services and the South African National Defence Force, 26 Mar

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to send well wishes to Police Services and National Defence Force

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 26 March 2020, deliver well wishes to the South African Police Services and the South African National Defence Force ahead of the National Lockdown.

The South African Police Services and the South African National Defence Force will from mid night today play an important role in supporting and enforcing the nations’ compliance with the restriction of movement of people under the National State of Disaster and lockdown.

The President will start at the South African Police Services College in Pretoria to inspect a parade before addressing the South African National Defence Force at the Doornkop Army Base in Johannesburg.

The President earlier this week announced the escalation of measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus following deliberations from the National Command Council. In an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, and in consideration of the growing numbers of people contracting the virus the President declared a national lockdown to be enforced for 21 days beginning this evening, Thursday 26 March 2020, at 23:59.

The nation-wide lockdown will be enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act wherein the majority of the population are compelled to stay at home.

Details of the engagements at the South African Police Services and the South African National Defence Force are as follows:

South African Police Services Police Parade

Date: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Time: 16:00
Venue: SAPS Training College, Pretoria

Address to the South African National Defence Force

Date: Thursday, 26 March 2020
Time: 17:30
Venue: Doornkop Army Base, Johannesburg

A media pooling arrangement has been put in place or arranged for media practitioners who can cover and attend the above engagements. Further enquiries in this regard should be directed to Khutjo Sebata on 079 898 4621 and Shadi Baloyi on 072 571 6415.

Media enquiries:
Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President 
Cell: 072 854 5707