The SANDF will conduct a month-long military exercise with the US Army
KwaZulu-Natal – South Africa and the United States will execute a month-long joint military exercise in KwaZulu-Natal. It will be a multinational peace support operation and humanitarian relief exercise. The South African Defence Force (SANDF) will work with the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (Setaf-Af) of the US Armed Forces.
The exercise began on 5 July and will run until the end of the month. They will be operating in and around Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. One of the biggest activities that will be taking place is the community outreach programmes. Major Thabo Sello, SANDF, explained the air force will be training alongside the US army while their health services will be operating in the area.
“The SA air force will be assisting the exercise with air transportation and helicopter assets for our land forces. The airborne infantry will be training alongside the Americans. That is mainly a peace support exercise. We also have another leg which is called humanitarian relief. It involves other military health services such as practitioners, nurses, dentists that will be going in and around the Richards Bay area. They will go to local clinics providing primary health care, dental and so forth.”
This is not the first exercise between the SANDF and the US Army
This is the fourth exercise of this nature to be planned and executed in South Africa. The first exercise took place in 2011 and then in 2013 and 2017. An exercise meant to take place in 2020 was suspended because of Covid-19, said Sello.
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The reason that Richards Bay was picked
The bulk of the time will be spent offering health services to the public. It is being spearheaded by the SANDF’s South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) in partnership with the KZN provincial department of health.
“We also involve other state departments like KwaZulu-Natal Child Health which also assisted in informing us of the scarcity in terms of the health support in the area. That’s why we are in this area to assist in the way we possibly can … will be also going to Mtubatuba. Going to the local clinics trying to provide assistance especially where primary health care is challenging.”
This operation is not about closing the gap in health care. Prior to these exercises they have reached out to government to help wherever there is a shortage, said Sello.
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SANDF are ready to assist during natural disasters
During the floods that hit Durban, the SANDF were on the scene assisting people in different ways. This falls under Operation Chariot, explained Sello.
“Operation Chariot is basically meant for such things as disasters. We will definitely assist our citizens with regards to issues of floods and such. It is a common thing that we normally do whenever such things arise.”
The operation is part of an agreement that was signed back in 2009. The actual number of US military members who will be participating is unknown. The SANDF and the US Army will be in Richards Bay, Empangeni in the uMhlathuze Local Municipality, as well as in Mtubatuba in the Mtubatuba Local Municipality to offer health care services to the people.
