Pretoria – The South African Army are more than willing to support law enforcement agencies in bringing stability in all areas affected by the attacks on foreign nationals.
Briefing the media at the SA Army College in Thaba Tshwane on Friday, Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Shoke described the attacks as sad and shameful.

“The Army condemns these attacks with the contempt that they deserve.

“We will do everything possible to support the South African Police Service [SAPS] in their endeavour to stabilise and normalise the situation as quickly as possible,” he said.

In recent weeks, more than 50 people have been killed, scores injured, tens of thousands have been displaced and are living in tents following the brutal attacks on residents in communities particularly across Gauteng.

Some of those killed are South Africans, many of those injured and left homeless seeking shelter in police stations are not only foreign nationals but South Africans too.

The Army has thus far been helping with the provision of tents for the displaced foreign nationals in Pretoria and in other parts of Gauteng.

LT General Shoke said more than 200 tents have been provided to the displaced people.

Regarding transformation in the Army, LT General Shoke said the Army’s future strategy Vision 2020 was on track and gaining momentum.

To be more effective in its operations, the army has embarked on a transformation exercise, referred to as Vision 2020.

According to the Army, this process will be achieved through the Military Skills Development System (MSDS) which forms part of the new South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Service System.

Commenting on the recent Pretoria High Court judgement that the SANDF had been discriminatory against people with HIV and AIDS because they were not allowed to join the defence force on this basis, General Shoke the defence force does not discriminate but merely requires people who are healthy. - BuaNews