Question NW2561 to the President of the Republic
03 October 2018 - NW2561
Lekota, Mr M to ask the President of the Republic
With regard to his speech that he delivered during the Armed Forces Day celebrations in Kimberley on 21 February 2018 (details furnished), has he found that the (a) former President, Mr J G Zuma, intended to remain in power by force and (b) army considered intervening in the politics and democratic processes of the country; if not, what is the position in this regard in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
The speech that the President delivered in Kimberley as the Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force on the occasion of Armed Forces Day, on 21 February 2018, does not make reference to any of the assertions made in the question of the Honourable Member.
The section of the speech quoted by the Honourable Member reflects the primary mandate of the SANDF, as prescribed in the Defence Act No. 42 of 2002, Section 2(b), which states: “The primary object of the Defence Force is to defend and protect the Republic, its people and its territorial integrity”.
The President’s speech on Armed Forces Day 2018 is attached for information.