Does South Africa need military/soldiers?

The role of the SANDF is always misunderstood by many people especially people who are not part of the Defence force. The most frequently asked questions people ask is do we need Defence? What is the role of the soldiers? In reality every country needs the National Defence force.

When there is no war, soldiers prepare for war, when there is war soldiers prepare for peace. Definitely, it is easy to misunderstand the role of SANDF and its capabilities. With constant exercises and training and constant deployments to countries like DRC and Sudan defence force and its capabilities is amicably successful. The aim of SANDF is to provide service in the preservation of life, health or property and the maintenance of essential services which it has done well in the past 20years. Furthermore, the SANDF is divided into four (4) Arms of service; (SA Army) which ensures the national safety of South Africa in cooperation with other services, government departments and institutions; (SA Air Force) assist the national security of the RSA by means of air force operations; (SA Navy) continually help ensure the safety of South Africa through the conduct of naval and maritime actions; comprehensive medical services to SANDF and other prescribed organisations is provided by (SAHMS). As we speak currently the borders of Lesotho, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are manned by the South African National Defence Force.  “On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind” D. Lipinski.