President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the employment of 880 members of the SANDF to safeguard Eskom power stations around the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the employment of 880 members of the SANDF to safeguard Eskom power stations around the country. Image via Facebook/ SA National Defence Force

President employs 800 SANDF members to protect Eskom stations

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the employment of 880 members of the SANDF to safeguard Eskom power stations around the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the employment of 880 members of the SANDF to safeguard Eskom power stations around the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the employment of 880 members of the SANDF to safeguard Eskom power stations around the country. Image via Facebook/ SA National Defence Force

President Ramaphosa has extended the deployment of soldiers at Eskom Power Stations until October 2023.

In a letter to the National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson Amos Masondo the President says he has authorised the employment of 880 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to safeguard a number of Eskom power stations around the country.

The employment is from 17 April 2023 to 17 October 2023.

The expenditure expected for this employment is over R146 million.

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SANDF WILL ASSIST SAPS IN PROTECTING ESKOM POWER STATIONS

“Members of the SANDF employed will assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in protecting Eskom power stations around the country where sabotage, theft and other crimes may threaten the functioning of power stations and the supply of electricity.

“The current employment is authorised in accordance with the provisions of Section 201(2) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996,” said Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the president.

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Picture of SANDF members. Image via Facebook/ SA National Defence Force

The South African previously reported that Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of 2700 members of the SANDF to Eskom Power Stations as part of Operation Prosper.

This was in accordance with a notice gazetted on 27 January.

The deployment of the soldiers was valid from 16 December to 16 March 2023. 

The president made the call after Eskom Power Stations across South Africa were vandalised, destroyed and sabotaged by criminals.

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