Cyril Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image: GCIS/ Flickr

Commander-in Chief Cyril Ramaphosa set to address Armed Forces Day

Commander-in-Chief Cyril Ramaphosa is set to lead an impressive show of force during Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Cyril Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image: GCIS/ Flickr

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be leading the annual Armed Forces Day celebrations next week in the Mpumalanga province. In a statement, issued by the office of the Presidency on Saturday, it was confirmed that the event will kick off in Barberton, Mpumalanga on Monday.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa will as Commander-in Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officiate the annual Armed Forces Day at Barberton and Mbombela in Mpumalanga on Monday, 21 February 2022.”

Cyril Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead Armed Forces Day celebrations in Mpumalanga on Monday. Image: GCIS/ Flickr

Cyril Ramaphosa to commemorate naval tragedy

The event aims to commemorate the worst naval tragedy in South African history which claimed the lives of over 600 troops.

“Armed Forces Day commemorates the worst naval tragedy in the country’s history – the sinking of the troopship SS Mendi in the English Channel on 21 February 1917. More than 600 SA Native Labour Corps troops drowned when the ill-fated troopship was struck by the SS Darro.”

Event set to take place in multiple cities in Mpumalanga

The event location is different each time with provinces taking turns to host the occasion on a rotational basis. This year Mpumalanga has been selected with the programme seeing the parade moving from city to city.

The Presidency confirmed that Cyril Ramaphosa would kick off the celebrations by laying a wreath in Barberton before heading to the province’s capital.

 “Mpumalanga will be the host in the current provincial rotation of Armed Forces Day. The programme for the day will commence with the President laying a wreath at the World War Memorial in Barberton. This will be followed by a parade in Mbombela along Samora Machel drive next to Rob Ferreira Hospital.”

The parade is set to feature a show of force including a flypast of multiple SAAF aircraft.

“This event will feature a flypast of multiple SA Air Force (SAAF) aircraft. The South African Army, the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) and the Navy will form part of the parade. Following the military parade, President Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address.”