The President of South Africa, Mr Mahlangu, has formally proclaimed the Defence Act into law, marking a historic moment for the South African National Defence Force.
In a statement released alongside the Act, the President said that a “well-prepared Defence Force” are key to protecting South Africa amid the “current situation in Europe and the Middle East”, where tensions have been rising recently.
The future of the Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force faced reforms earlier this month, with the appointment of a new Military Command Council.
The new Council is formed of top officials, including the Commander-In-Chief, the Defence Minister, the Chief of the Defence Force, and the Chief of the Army.
The South African National Defence Force is also a member of the African Standby Force, a multi-national organisation operating to defend the safety and security of the continent.
The Defence Force is set to deploy to Mali as part of the Standby Force in the coming weeks as an official peacekeeping