SANDF to be deployed in the Western Cape

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed in the Western Cape to help the province in the fight against Covid-19.

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On Wednesday 6 January the  Western Cape had 37 984 active Covid-19 infections with a total of 224 262 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 178 595 recoveries.

Currently, there are 3 225 patients hospitalised with 343 of these in ICU or high care

The province also recorded an additional 154 deaths, bringing the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in the province to 7683.

Western Cape Health Department head Keith Cloete told the eNCA that the details of the deployment are still under discussion.

“The military will support the law enforcement efforts and the law enforcement agencies are working with the military about what exactly that deployment will look like, where and how it will happen,” he said.

He said the military would also help with the health response which includes staffing- deployment of military doctors and nurses to specific regions in the Western Cape.

Yesterday, Police Minister Bheki Cele also confirmed that the army would also be deployed on the Garden Route to help the police enforce compliance with the beach closures under the new lockdown Level 3.

Minister Bheki Cele visited beaches in the Southern Cape checking on Covid-19 regulation compliance.

On Tuesday Cele visited the West Coast doing the same checks.