defenceWeb
Written by defenceWeb -
Valour Class frigates at Naval Base Durban. Picture: SA Navy
Naval Base Durban, home to the patrol squadron of the SA Navy (SAN), is on track to welcome the first multi-mission inshore patrol vessel (MMIPV) come mid-year.
While the base at Salisbury Island in the greater Durban port precinct, is still in transition from a naval station to a fully-fledged base, it’s all hands on deck as base commander Rear Admiral (JG) Jabulani Amos Mbotho has taken charge of the current patrol vessels and will have a third hull to oversee in a few months.
COVID-19 hasnât beached the Navy
Written by defenceWeb -
SA Navy fleet headquarters, Simon s Town.
The SA Navy (SAN) maintains the COVID-19 pandemic has had âminimalâ impact on naval operations and personnel with the fleet âable to deploy as taskedâ.
At the same time the maritime service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) said, in response to a defenceWeb enquiry, personnel numbers were reduced in infected areas. âSections not affected continue as normal,â according to a statement which gave no further detail.
âNoâ was the response to questions as to whether the pandemic has affected maritime operations and the possibility of providing the number of SAN personnel off-duty in Simonâs Town as a result of coronavirus infection.
In this week’s edition, on the continent, Navantia receives a contract from the Moroccan Navy, the first locally built Gowind corvette joins the Egyptian Navy, Mali receives additional Mi-35 attack helicopters, the Gulf of Guinea is confirmed as the world’s piracy hotspot, a Nigerien C-130 Hercules arrives home from the United States and Uganda is revealed to be a Hizir Armoured Personnel Carrier customer.
In SANDF news, the defence force highlights successes in its latest annual report, a Reserve Force unit is on “beach patrol” duty, COVID-19 delays the 2020 SA Air Force pupil pilots course, the SA Navy now has a situational awareness centre and the SAS Galeshewe is decommissioned to reserve status.
defenceWeb
Written by defenceWeb -
Trooping during Ex Ukuthula last year.
Force preparation for South Africa’s airmen, military medics, sailors and soldiers this year will be confined to unit and base level.
This inference is drawn from the response to a defenceWeb enquiry to the corporate communications directorate of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) on hosting and staging joint, inter-departmental, inter-agency and multi-national (JIIM) exercises in the 2021 calendar year.
Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi, without elaborating, said in a statement “there are no exercises for the calendar year”. Asked telephonically for reasons why he said he could not respond.
Presidential letter authorising soldier beach patrols received by JSCD defenceweb.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from defenceweb.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.