PRETORIA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has deployed 2,122 soldiers to support government departments in the fight against COVID-19 from Dec. 29 last year to Jan. 31 this year, said the parliamentary joint standing committee on Defence on Tuesday.
The committee said they received a letter from the President about the deployment which would cost the state over R95 million (6.35 million U.S. dollars).
President is required by the Constitution to inform Parliament of any deployment of the soldiers.
Committee co-chairperson Cyril Xaba said the soldiers will help preserve life, health and property in emergency or humanitarian relief operations in support of other government departments. Meanwhile, they will support the police to prevent crime and enforce restrictions under the adjusted level-three lockdown regulations.
Ramaphosa, who is also the commander-in-chief of the South African National Defence Force, deployed 2,820 soldiers on March 25, 76,000 on April 21, and 20,000 on June 30 to support government in the fight against COVID-19.
"These deployments have contributed greatly to the fight against COVID-19 and the preservation of life," Xaba said, adding that "the committee expresses its support for all efforts aimed at safeguarding the lives of South Africans as they are force multipliers in the fight against COVID-19." Enditem
