MEDIA RELEASE BY SA NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE HEADQUARTERS: EXERCISE INDLOVU: OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER 2005

Embargo: None
Date of release: 06 October 2005

About 7 500 SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members from all four Services (SA Army; SA Air Force; SA Navy and the SA Military Health Service), 30 aircraft and six naval vessels will participate from the beginning of October to 16 November 2005 in Exercise Indlovu, the largest conventional force preparation exercise since 1986.

The aim of the exercise is to ensure a continued readiness by the SANDF to perform its primary role of defending the sovereignty of the country. The exercise will also be used to prepare the SANDF for peacekeeping missions.

Exercise Indlovu will consist of three high intensity phases namely:

• A maritime task force exercise with air and land support that will operate in the Porth Nolloth area in the Northern Cape from 9 to 18 October 2005.

• A conventional landward force preparation exercise with full air support conducted at the SA Army Combat Training Centre, at Lohatla, in the Northern Cape that will take place over the period 21-27 October 2005.

• An airport release scenario exercise that will be conducted at De Brug Training area near Bloemfontein over the period 9-11 November 2005.

A mission ready National Defence Force is key if the Department of Defence is to succeed in fulfilling its constitutional role to defend the country and well as supporting Government diplomatic initiatives to help eradicate conflicts in the region and continent.
ENDS

Issued by: SA National Defence Force HQ
(Directorate Corporate Communication)
Private Bag X161
Pretoria
0001

Enquiries: Colonel Daan Boshoff
(012) 674-5496