MEDIA RELEASE BY DEPARTMENT  OF DEFENCE: TESTING OF THE CHIEF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE REACTION CAPABILITY .

Date of release 19 October 2011

The Force Employment Strategy of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) dictates that the SANDF’s reaction capability be tested every 4 years. The previous exercise of this nature was held in 2006 but due to the hosting of the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 by South Africa, this objective was shifted to 2011.

The exercise, code name NDLOVU, will commence on 20 October 2011 when the first elements will start with tactical road movement to the two (2) mayor assembly area’s in Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein respectively. Military convoys will converge on these two centers from 36 different units based all over South Africa. The exercise will be executed by three operational structures nl. 43 SA Brigade, 46 SA Brigade and a Joint Maritime Task Group whilst under the watchful eye of an Exercise Joint Task Force Head Quarters, situated in Kimberley in the Northern Cape.

The exercise will be focused on the theatre level and be executed at the campaign level, while allowing the achievement of objectives and participation of Services and Divisions in a joint manner.
The exercise is designed to execute and practice various aspects of strategic, operational, tactical and technical military actions within the campaign with the main emphasis on command and control procedures. These aspects of operations are to be exercised to enhance the joint operational preparedness of the SANDF.

The landward focus of this exercise will be in the Northern Cape with smaller Maritime elements and Special Forces operating in the St Helena Bay area in the Western Cape. The exercise will be scenario driven with the strategic objective to establish the capacity to stabilize a failed state by means of an early intervention by a mission trained South African Force.

The exercise culminates in a final show down of participating forces on the 17 November 2011 at the SA Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatlha, Northern Cape. Convoy movement back to home units will be concluded on the 22 November 2011.

ends.