Publication: Sunday Independent Issued: Date: 2008-04-23 Reporter: Sapa

SANDF gearing up for 2010

 

Publication 

Sunday Independent
Date

2008-04-23
Reporter Sapa

Web Link

www.sundayindependent.co.za



Massive security exercises to prepare for the 2010 World Cup will be held in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and the northern provinces before the end of the year, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Wednesday.

Briefing reporters on the work of the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF, Rear Admiral Philip Schultz said the Army, Navy, Air Force and Medical Health Services would take part in the exercises in the host cities.

"2010 is not just during 2010, it started a year ago and there are a series of (security) events," Schultz said.

The police were responsible for securing the World Cup but would be relying heavily on the defence force to provide support.

Most of planning and training were done jointly.

The exercises planned this year for Port Elisabeth, Bloemfontein, Gauteng the North West and Limpopo and next year for KwaZulu-Natal would be similar to Exercise Green point which saw hundreds of security personnel, ground, air and sea, dealing with a variety of simulated threats around Cape Town.

In the meantime, the defence force was finalising its plans for the actual event which included the possibility that all ships entering South African waters would be searched 10 nautical miles off the coast, the deployment of standby reaction forces near every World Cup venue and manned posts along the major routes on which visitors would travel.

SANDF plans also included strategies on how to deal with chemical and biological attacks and planning for constant air patrols by the Air Force.

"I still don't think people realise just how massive a thing the World Cup is," Schultz said. - Sapa

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With acknowledgements to Sapa and Sunday Independent.


Well, let's hope that Soccer World Cup pays the SANDF generously for its efforts and expenses, because otherwise it just won't have the money to do what it thinks is its duty.

Actually, it's duty is to protect the national sovereignty of the Republic.

But far better than fighter jets, a coupe of shoulder-fired very short range missiles (VSHORAD) and some tube-launched short range missiles (SHORAD) move from venue to venue will provide better bang for buck.

The Air Force looks good for the press, but we only have nine dual seater Gripens and one or two single seater Gripens, but only six pilots - or do we still have six pilots?

The Chief of the Air Force is also a pilot and so is the ex Gripen Project Officer now Major General Otto Schur.

Otto Schur had the unnerving experience of being shot down in Angola in a Mirage and so flying soccer air patrol should not cause him too much stress as hopefully the foreign soccer fans will have had their VSHORADs impounded at customs while the virgin-seeking 737 highjackers fortunately don't have air-to-air missiles as part of their package.

In the meantime, Chief Director of Joint Operations Rear Admiral Philip Schultz (or is this Schoultz?) had better have a most monster big screen TV installed in his office so he can watch all of this in real-time and reserve a small square in the lower right hand side to simultaneously watch a game of his choice.

Vice versa for the General Officer Commanding Joint Operations who will surely watching a game of his choice on the big screen TV in his office with possibly a small square in the lower right hand side to watch the anti-aircraft artillery on the ground dueling with the virgin seekers in the air.

He had also better keep his cellphone handy so that he can phone his boss to get the rules of engagement in real-time.