Military to remain in Kempton, Thembisa as long as President sees fit
The troops gathered to be switched with night shift soldiers who were dropped off by bus.
The military will be stationed in Kempton Park and Tembisa for as long as President Cyril Ramaphosa deems it necessary, so says national police spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo.
Naidoo said that the military had been commissioned to render support to the police for lockdown law enforcement. “Police will still carry out law enforcement, while the defence force will assist when called upon by police to do so,” he explained.
He assured that the military will be patrolling everywhere in Kempton Park, including Tembisa. The focus is aimed at monitoring both suburban areas, as well as informal settlements.
“They will change areas as and when operational needs arise. Patrols are done either on foot or in vehicles. If the area is not suited for vehicles, security forces will patrol that area on foot.”
Multiple South African military vehicles were spotted rolling into Kempton Park on Sunday afternoon.
The vehicles were stationed at the police cluster office on Ampere Street in Chloorkop.
It is believed a cluster meeting between the police, South African National Traffic Police and military officials were held in order to draw up a strategy for the time ahead during the lockdown.
