The South African National Defence Force is hosting the 8th annual Armed Forces Day on 21 February 2020 in Polokwane, next to Polokwane Cricket Club in Suid Street. The event will be officiated by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr Cyril Ramaphosa. It is the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure’s (NATJOINTS) responsibility to ensure that this celebration takes place in a peaceful, safe and secure environment.
The NATJOINTS comprises of all government departments within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, including the South African Police Service. The festivities leading up to the main event of the Armed Forces Day Parade have already begun, with the Fan Park Opening Ceremony having been held at the Polokwane Cricket Club on the 14th of February 2020 to kick start the celebration.
We are ready as the security cluster to ensure that Armed Forces Day as well as preceding activities that are being hosted in and around Polokwane, take place in a safe and secure environment through the deployment of integrated role-players, executing their various responsibilities as per their mandates.
A Notice to all Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by the Civil Aviation Authority which restricts the airspace within three nautical miles of the venues where the various activities leading up to and including the Armed Forces Day parade will be hosted between 14 and 22 February 2020. Please note that this is strictly a NO DRONE ZONE.
Members of the South African Police Service and all law enforcement agencies will continue to apply fundamental policing principles, guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Each and every member of the South African Police Service has a responsibility and an obligation to execute the SAPS’s mandate professionally, impartially and with integrity.
The police are making a call to those that will be plan to attend the event and visit the identified overflow venues to take note that spectators carrying private firearms and/or alcohol will not be permitted entry at the venues.