“The SANDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Lindile Yam will receive a consignment of two thousand protective eye goggles and three thousand face and nose masks for utilisation by the various members of the SANDF directly involved in supporting government efforts during the state proclaimed 21-days lockdown of the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the SANDF said in a statement. 

The defence force said the masks and protective eye goggles will be distributed “according to prioritised requirement”. 

An acceptance ceremony was due to be held on Thursday at the South African Military Health Services’ depot in Pretoria. 

On Monday, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced a national lockdown to curtail the spread of Covid-19, with the deployment of the SANDF to support the police.

“I have accordingly directed the South African National Defence Force be deployed to support the South African Police Service in ensuring that the measures we are announcing are implemented,” Ramaphosa announced at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. 

Last week, Chinese entities operating in South Africa donated at least R3 million towards the country’s fight against the virus. 

In addition, Chinese enterprises have provided testing reagents to South Africa. Former Chinese ambassador to South Africa Lin Songtian said his government would provide 5,000 additional testing reagents.

Of the R3 million donated, R1 million was donated by Chinese mobile giant Huawei.

African News Agency