President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for service, as part of South Africa’s international obligation, for South African Development Community (SADC) maritime security.

The extension is with effect from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 and the deployment of SANDF members is to counter the threat of piracy and other related illegal activities in the Indian Ocean.

In a letter to Parliament, Ramaphosa indicated that the number of SANDF members employed for this extension is 200. The expected cost of the deployment is R154-million.