South Africa Won’t Be Drawn Into Global Power Rivalries, Ramaphosa Says at National Armed Forces Day Parade
16:56 21.02.2026 (Updated: 17:04 21.02.2026)
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South Africa Won’t Be Drawn Into Global Power Rivalries, Ramaphosa Says at National Armed Forces Day Parade
"Our armed forces reflect the diversity of the people of South Africa, a people of different identities and varied origins, united in our shared nationhood and common purpose. We are united in advancing the values of our democratic constitution and in safeguarding the fundamental rights of our country's people," Ramaphosa, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force, said.
🪖 The battlefield is shifting toward high-tech autonomous systems like drones, digital warfare, and AI, requiring the South African Defence Force to remain agile and adapt despite limited resources, the South African president noted.
He announced that he had authorized army units to support police against criminal gangs and illegal mining, saying the deployment aims to protect vulnerable populations.
Since 2017, South Africa's Armed Forces Day has also honored those lost in the 1917 sinking of SS Mendi, one of the country’s greatest military tragedies during World War I.
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