The Commander-in-Chief of the South African Armed Forces, president Cyril Ramaphosa, is hosting the 2019 #ArmedForcesDay in Cape Town on Thursday.
Armed Forces Day celebrates and honours members of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) and gives members of the public an opportunity to witness and take pride the human and technological capability of the armed forces.
Armed Forces Day was first observed in 2012.
Commander-in-Chief of the South African Armed Forces President @CyrilRamaphosa arrives for the wreath laying ceremony to honour and remember the warriors of the #SSMendi and mark the significance of their sacrifices. #ArmedForcesDay pic.twitter.com/SFzvRudplD
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) February 21, 2019
Armed Forces Day activities have been taking place at various locations around Cape Town and have included military displays and a career exhibition at Mandela Stadium in Khayelitsha; a gala music evening at Cape Town City Hall; a night shoot demonstration at Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg.
Today there was a military parade and capability demonstration.
[PICTURES]: Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Forces, President @CyrilRamaphosa, officiated at the wreathlaying ceremony at the #SSMendi Memorial Site at the University of Cape Town.#ArmedForcesDay pic.twitter.com/lwiOPHniEb
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) February 21, 2019
Ramaphosa commenced Armed Forces Day with a wreath laying at the SS Mendi Memorial on the Lower Campus of the University of Cape Town.
Today we pay our respects to the South African soldiers who died 102 years ago when the military steamship, the #SSMendi, sank during a dense fog on the English Channel in 21 February 1917. On #ArmedForcesDay, we remember their bravery and honour their sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/UKdcfsHX5X
— President Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 21, 2019
The President payed his respects to the South African soldiers who died when the military steamship SS Mendi sank in 21 February 1917. The SS Mendi sank in dense fog in the English Channel where it was struck by the SS Darro, a much larger cargo ship.
A total of 616 South Africans and 30 British crew members died in the disaster.
President @CyrilRamaphosa will commence #ArmedForcesDay with a wreath laying at the SS Mendi Memorial located at UCT’s Lower Campus, paying his respects to the South African soldiers who died when the military steamship #SSMendi sank in 21 February 1917. pic.twitter.com/Xa2Dw9Bnkd
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) February 21, 2019
The SS Mendi was transporting members of the of the 5th Battalion, or South African Natives Labour Corps, to France in early 1917.
Before boarding the SS Mendi the troops were encamped at what was then the Rosebank Showgrounds Oval, which is currently a playing field that forms part of the UCT Fitness Centre, and is the site of the memorial.
The sailed from Cape Town to Plymouth and was en route to Le Havre, France, when disaster struck.
Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence President @CyrilRamaphosa is the Guest of Honour at the military parade to mark #ArmedForcesDay. Kicking things off are the flag men and women in a line comprising of soldiers from all four arms of service of the SANDF. pic.twitter.com/YR6GMdVXCI
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) February 21, 2019
Ramaphosa will proceed to the military parade at Bloubergstrand where he will present medals to SANDF members who had delivered outstanding performance in various military operations.
The President will also take a salute from the South African National Defence Force.
