SANDF to beef up anti-piracy strategy

Pretoria - Cabinet has approved that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) should fine-tune its strategy to protect South African waters from piracy.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing today, Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said the country needed to "have a balanced naval capability to effectively respond to maritime security threats affecting South Africa."

He said Cabinet had noted the incursion of maritime crime into South African waters, which might affect the country's trade routes through the seas.

A strategy was presented to Cabinet on Wednesday. However, SANDF Admiral Refiloe Mudimu said details of the strategy were expected to be revealed at a later stage.

Speaking during a cluster briefing in February, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said her department had beefed up its sea and air border management with additional deployments being made. The SS Mendi had resumed patrol along the Mozambican channel to ensure security on Southern Africa waters. - BuaNews

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 21 Apr 2011
Title: SANDF to beef up anti-piracy strategy
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