Taxpayers to cough up R140m for SANDF’s Eskom deployment
Taxpayers are set to cough up some R140 million for the deployment of 800 South African National Defence Force soldiers to help support the police in guarding Eskom power stations.
This is according to correspondence from President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, on the deployment of the SANDF for "service for the prevention and combatting of crime".
Some 2 700 members of the SANDF were previously employed to assist the SAPS in protecting Eskom power stations under Operation Prosper from March 17 to April 17.
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The Speaker said the president's correspondence noted that the new deployment would be from 17 April to 17 October 2023.
"The employment is done in accordance with Section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution of South Africa of 1996. The expected expenditure to be incurred for this employment amounts to R146 718 427,” says Parliament's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.
