SANDF marks Armed Forces Day

A number of the SAAF's Gripens have been mothballed due to a lack of funds to fly them.

The day was an opportunity for the SANDF to demonstrate its capabilities in terms of fire power and equipment, to showcase career opportunities in the SANDF and other military activities to delight members of the public.

In 2012, President Jacob Zuma proclaimed that 21 February must be observed and commemorated as Armed Forces Day.

He presided over the day's events as the Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF.

This year's ceremony was held under the theme 'A professional and capable defence force for the people of South Africa'.

The first Armed Forces Day parade was held in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, in 2013. The following year it was celebrated in the Free State at AFB Bloemspruit.

Armed Forces Day has five major objectives: to unite all South Africans behind the country's defence force; to allow the defence force to interact with communities; to raise public awareness of the military and its purpose; to showcase SANDF capabilities in terms of equipment and technology and to celebrate the defence force's achievements in both internal and external missions.