[Type the company name]
PUB2602 Assignment 3
(October/November)
Semester 2 | Due 16
October 2025
NO PLAGIARISM
[Year]
, Exam (elaborations)
PUB2602 Assignment 3 (October/November)
Semester 2 Memo | Due 16 October 2025
Course
Protection Services (PUB2602)
Institution
University Of South Africa (Unisa)
INSTRUCTIONS You must base your responses on Lesson 6: Protection
Services in the National Sphere of Government of the study material.
However, you are also required to consult additional sources, such as articles
published in accredited academic journals, government reports and policy
documents, to support and complement your answers. Refer to page 2 for
additional instructions. QUESTION 1 Analyse the role and functions of the
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the provision of national
security. Discuss how its operations contribute to safeguarding national
interests and responding to internal and external threats. Support your
answer with examples and references to relevant legislation and policy. (50)
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the cornerstone of South Africa's
national security architecture. As the nation's sole military force, its role and functions are
meticulously defined by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and subsequent
legislation, providing a robust, democratically accountable framework for its operations. The
SANDF’s mandate extends beyond conventional military defence, encompassing a broad
spectrum of responsibilities that are vital for safeguarding national interests and responding to a
complex mix of internal and external threats.
The primary object of the SANDF, as articulated in Section 200(2) of the Constitution, is “to
defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity and its people in accordance with the
Constitution and the principles of international law regulating the use of force.” This
foundational principle is further elaborated by the Defence Act, 2002 (Act No. 42 of 2002),
which provides the legal basis for the SANDF's employment. The Act specifies that the SANDF
can be deployed for various purposes, including the defence of the Republic, compliance with
international obligations, the preservation of life and property, and the upholding of law and
order in cooperation with the South African Police Service (SAPS). This dual mandate—to
defend against external aggression while also supporting domestic stability—is crucial to South
Africa's comprehensive approach to security.
The SANDF's operations directly contribute to safeguarding national interests by addressing both
conventional and non-conventional threats. In the external domain, while South Africa does not
face an immediate conventional military threat, the SANDF maintains a "core combat capability"
as outlined in the South African Defence Review 2015 to deter potential aggressors and ensure
readiness. Furthermore, the SANDF is a key instrument of South Africa's foreign policy through
its participation in peace support operations, particularly under the African Union (AU) and
PUB2602 Assignment 3
(October/November)
Semester 2 | Due 16
October 2025
NO PLAGIARISM
[Year]
, Exam (elaborations)
PUB2602 Assignment 3 (October/November)
Semester 2 Memo | Due 16 October 2025
Course
Protection Services (PUB2602)
Institution
University Of South Africa (Unisa)
INSTRUCTIONS You must base your responses on Lesson 6: Protection
Services in the National Sphere of Government of the study material.
However, you are also required to consult additional sources, such as articles
published in accredited academic journals, government reports and policy
documents, to support and complement your answers. Refer to page 2 for
additional instructions. QUESTION 1 Analyse the role and functions of the
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the provision of national
security. Discuss how its operations contribute to safeguarding national
interests and responding to internal and external threats. Support your
answer with examples and references to relevant legislation and policy. (50)
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the cornerstone of South Africa's
national security architecture. As the nation's sole military force, its role and functions are
meticulously defined by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and subsequent
legislation, providing a robust, democratically accountable framework for its operations. The
SANDF’s mandate extends beyond conventional military defence, encompassing a broad
spectrum of responsibilities that are vital for safeguarding national interests and responding to a
complex mix of internal and external threats.
The primary object of the SANDF, as articulated in Section 200(2) of the Constitution, is “to
defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity and its people in accordance with the
Constitution and the principles of international law regulating the use of force.” This
foundational principle is further elaborated by the Defence Act, 2002 (Act No. 42 of 2002),
which provides the legal basis for the SANDF's employment. The Act specifies that the SANDF
can be deployed for various purposes, including the defence of the Republic, compliance with
international obligations, the preservation of life and property, and the upholding of law and
order in cooperation with the South African Police Service (SAPS). This dual mandate—to
defend against external aggression while also supporting domestic stability—is crucial to South
Africa's comprehensive approach to security.
The SANDF's operations directly contribute to safeguarding national interests by addressing both
conventional and non-conventional threats. In the external domain, while South Africa does not
face an immediate conventional military threat, the SANDF maintains a "core combat capability"
as outlined in the South African Defence Review 2015 to deter potential aggressors and ensure
readiness. Furthermore, the SANDF is a key instrument of South Africa's foreign policy through
its participation in peace support operations, particularly under the African Union (AU) and
