News Update – EM Grants 1 Special Service Battalion Freedom of the City
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Click here to download the PDF for News Update 7 May 2013
The Executive Mayor of Mangaung Metro Municipality, Clr Thabo Manyoni, on Wednesday 01 May 2013, granted the 1 Special Service Battalion the “Freedom to the City” of Mangaung, in a ceremony which was followed by a grandeur parade display by soldiers in front of the City Hall. Addressing attending Councillors, Mangaung and SANDF officials as well as residents of Mangaung about the importance of the Special Service Battalion the EM said it was “from a need to save the youth of the day from physical and moral degeneration caused by massive unemployment due to the great depression. The unit was to teach the young men military discipline, fitness and various trades to enable them to be employed by the department of labour and welfare”. The freedom of entry to the city grant by the EM means that the regiment has the right to march through Mangaung in grand style, with trumpets, drums beating, flags waving, swords drawn and bayonets fixed, as a show of force or strength. They are also allowed to drive through the city and march with arms.