Pretoria — The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been roped in to help at 32 hospitals across the country during the public service strike.

SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said members of the SANDF have been deployed to at least seven provinces. He said various multi-disciplinary medical teams from the SA Military Health Service have been deployed to the country's major hospitals.

In Gauteng, the defence force has been deployed to Natalspruit, Chris Hani Baragwanath, Helen Joseph, Kalafong, George Mukhari and the Steve Biko hospitals.

In KwaZulu-Natal, teams have been deployed to the King Edward, Mahatma Gandhi, Chief Albert Luthuli, Prince Mshiyeni and Stanger hospitals. In the North West, Brits hospital, Bophelong hospital in Mafikeng and JT Tabane hospital are also occupied.

In the Eastern Cape, teams have been deployed to the Dora Nzinga and Livingstone hospitals and in Limpopo, teams have occupied Polokwane hospital, Van Velden hospital, Lebowakgomo Hospital, St Rita's Hospital and Maphutha-Malatji hospital.

In Mpumalanga Witbank, Tonga, KwaMhalanga, Mapulaneng, Rob Ferreira, Ermelo and Themba hospitals were under the SANDF's watchful eye and in the Free State, teams occupied the Bongane, Katlego and Pelonomi hospitals.

Teams were not deployed in the Western and Northern Cape.

Dlamini said no reports of disruption from the various teams have been reported and members would continue to support the department of health to ensure that there is no further disruption of services while the strike continues.