The objective of the research study presented in this report was to ascertain the impact of the Armed Forces Day (AFD) 2020 event and associated activities, which was held in Polokwane in Limpopo province during mid- to late-February 2020. More specifically, the aims of the project were to determine whether the event achieved the following: (i) served to unite South Africans behind the SANDF; (ii) allowed the SANDF to interact with the host community; (ii) helped to expand the public's understanding of the military's role and its purpose in society; (iv) successfully showcased military equipment and technologies; and (v) left a positive impression on the host community. Similar impact studies were previously done during AFD 2018 (held in Kimberley), 2019 (held in Cape Town) and the results from this report will therefore also be compared to previous Armed Forces Days to determine relative impact.
Human Sciences Research Council (2026) studied this question.