Pretoria – The Department of Military Veterans says it is to establish an umbrella body to unite all military veterans associations.
The body, to be launched in Ekurhuleni on 28 September is a response to section 7 of the Military Veterans Act which directs the department to establish a body for all military veterans nationally.
It will include old associations such as the Ciskei Defence Force Military Veterans Association, Transkei Defence Force MVA, Bophuthatswana Defence Force MVA, Venda Defence Force MVA and Apla Military Veterans Association.
Director General in the Department of Military Veterans Tsepo Motumi said the department would ensure the new body is fair, inclusive and accountable.
“We envisage that this process will go a long way in enhancing unity within the military veterans community…restore dignity and enhance skills of military veterans,” he said.
He called on all military veterans and their associations to cooperate with the department to establish a “vibrant” umbrella body that will help accelerate the delivery of benefits to military veterans.
“We also call upon all stakeholders such as business, labour, civil society professionals and indeed communities at large to work with us in ensuring that we build a better life for all military veterans. We dare not forget that our country is free and is about to celebrate 20 years of democracy due to the supreme sacrifices made by military veterans,” said Motumi.
Regarding the process of verifying veterans the department had undertaken earlier this year, out of the department’s database of 57 000 veterans, about 14 000 had so far been verified.
More than 4000 military veterans have access to free medical care while 200 veterans and their dependents were receiving bursaries to further their studies. – SAnews.gov.za
