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SA: Mapisa-Nqakula: Address by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, on the occasion of the conference for the establishment of the umbrella association for military veterans, Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg, Ekurhuleni (29/09/2013)

29th September 2013

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Programme Director
President of the RSA and the Patron in Chief of the Military Veterans, Cde KG Zuma
Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Cde Thabang Makwetla
Members of the Portfolio Committee on Defence
President and the leadership of SANMVA,
Leaders of the various Military Veterans Associations, represented here
Secretary for Defence, Dr Sam Gulube
Chief of Defence and Leadership of the SANDF, Gen Solly Shoke
Military Attaches resident in our country
Conference delegates
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,
Comrades and friends.

It was in recognition of the role played by our military veterans that the Department of Military Veterans was created in 2009 to enable government to allocate resources and for the first time in our young democracy, a budget to cater for their welfare and that of their families.

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The establishment of an umbrella body for all military veterans’ associations is a very important development that will enhance government’s ability to deliver various services to men and women whose selfless contribution to the liberation struggle brought about the democracy and freedom we enjoy today.

The formation of this umbrella body should facilitate  more coordinated, efficient and inclusive interventions by government to discharge, on behalf of society, its responsibilities towards military veterans.

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Benefits due to military veterans will accrue to all who fought for our liberation regardless of party political affiliation, I implore those who will be entrusted with the leadership of this umbrella association to carry out their work in this envisaged, non-partisan and inclusive spirit.

Next year we will celebrate 20 years of our freedom and democracy, It will be a time for us to take stock of our achievements and admittedly our failings, a time to reflect on how far we have come in our quest to realise a better life for all our people.

The twentieth anniversary of our hard won freedom will also be a time for us to remember and honour all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and were unable to celebrate our victory in 1994.

As government we are committed to work with military veterans to honour those who perished on the long walk to freedom,  these  comrades left families behind, the majority of whom are indigent.

It is the responsibility of this government, led by the African National Congress, to endeavour to assist the families of our military veterans despite the constraints of tight budgets and limited resources.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states: “We the people of South Africa; recognise the injustices of the past; honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; respect those who have worked to build and develop our country.”

Programme Director, the Constitution enjoins us not to forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be free men and women, living in dignity.

This should be uppermost in the minds of the 600 delegates gathered here, to form an umbrella association for military veterans, thereby also deepening government's resolve to foster and create an enabling environment for national reconciliation and social cohesion.

Since the advent of democracy in 1994 various initiatives were undertaken to deal with challenges facing military veterans and their families.

The most pressing needs were employment, the provision of housing, education and health services. These efforts had little impact as they were largely uncoordinated and sporadic. The creation of  the South African National Military Veterans Association (SANMVA) in2008 was a significant step towards addressing issues pertaining to military veterans in a coherent and coordinated manner.

A new umbrella Association created under the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011 is required to represent the interests of military veterans.

Section 7 of this Act mandates the Director-General of the DMV to:

  • Establish an Association that represents military veterans nationally
  • Create mechanisms to ensure that the Association serves as an umbrella structure representing military veterans’ organisations
  • Ensure that the Association represents military veterans in a fair manner; conducts its business in a transparent and accountable manner; holds regular and fair elections
  • Facilitate interaction of a duly constituted Association with the Minister of Military Veterans

I am informed that over the past month extensive consultations took place with various representative bodies of military veterans, these consultations culminated in a two-day workshop held at Birchwood on 17 and 18 September 2013.

I am also informed that to promote transparency and inclusivity the DMV sponsored an extensive media campaign in the form of advertisements and editorial coverage, all of which was geared towards ensuring consultation and the full participation of all those who are outside SANMVA structures in this conference.

Despite these efforts it has come to my attention that there are still some military veterans who are not happy with how this process is unfolding.

As the Executing and Political Authority in the Department of Military Veterans, I wish to assure all those with legitimate concerns in this regard, my door shall remain open, with the view of finding lasting solutions and to foster cohesion among all our military veterans.

We want all bona fide military veterans to be included in structures and processes that shape their destiny. The umbrella Association you are about to form should be a truly inclusive and representative one. We should live up to the vision of a “dignified, unified, empowered and self-sufficient military veterans community.”

Comrades and friends, these are challenging yet exciting times.  In my budget vote speech earlier this year I announced that R300 million had been set aside this financial year for delivery of services and benefits to military veterans.

It is with sadness that I report the non-disbursement of these funds to DWV due to issues still to be resolved with National Treasury, my Ministry is giving this matter urgent priority to have the funds transferred as soon as possible.

The Department of Military Veterans is relatively new. It is still grappling with issues of capacity or lack thereof. Priority is being given to filling posts especially in the provinces to bring the department closer to the veterans. We aim to have all posts in the DMV filled by the end of this financial year. We also intend to establish an Appeals Board and Advisory Council before the end of the current financial year.

Programme Director, despite challenges that have hampered our work we have made steady progress in the delivery of some benefits to military veterans.

  • Our target to provide free health care to military veterans has been exceeded by over 100%, as 4853 gained access to free health care against a target of 2 000.
  • In the past financial year 2012/13, 100 military veterans and their dependants received bursaries to study, the number has been doubled to 200 for this financial year.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Department of Water Affairs for the provision of 92 jobs for military veterans.
  • The Department of Environmental Affairs has provided 800 jobs for military veterans and placements are now underway.
  • Other MoUs with Departments such as Education, Transport, Health, Forestry and Fisheries, Public Works etc. to create work opportunities for military veterans are currently being negotiated.
  • An MoU with the Department of Energy for the installation by military veterans of solar geysers is in the pipeline.
  • With the assistance of the Department of Justice ten liberation fighters were re-buried. More re-burials are planned.
  • Last year three medals’ parades were held to honour  almost 500 members of the MK’s Luthuli Detachment as part of the MK’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Key deliverables in the current financial year included:

  • erection of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
  • creation of nearly 2 000 jobs through MoUs mentioned above
  • provision of health care to about 500 military veterans
  • completion of a verified and credible database for military veterans
  • building of 505 houses for military veterans in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements.

The formation of an umbrella association for military veterans should result in a more efficient and quicker delivery of services to its members. The Association should build partnerships with business, trade unions and civil society in general to maximise benefits it can deliver to its members.

You must elect a leadership that is selfless and only driven by a passion to serve its members. I also urge you to use your initiative to start income generating projects.

The government is committed to discharge its responsibilities to military veterans .but its resources are limited. This should not ,however, deter us from striving to provide our military veterans with the services and resources they need to live in dignity.

I wish you a successful conference and assure you that the DMV is ready to work constructively with your association.

I thank you.

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