Pretoria – The Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Kebby Maphatsoe, says the process of verifying the details of military veterans will come to an end this year.
In March, the Department of Military Veterans gazetted the Military Veterans Benefits Regulations (MVBR), which set out clear guidelines for the roll out of benefits to military veterans.
At the time, Military Veterans Director-General Tsepe Motumi announced that benefits will be rolled out strategically in accordance with what Treasury has allocated to the department.
Speaking at a media briefing in Cape Town ahead of the department’s Budget Vote on Wednesday, Deputy Minister Maphatsoe said they have already started rolling out benefits to those who qualify.
To date, the department has received 56 000 applications.
Between October and December, last year the department went on road shows in all the nine provinces. In that period, about 5 000 medical healthcare cards were distributed to military veterans.
The cards enable veterans to get free medical care at any medical facility of the SA Medical Health Service (SAMHS) of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).
Deputy Minister Maphatsoe said in the verification process for the roll out of benefits, they are prioritising those with no force numbers and those who were not integrated into the Defence Force.
He said most of the applicants identified or verified were found to be in need of counselling.
“We are giving support to military veterans and their families,” he said.
He said they were also looking at building 1 000 houses for military veterans this financial year, and the possibility of establishing a burial scheme for military veterans.
“Never again shall our veterans be buried as paupers,” Deputy Minister Maphatsoe said. – SAnews.gov.za
