Government warned: Failure to support military veterans could lead to social unrest
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence said military veterans' must be given their benefits.
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
The government has been warned to act swiftly in addressing the needs of military veterans, or it risks those veterans becoming mercenaries, which could threaten social security and peace.
This was the warning issued by the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Dakota Legoete, during recent budget discussions on the Department of Defence. He outlined several shortcomings within the defence sector that he believed posed a threat to the state of the nation.
Legoete stated that the country has been struggling to finalise the database of military veterans for the past 14 years. The issue of military veterans has been a challenging subject for the country.
On numerous occasions, individuals claiming to be military veterans have protested, demanding opportunities in various municipalities. A few years ago, a group of people claiming to be military veterans invaded government flats in Pietermaritzburg, citing a need for housing.
“We must ensure that we finalise the database of military veterans. It has now been 14 years, and we are still making no progress,” he said. “The portfolio committee is calling for the finalisation of that database verification so that all deserving military veterans can receive their benefits and live normal lives. A nation that fails to recognise those who have sacrificed and contributed to its nationhood does not deserve a future.
“These military veterans could become mercenaries who threaten social stability and peace. It is incumbent upon us as a nation to pay our allegiance and respect to military veterans.”
In her defence budget vote last week, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said for the 2025/26 financial year, the Department of Military Veterans has been allocated R878 million. She added that thus far, 4 378 military veterans have been provided for at a cost of R217.5 m.
“The database work-stream of the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans is currently in the process of verifying military veterans across the country, having resumed with the North West province, to be followed by Free State in the coming weeks. “Parallel to the verification, we are also embarking on cleansing the existing national military veterans’ database to enhance its integrity.”
In terms of the overall budget, Motshekga said the department plans to intensify the rollout of military veterans' pensions with the aim of reaching 9 600 deserving military veterans or their dependants by 2027/28.
Mduduzi Chiyi of the Liberation Struggle War Veterans (LSWV) said it had noted the committee’s statement on military veterans' issues, especially the database issue. “The Liberation Struggle War Veterans raised this issue of the database that causes misery to veterans in 2020. The president established the Presidential Task Team, which engaged and agreed with LSWV to expedite the process, that is in the consensus document.
“What went wrong was the appointment of a retired general who doesn't care about the lives of Struggle war veterans. Thousands of deserving veterans are not accessing benefits because of verification and database issues. Many died as paupers because of the same reasons. The Ramaphosa government does not care about veterans; instead, they want us all dead soon. As for our veterans becoming mercenaries, government is pushing veterans towards that direction. Veterans are hungry.”
MK Party member, Mzikayise Ntshingila, said the department’s failure to maintain a credible, updated database of veterans is alarming. “Without a clean database, the fraud risk increases, benefits are delayed, and dignity is denied. Despite repeated promises, the department has not fully digitised the verification process of the veterans registry.” Meanwhile, Legoete also emphasised the importance of strengthening the country’s military, stating that the nation cannot be left defenceless.
“The state exists for three reasons: to feed its people, defend its people, and develop its people. Any state loses legitimacy and credibility if it cannot fulfil these roles. All nations worldwide are increasing their defence budgets to protect their citizens. We cannot allow or run a defenceless state,” he added.
Legoete asserted that a strong military must be in place as the country advances in other areas, as progress in sectors such as economic growth, education, health, and job creation cannot occur without proper security. “No one will invest in a country that is not safe or is defenceless,” he added, stressing that the military must be kept in top condition.
“We cannot allow a low fiscal challenge to undermine the capacity of this crucial institution,” he stated. He urged companies responsible for ensuring that the national defence force is well-resourced with equipment to perform their duties effectively. He pointed out that the recent failure of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist during the floods in Umtata indicated that the army is not as well-resourced as it should be.
Legoete also called on Armscor and Denel to improve their performance to ensure that the army is combat-ready for any eventuality, including civil unrest and other national threats.