I represent the voice of all South African Military Veterans and demand for their rightful place on the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) database, alongside the commensurate benefits and pensions that they indisputably deserve

But we refuse to sit idly by and accept this complacency any longer. We refuse to be satisfied with empty words and hollow gestures

 WE DEMAND ACTION.  WE DEMAND RESULTS

The time for excuses and delays is over. The time for tangible progress and real change is now. It is time for the new government to finally deliver on their commitments to us, the citizens they are supposed to serve

As a veteran or a citizen of South Africa I believe this plight of Military Veterans deserve urgent attention.

Governments use citizens to fight wars/conflicts on their behalf. During that time, they are heroes. However, very soon after the war/conflict is over, the now veterans are forgotten. After years of pressure from veterans and citizens our government adopted the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011 which legislates what benefits are available for veterans. Then the Department of Military Veterans, DMV, who is responsible to carry out the government's wishes, published their regulations, 2014, which states how these benefits will be administered and to whom, laying down the criteria etc.
The Department of Defence, DOD, has issued over 1,6 million force numbers on their PERSOL, Personnel and Salary System, over the years. There could be well over 900,000 current veterans who served.  Why after 10 years of DMV capturing these veterans on their National Military Veterans Database only got less than 10% captured. In fact, there were an original estimated 57,000 names on the database given to DMV when it started as far back as 2010. Thus far,  an estimate of 25,000 veterans have been added in 10 years

It cannot be due to capacity as there are over 40 vacant posts in the DMV, and a huge number of personnel employed to achieve their targets

 It cannot be due to lack of funds as DMV returns hundreds of millions of unspent budgets each year

Could it be due to incapability, poor management and bad oversight?

The DMV has had over ten Director Generals or Acting Director Generals since the inception. Several staff at all levels have been suspended for various reasons, some for over a year on full pay.  It is clear that the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans, MODMV, is aware of the issues due to all the reports to the Parliamentary Committee on Defence who are well aware of these issues due to their media statements and so is the Presidency due to the feed back from the Presidential Task Team. The DMV is well known to be one of the worst departments in the government for many years

Why has nothing been done if this is so well known?

Is it time for this department to be put under administration or at least a focused plan of action to correct it?

 This could start with ensuring that efficient processes are put in place urgently to ensure that regulations are carried out to the letter

For a simple example to show how dire the issue is, veterans are resending in their applications to be registered on the database which is the first necessary step for any benefits, for months and years, because there is no communication between the DMV and the Veterans. This just creates duplicates that have to be handled which causes more issues

Veterans phone the call centre which is mostly out of order, not answered and operators do not have the information to answer the questions. Some are now calling weekly to try and get answers, which just adds to the congestion. Emails are mostly not responded to, or if answered, poorly written automated responses are sent

Some veterans have now taken to weekly emails going to several email addresses trying to get attention to their issue, which again adds stress to those who often cannot action or correct it immediately

DMV regulations states acknowledgement must be within 30 days, this is very seldom achieved. When it is achieved the automated responses states the application will be handled within 6 or 12 months and some even state by the end of 2025. How can this be acceptable?
This is even when a veteran has passed on and the spouse tries to obtain the funeral benefit due to that veteran. They have to claim the benefit within one year of the veteran passing. In most cases the registration takes longer than one year. Veterans in dire straits are dying or committing suicide due to lack of support from DMV
This petition calls on the National Parliament, the Parliamentary Committee for Defence, the Presidency and the Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans to take divisive action to draw up a plan of action that involved a Private Public Partnership so that expertise can be brought together in order to get the DMV back on track within months.

SUMMARY

First and foremost, we demand comprehensive and transparent registration on the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) for all military veterans

 Accurate record-keeping is the foundation upon which all other benefits are built. Without it, our veterans are rendered invisible, their sacrifices forgotten. This is unacceptable. Efficient and accurate database registration is not merely a bureaucratic necessity; it is a moral imperative

Secondly, we call for the immediate and unconditional provision of all benefits promised to our veterans

This includes but is not limited to healthcare, housing, education, and employment opportunities. These benefits are not privileges but rights, earned through unparalleled service and sacrifice. Our veterans have stood as the shield for our nation; it's only fair that we stand as the pillar for their well-being

Lastly, let us address the issue of pensions

Many of our veterans struggle to make ends meet, facing financial hardships that are both undeserved and avoidable. A fair and just pension is a fundamental right, one that ensures our veterans can live out their post-service lives with dignity and security. It is a small price to pay for the peace and stability they have afforded us

Let us come together as MILITARY VETERANS OF SOUTH AFRICA, CIVIL SOCIETY, and ORDINARY CITIZENS alike, to ensure that our military veterans receive their rightful place on the database, along with all the benefits and pensions they have undeniably earned

Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me

Ernest Lintnaar

FOUNDER OF VETERANS GROUP

AMALGAMATED VETERANS OF SOUTH AFRICA (AVSA)

MOBILE :  +27 79 146 6386

E-MAIL :  ernest@semc.co.za