North West Premier Thandi Modise and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thabang Makwetla are to handover newly completed houses to two Military Veterans who fought in the Second World War. The historic handover of the houses is to be held as from 10h00 at the Old Kraaipan Local Tribal Office near Setlagole in the North West province on Wednesday.
“We are excited that the redress and rollout of benefits for military veterans who defended our country and fought for our freedom starts in our province. This gesture will go a long way in restoring the dignity of our heroes and heroines who gave their lives defending our people and our land,” said Premier Modise ahead of the handover.
Deputy Minister Makwetla who recently signed an agreement with the Minister of Rural Development and Land reform, Gugile Nkwinti to utilise the expertise of military veterans in the development of rural economies across the country will in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements use the occasion to launch a national housing programme for military veterans across the country.
The Department of Military Veterans is also in the process of issuing 6 500 healthcare cards issued to registered veterans that will enable veterans to access military healthcare facilities for free medical services.
According to the Military Veterans Act of 2011, a military veteran is “a South African citizen who rendered military service to any of the military organisations, which were involved on all the sides of South Africa’s liberation war from 1960 to 1994, those who served in the Union Defence Force before 1961, and those who became members of the South African National Defence Force after 1994, and has completed his/her military training and no longer performs military duties, and has not been dishonourably discharged from that military organisation.”
Members of the media are invited to cover the handover and launch. For accreditation, Kindly RSVP with Pat Dooms at 084 831 4072 by no later than 14h00 on Tuesday 6 August 2013.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele (Spokesperson)
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
