The Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla, will on Saturday, 23 July 2011 address the inaugural conference of Limpopo chapter of the South African National Military Veterans Association (SANMVA).
The Limpopo chapter will join other provinces which have launched SANMVA thus far. SANMVA is an umbrella body of former liberation armies such as Umkhonto Wesizwe Military Veterans (MKMVA) and Azanian People s Liberation Army (APLAMVA), members of the then SADF, and former armies of the erstwhile TVBC states. According to the records of the department of military veterans, there are currently 57 000 registered military veterans from all the above mentioned former military organisations.
Deputy Minister Makwetla is expected to share with SANMVA members the 2011 Military Veterans Bill which has been approved by the Executive (Cabinet) and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans. The Military Veterans Bill has been referred to the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces for final debate and adoption.
The Cabinet approved R1.6 billion over the next three years in order to the address the plight of military veterans. This amount will cover among other things military pension, free health care, access to public transport, business support, education and re-skilling, memorialisation, housing and burial support. These benefits will also target their dependants. The Department of Military Veterans is expected to roll out these benefits before the end of this year, 2011, after parliament has enacted the 2011 Military Veterans Bill and the President signed it into law.
The details are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 23 July 2011Venue: MG Gateway Lodge, Polokwane
Time: 09h30 for 10h00
Enquiries:
Ntime Skhosana (Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister)
Cell: 082 496 6875
