The Department of Military Veterans (DMV) met with representatives of the Azanian People’s Liberation Army Military Veterans Associations (APLAMVA) in Pretoria on Tuesday 12 March 2013 to discuss matters of mutual concern with a view to ensuring that they work closely together in order to improve relations and communication that will enhance service delivery military veterans.
The DMV delegation was led by the Director-General Mr Tsepe Motumi and that of APLAMVA was led by Colonel (Retired) Andile Ntabeni.
Key matters that were engaged upon in the meeting were the following:
- Working towards an inclusive military veterans conference of APLAMVA which will help unify the military veterans in their engagements with the DMV
- The medals parade for former APLA members
- The verification process of military veterans
The meeting agreed on holding an urgent inclusive national conference of APLAMVA within the next three months that will ensure effective participation of all military veterans on policy and programmatic matters affecting them.
The meeting noted the progress made thus far with the issuing of medals by the DMV to MKMVA members in 2012 and agreed on the need to fast-track the issuing of medals to APLAMVA members
The meeting also noted the need to verify former APLA members who were left out during the integration process into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) of 1994/5. In that regard the meeting agreed on looking at the verification process currently underway with a view of beefing its capacity such that it can operate in an effective, efficient, inclusive, transparent and fair manner.
The meeting further noted the need to have a system and policy that will guide the relationship between APLAMVA as well as other Military Veterans Associations with the DMV, so that mutually-beneficial relations of trust could be enhanced.
The meeting emphasised the need for the DMV to play a catalyst role in enhancing the unity of the military veterans community in general and that of its Associations in particular. In this regard the holding of an inclusive APLMVA conference was re-emphasised. That would be done in line with the Military Veterans Act no.18 of 2011.
The meeting concluded by agreeing on the need for improving and strengthening communication between the DMV, APLAMVA and other associations.
Enquiries:
Mbulelo Musi
Cell: 082 338 3890
Jaki Seroke
Cell: 072 160 6638 or 082 972 3363
Email: musimbulelo@gmail.com
