Department of Defence And Military Veterans Ordered to Tally Costs of Veterans’ Bill
The South African Parliament has ordered the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to do its homework and calculate the costs and number of military veterans that would be affected if benefits mooted under a new bill came into effect.
The Military Veterans Bill aims to extend numerous benefits to veterans following a report last year by a ministerial task team set up to develop policy recommendations for veterans.
But members of the portfolio committee on defense and military veterans have expressed concern that the ministerial task team’s report did not contain cost estimates or figures on how many veterans would be affected if the bill was enacted.
Military Veterans Director General, Tsepe Motumi, told the committee that the department had been engaging with National Treasury and organizations outside government to arrive at costs, adding that these would be revealed in due course.
There are presently about 57,500 military veterans on the department’s database and Motumi pointed out that the department was in the process of registering thousands more members, but he added that many more were yet to be registered by the department.
“With those that did integrate or demobilized, it is easy because they entered the system and they either got employed or got a demobilization package. But those who did not, that is where the challenge is,” Motumi said, adding that the department needed to interview applicants and verify their credentials in order for them to be accepted as bona fide members.
Though Motumi conceded that government could only fulfill its obligations with the resources it had at hand, he emphasized that the department was eager not to see delays in passing the bill.
He said the department would nonetheless endeavor to return to the committee on Tuesday next week with at least some of the figures related to costing of the bill.
The bill defines military veterans as those who served in the union defense force before 1961, those that served in the new South African National Defence Force (SANDF) after 1964 and those who served in liberation groups between 1960 and 1994.
The benefits outlined in the bill include pension, housing subsidies, health care from military hospitals, compensation for injuries, counseling, subsidies for public transport, education and training, employment placement, business opportunities, and honoring and memorialization.
Those applying for benefits will be subject to a means test. An appeal board would also be set up, with members appointed by the minister of defense.
Following concern from one member, the DA’s David Maynier, Motumi said access to business opportunities would not amount to military veterans automatically winning tenders unless they could show that could provide such services.
Maynier’s concern was that the setting aside of business opportunities for veterans represented a “real risk of massive corruption.”
But singling out the example of the US, where the state assisted veterans to obtain tenders, Motumi pointed out that international experience showed that set asides for military veterans were “not a new thing.”
He also stressed that the department would act in a “non-partisan” way when it came to assessing applicants who applied for benefits, after concern from PAC member Letlapa Mphahlele that the bill might unfairly favor some liberation groups above others.
“We are not a political party, we are a bureaucracy that has been established and we seek to act within what the law says,” said Motumi.
Motumi said the bill aimed to ensure that all veterans would be entitled to medical and other benefits.
Explained Motumi: “The fact is that some members are receiving health benefits from a military institution, but the greater number of military veterans is not accessing health care”.
Source: BUA News
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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Category: Africa
What happen on sunday 18thSeptember at the kasteel?
We have no information with regards to Riebeek-Kasteel. Please try:
http://www.riebeekvalley.info/
Sorry not riebeeck kasteel, but the kasteel in Cape town itself.
Apologies, but unfortunately we still have no information specific to Kasteel.
http://www.creativeweekct.co.za/?eventDay=18&eventMonth=September
http://www.safarinow.com/destinations/western-cape/events.aspx
The above links are for the Capetown area.
If you have some information feel free to let us know.
Yes, aparently there’s gonna be a big parade on sunday in capetown and its going to be addres by her majesty self. Dont know if its just another rumor
Thank you for the information, we have still been unable to find anything for the 18th September. On 24th September there will be a big parade in Capetown and across the world. See this link:
http://www.capetown.anglican.org/view.asp?ItemID=450&tname=tblComponent1&oname=News&pg=exhibitions
Rumour in western cape that gauteng and northern provinces has already been compensate? How much truth is it?
We cannot confirm or deny the rumors you have heard.
Wel admin new date for cape town castle is 2nd october.Anything on that date?
Admin:
24th September is free admission because of Heritage Day.
The following is a list of events in the general Capetown area:
http://www.capetown.travel/mobile/events/all/2011/10/02/
On 2nd October the official grand opening of MOP4 takes place at the castle. See: http://www.photocentre.org.za/festival.htm
regarding the artical of the millitary veterans of the sandf..dont u have a link to the registration site of millitary veterans of the sandf
ADMIN:
Please use the contact page at DoD to see if the information is available yet:
http://www.dod.mil.za/contactus/contactus.htm
Be aware there are reports of scammers trying to elicit your personal information in exchange for promises of you receiving the aforementioned benefits.
Admin new date for capetown castle 16th october
Admin: There are still more photography events taking place such as a masterclass and daily workshop.
Guys we’re waiting for the president to sign our papers, so how long do we stil have to wait? If it was for apla or mk this waiting period would’nt be this long
The bill wap passed on the 29th of June2011, am I right or not. So how long do we have to wait?
Well admin there was a number this morning on TV, for mk & apla to contact in connection with a special pension fund.how true is it?
ADMIN: We have read the entire Veterans bill and contacted the relevant authorities but still have no further information as to when any of the legislation will actually be fully functioning. Sorry.
Wel admin can you guys find out if its true that JZ sign the docies or not? Please!!!
Admin: Sorry, you beat us on that one. Unfortunately our local knowledge is too limited to even understand what ‘JZ sign the docies’ means.
JZ the president & docies documents. Sorry
ADMIN: SABC have a report at http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/acd9860048ed3770ab1baf6f69388916/Special-Pension-Fund-hijacked-by-crooks-20111103
This seems to concur with the anecdotal evidence we have been hearing about massive scams surrounding the pensions bill. It also mentions that it may be as late as next March before all things are sorted.
i like to know when the veterans of the free state will meet/where and when!
hi i hear that there is a payout for soldiers that did their mulitary srvice befor 1994 how do i find out more and where do i get the information can you help me please
Admin: Unfortunately we are still unable to find any information out with regards to this matter.
hi guys i am back! More info was publish in our newspaper Die Burger van 28 April 2012. ‘Hulp is vir alle oudvegters’
Hi There,
ok can someone please let me know how do I go about getting the Vet’s payout Thanks
John
Hi and Thank you. Where in Durban can I go and/or who can be contacted ?
Thanks again
84 Brigade HQ in Old Fort Road to sign in/give details for veterans roll.
i just want to know if this is true, if so where do I register, I was in the SAAF and is currently living in Randburg, Gauteng.
Gerrit
I also want to know if its true? I was also in the Army and everyone is talking about this, but no one know where to go to or who to contact. Please help me because I am now a disabled person. Please contact me on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was on SABC 2 news so it is not a hoax or joke.
If anyone do get payouts please note that NO Political PARTY in this country can claim and said that they did something for the OLD SANDF people.
THEY DID NOTHING!!!!!!
I CLAIM FULL OWNERSHIP FOR THIS.