MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Immediate action required to compensate Reserve Force and Military Veterans

Immediate action required to compensate Reserve Force and Military Veterans

Dear Editor

The DA expresses deep disappointment with Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise, for her apparent lack of commitment in compensating the 822 men and women who serve in the Reserve Force and as Military Veterans. These individuals were called upon to support efforts during the July Unrest in 2021.

The South African Army, along with these dedicated individuals, was deployed to assist the South African Police Services in managing the unrest and restoring stability to the affected areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provinces.

On March 11, 2022, I submitted a written inquiry to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, seeking clarification on whether she was aware of the 822 men and women in the Reserve Force and Military Veterans who responded to President Ramaphosa’s call to report for duty at the Umzimvubu Military Base during the July riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. These individuals have yet to receive their deserved compensation. Additionally, I inquired about the Minister’s intentions to initiate an investigation into this matter.

In her response on May 4, 2022, she acknowledged being informed of the situation and confirmed that the South African Defence Force and the South African Army had already commenced an investigation to address and resolve this matter. She further stated that the outcome and recommendations of the Board of Inquiry would be submitted to her upon conclusion.

It has been over a year, and we are still awaiting action from the Minister. Unfortunately, some of the individuals from the Reserve Force and Military Veterans who have been awaiting compensation since July 2021 have passed away. This serves as evidence that the Minister is not taking this matter seriously.

On April 19, 2023, the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans received a report from the Board of Inquiry, endorsing the findings and recommendations, which were subsequently forwarded to the Chief of the South African Defence Force for a final decision. The recommendations clearly state that all the men and women from the Reserve Force and Military Veterans who reported for duty at Umzimvubu Military Base should be considered for compensation.

We are now in June 2023, and the Minister remains silent. This situation is highly unjust. We question whether the Minister’s lack of urgency is due to her personal immunity from the consequences faced by these individuals.

The DA has once again written a letter to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, demanding the immediate implementation of the Board of Inquiry’s recommendations. We will continue to exert our efforts to ensure that the rights of the Reserve Force and Military Veterans are duly recognized.

Regards

Maliyakhe Shelembe MP
DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans

Category: Tag: ,

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I know that this is off-topic so I will just jump right in and say that MyZA Directory has been great for my business.

  2. South Africa is such a great country and an African Sunset is on my bucket list, do you have any accommodation and/or tour recommendations for the Cape Town Area?

  3. South Africa is such a great country and an African Sunset is on my bucket list, do you have any accommodation and/or tour recommendations for the Cape Town Area?