Government committed to improving lives of military veterans

• Published date: 26 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

Deputy President David Mabuza has assured military veterans that government is committed to resolving their challenges and giving them quality services.

He was addressing a gathering of military veterans and their associations in the Free State in his capacity as Chairperson of the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans.

'We are making progress. Of course I am not happy about the pace that we are taking, the speed at which we are moving and I'm sure that as we go we are going to pick up the pace. We therefore call upon military veterans of all associations to work together with us and I can assure there is a clear determination from our side to deal with your issues.

'We respect you, we honour you. As a country, we cannot afford to forget our history [and] where we come from. We cannot afford to forget the role that you have played in the liberation of this country,' he said.

The Deputy President acknowledged that the task team has been 'inundated with stories' about the challenges that military veterans are facing.

'We hear a lot of stories about your suffering. We hear a lot of stories about the suffering of your dependents…who are supposed to benefit. Please bear with us, we are here. Brick by brick, step by step we are going to resolve your challenges,' he said.

Deputy President Mabuza said the task team is also seized with sharpening the work of the Department of Military Veterans.

'The department must try and up its game. There is no room...