Being referred to as “streetwalkers” has the uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) in the Moses Mabhida region “spitting fire” at the African National Congress (ANC) leadership. Following Sunday’s meeting of the veterans’ Regional General Council at Edendale in Pietermaritzburg‚ the MKMVA in a statement voiced its displeasure at the “side-lining (of) the ANC military wing veterans”.And‚ the MKMVA said‚ time is tight‚ as the country’s president is the only person who can help and he only has 18 months left in power to do so.The regional meeting saw the launch of “Before the Wicket Falls”‚ which‚ the MKMVA said‚ “is aimed at uplifting its members before the end of President Jacob Zuma’s term of office”.The MKMVA believed the ANC was “hindering the implementation of all their needs…like dignified housing‚ job opportunities‚ medical aid and education support”.“The military veterans act states that all departments in all spheres of government must assist in uplifting military veterans‚” said provincial MKMVA deputy secretary Linda Mbuthu.“But some departments and municipalities are not compliant.”“The MKMVA in the province‚ through (the) ‘Before the Wicket Falls’ initiative is pushing for a full implementation of the military veterans act before Zuma’s exit‚ as we strongly believe that as he was the first president who did something around restoring respect for military veterans‚ his exit might mark the end of it all.“So we want to ensure that by the time he retires everything is by the book and all the resolutions are fully implemented.”The regional MKMVA secretary Menzi Mkhize said bids to engage authorities had been met with contempt.“In our attempt to deal direct with government at all levels‚ we are enraged and shocked as we have evidence that some ANC leaders in the region are telling officials in government to never take us seriously and calling uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' ‘oSkhotheni’ - streetwalker ants/hooligans.“This really rages us‚ after all that we went through for this country; we are now reduced to streetwalker ants by local leadership.”What was needed‚ said Mkhize‚ was to “do away with self-enriching leadership in this region”."The time to beg is over‚ come the next conference we will ensure to elect authentic leaders and clean out all the leaders who bought the votes” said Mkhize...