Military veterans will be paid a social relief of distress support amount of R1,250 per month to augment their pension payout.
Thabang Makwetla, the defence & military veterans deputy minister, said the presidential task team (PTT) believed this would be a significant improvement on the previous R350 social relief support the veterans had been getting.
“The department will find alternative ways to implement such support in an effective and equitable manner to ensure that all those eligible benefit,” he said.
The announcement came during his and minister Thandi Modise’s briefing to update the veterans on their pensions and benefits.
It is regrettable that the military veterans’ pension had not been budgeted for in previous years ... In this financial year, R37m was set aside for this pension
— Thabang Makwetla, deputy minister of defence & military veterans
The department said it had wished to disburse the pension payouts by December 1, as initially communicated by Deputy President David Mabuza, but had failed.
“The process to roll out the pension payout will commence after the lapse of the 30 days' tabling in parliament,” it said.
“It is regrettable that the military veterans’ pension had not been budgeted for in previous years,” said Makwetla.
Priority would be given to members of the former non-statutory forces, he said.
The military veterans’ pension will redress the imbalances of the past and bring to realisation a benefit provided for in the Military Veterans Act.
“In this financial year, R37m was set aside for this pension,” he said.
Makwetla said in implementing the decision, they were confronted with unavoidable administrative processes which resulted in the delay in the payment of the pension benefits.
“One of these was that the draft pension regulations and the pension benefit access form should be tabled in parliament. These were tabled early in December. This will in turn legalise the operationalisation of the pension payout to military veterans.”
In the meantime, Makwetla urged veterans to register with the department to qualify for benefits and avoid delays.
“A fully completed military veterans pension benefit application form should be accompanied by an identity document (ID), certified birth/marriage/partnership certificate and service certificate clearly indicating the force number.”
Military veterans have been urged to apply in person or through registered post.
“These forms will be forwarded to the government pensions administration agency (GPAA) which is responsible for processing applications and paying out the pension.
“The department of military veterans will continue to ensure that qualifying military veterans are provided with the military veterans pension benefit support and that it is implemented in an effective, efficient, sustainable and accountable manner.”
Makwetla said the department also provides funding to eligible military veterans and their dependents who wish to pursue studies in public institutions within SA.
He said the ministry and department were working hard to ensure that the disbursement of the pension benefit was implemented as soon as possible, as well as resolving the glitches relating to the provision of housing, education and access to health facilities for military veterans and their dependents, and the skilling of veterans in line with the Military Veterans Act.
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