Proof positive of “gaps and delays” in providing healthcare to military veterans in South Africa’s rural areas comes from the country’s most sparsely populated province – Northern Cape.
A working visit to Barkly West, some 40 km west of the provincial capital Kimberly earlier this month (August), by Ofentse Mokae, Democratic Alliance (DA) National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Member of Parliament, confirmed “inefficiencies” in the Department of Military Veterans (DMV).
His visit was in the wake of Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Angie Motshekga, informing another Parliamentarian there are “gaps and delays” when it comes to military veterans’ healthcare, particularly in rural areas. As part of efforts to change this situation, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP Russel Cebekhulu heard, the DMV is “engaging with provincial premiers to establish protocol agreements to improve access to healthcare for military veterans”.
Mokae, who called on the DMV provincial office in Kimberley and met with old soldiers in and around Barkly West, wants “urgent attention” as opposed to “engagement” for the estimated five thousand old soldiers who call the Northern Cape home.
A statement issued post his hands-on visit has it the provincial office is “under-capacitated” with “a clear lack of co-ordination and efficient systems between the province and the national department”. This has resulted in “immense suffering of military veterans.”
Two veterans Mokae spoke to provided examples of DMV failure to deliver.
One, who broke a knee while serving in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) needs urgent medical care but has had to go without treatment for a prolonged period of time due to due to administrative delays.
Another veteran, diagnosed with prostate cancer, informed Mokae he is on a “backed up” waiting list for a second procedure at a government hospital. “If his medical benefit is authorised he can secure medical treatment at a private hospital sooner, increasing his chances of survival,” Mokae said adding “the DMV is effectively gambling with peoples’ health –and their lives”.
He plans to take up his “concerns” with Motshekga via the NCOP Select Committee on Security and Justice (SCSJ). They include the lack of capacity in the Northern Cape provincial office; “poor support” from DMV headquarters in Pretoria; and “a lack of co-ordination” with stakeholder departments and the provincial government to streamline benefits and services for military veterans.
“Military veterans have risked their lives to achieve a democratic South African, and to fight to protect and secure peace for our country. We will hold the Minister accountable for failing to ensure that they are treated with the dignity and respect owed to them,” Mokae concluded.
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