The Western Cape is the final province where verification of military veterans for benefits remains outstanding. Work is presently underway, having started earlier in July, with an announced completion date of October.
Verification of applicants in the Western Cape sees personnel from South Africa’s Department of Military Veterans (DMV) working alongside staff in the Database Verification, Cleansing and Enhancement (DVCE) work stream of the DMV Presidential Task Team (PTT).
The verification work in the Western Cape is, as per a DMV statement, only for personnel previously on the strength of former non-statutory forces, such as Apla (Azanian People’s Liberation Army) and MK (uMkhonto weSizwe), the now disbanded armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
The “exercise” as the DMV terms it, is part of ongoing national efforts to verify and validate applications for inclusion on the National Military Veterans Database. The initiative seeks to ensure only military veterans who qualify and are recognised in terms of the Military Veterans Act of 2011 are able to access DMV benefits and support.
To date, verification in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal is complete and veterans with questions are asked to contact the Database Verification, Cleansing and Enhancement administration desk (071 331 1681) during office hours.
The DMV is, as far as can be established, still managed by acting director-general in the form of Nontobeko Mafu since 2024 when Irene Mpolweni resigned. There is no indication from the Defence and Military Veterans Ministries, headed by Angie Motshekga, of when a permanent appointment will be made to the DMV headquarters in Pretoria’s Hatfield.
Additionally, veterans use social media groups as well as the websites of advocacy groups such as the Amalgamated Veterans of SA (AVSA) and send emails appealing for assistance with benefits to this publication. A recent one copied to DefenceWeb has a veteran (name supplied and withheld) telling the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) his pension application was approved on 18 August 2025. “Almost a year later still no pension” the veteran wrote adding it was his 83rd email to the GPAA in attempts to receive what is legally due to him.
The plight of former soldiers including how they are seemingly ignored by those appointed to assist them features regularly in Parliamentary questions with Carl Niehaus (Economic Freedom Fighters), Chris Hattingh and Maliyakhe Shelembe (both Democratic Alliance) leading the charge.
Hattingh’s summary of the sorry state of the DMV – “military veterans need benefits, not bureaucracy” – is seen by any number of frustrated old soldiers as aptly describing the malfunctioning DMV and its appointment of the GPAA to ensure pension payments are made to correctly registered veterans.
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