verification drive seeks to empower military veterans in Mpumalanga.
By Keletso Mkhwanazi
The Department of Military Veterans (DMV) is conducting a seven-week database verification drive specifically targeting Non-Statutory Force (NSF) veterans.
The drive, which commenced on September 22 and 23 in Malelane, aims to verify the status of former uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), Apla (Azanian Peoples’ Liberation Army) fighters, and personnel from the former defence forces of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda.
According to the DMV, the verification drive is “specifically for NSF members who did not integrate” into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
This effort is part of the DMV’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all qualifying applicants are verified as legitimate military veterans and can access benefits due to them.
“The verification drive is being conducted in various locations across Mpumalanga, including Bushbuckridge, Mbombela, Barberton, Burgersfort, Middelburg, Ermelo, Bethal, Standerton, eMalahleni, Embalenhle, Senotlelo, Siyabuswa, Kwaggafontein, and KwaMhlanga,” they said with addition that the schedule for the verification drive is as follows:
- Bushbuckridge: September 29
- Mbombela: September 30
- Barberton: October 1 and 2
- Burgersfort: October 6
- Middelburg: October 7
- Ermelo: October 8 and 9
- Bethal: October 13 and 14
- Standerton: October 15 and 16
- eMalahleni: October 20 to 23
- Embalenhle: October 27
- Senotlelo: October 28 and 29
- Siyabuswa: October 30
- Kwaggafontein: November 3 and 4
- KwaMhlanga: November 5
The DMV’s verification drive is guided by the Military Veterans Act of 2011, which defines a military veteran as, “a South African citizen who rendered military service to any of the military organisations and has completed their military training and no longer performs military duties, and has not been dishonourably discharged from that military organisation”.
This verification drive follows similar efforts in the Free State and North West provinces, where approximately 400 applicants were targeted, with over 300 from the Free State.
The DMV’s ongoing commitment to verifying and enhancing its database ensures that all military veterans receive the benefits they deserve.
