Pretoria: The Department of Military Veterans (DMV) has announced that the rollout of the military veterans’ pension will continue once a review process is completed. This decision comes after approximately 300 military veterans expressed concerns about delays in receiving their pensions.
According to South African Government News Agency, the department acknowledged the hardship faced by military veterans and recognised their frustration, noting that the benefit is aimed at restoring dignity and improving the quality of life for those who served the country. However, it emphasised that the delays were due to budgetary constraints affecting the department.
The DMV stated that it has become necessary to review the regulations governing the disbursement of the military veterans’ pension. Once the review process is complete, the rollout will resume to ensure that deserving veterans receive the financial assistance they are entitled to. Since the implementation of this benefit in November 2023, over 4,378 military veterans have successfully received their pensions.
The DMV continues to work closely with the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) to process and pay new beneficiaries as they are verified. The department urged military veterans to engage directly with the GPAA to check application statuses and address any challenges promptly.
Last week, the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans expressed concern over the ongoing challenges faced by military veterans, many of whom remain in limbo due to service-related benefit delays. The committee also noted issues with the DMV’s lack of a functioning internal audit unit, which is crucial for financial accountability and risk management.
The committee highlighted the need for urgent intervention by the executive to improve the DMV, including appointing a permanent Director-General, re-evaluating the organisational structure, addressing Auditor-General findings, and developing a more responsive department.