Military vets plead poverty, say they still haven’t received pension

Some former MK, Apla and Azanla soldiers say it is painful that after spending years in foreign lands fighting for the liberation of this country, they now have to beg a government they sacrificed to put in power, to treat them with dignity.

At least 300 former combatants from the armies of the ANC, PAC and Azapo say after applying for their Military Veterans Pension in 2023, they still haven’t received a cent from the department.

Some of them say they have been without food for days with no money to take their children to school.

Howard Mgqulo says it’s very painful that after their selfless sacrifices for this country, they have been reduced to being beggars.

“We have to beg the department, we have to beg individuals and here, we are saying we are military veterans who have fought for this country. It’s not on at all that I have to go to the Department of Military and beg for what is there that I need to benefit. It’s very disheartening that, as military veterans, we are not taken care of. It’s very painful at the end of the day. That is why I then I am saying to the minister, as a mother, my request is for you to put yourself in our shoes as military veterans,” says Mqulo.