DMV remembers the late Chris Hani

9 April 2013

The Department of Military Veterans has joined the nation and the world in remembering Chris Hani as 20 years of his brutal killing on 10 April 1993 is being commemorated.

“The pain and damage to the nation caused by his brutal assassination 20 years ago is being felt to this day especially amongst the military veterans community of which he was not only part, but held them dear in his heart. There is no doubt that had he been around, he would have been adding substantial value in providing guidance to the DMV as it prepares to roll out social and economic benefits outlined in Section 5 of the Military Veterans Act, 18 of 2011. These benefits are aimed at building a better life for all the military veterans, especially those like him who helped bring about the freedom and democracy that the country now enjoys.”

Says the Director General of the DMV, Mr Tsepe Motumi. “His vision, valour, compassion and dedication to the course of the poorest and most vulnerable, including the military veterans, continues to be sorely missed. Now that the government has allocated R300 million to the DMV for the financial year 2013/14 to roll out the social and economic benefits for military veterans, we will continue to be inspired by him and many other fallen military veterans such as the former and longest serving Commander in Chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe, (MK), Oliver Reginald Tambo, Solomon Mahlangu, Sabelo Pama, to mention but a few,” further said the Director-General.

As part of its programmes to honour and memorialise military veterans such as the late Chris Hani for their invaluable contributions to reconciliation and nation building, the DMV conferred to the late Chris Hani posthumously, the most prestigious medals viz. the Platinum Class Three and Bravery Gold at the medals parades held in honour of the first detachment of MK, the Luthuli Detachment, on 2 August, 27 October and 6 December 2012.

During this financial year 2013/14, the DMV will hold the remainder of the medals parades to honour the military veterans of the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA) as well as those other detachments of MK such as the June 16, Moncada, Madinoge etc.