Prioritizing the creation of a credible database to accelerate delivery of benefits

17 November 2016

The newly appointed Acting Director General of the Department of Military Veterans’ (DMV) Mr. Max Ozinsky, has said that the Department is to give top priority attention to the speedy creation of a credible and reliable database of Military veteran’s. This is to ensure that bonafide military veterans and their dependants are provided with the benefits and services outlined in the Military Vetrans Act 18 of 2011, in an effective and efficient manner to eliminate corruption.

"The database of military veterans is very important in ensuring that the Department delivers the right benefit at the right time, the right place and to the right military veterans’ and/or their dependants. There has been a major chllenge facing the DMV since its establishment five years ago. If this matter is not resolved as a matter of urgency it will inevitably lead to corruption and delay the speedy roll out of the much needed benefits to the military veterans’ community and their dependants." said the Acting Director General.

"We have created a Task Team composed of senior managers within the Department, which will drive the database process working closely with the military veterans ‘umbrella association SANMVA, and other military veterans associations. We will also be investigating the possiblity of working closely with the relevant law enforcement agencies, to advice where there are cases of fraud in our database." further said the Acting Director-General.

Currently there are approximately 71 000 military veterans’ within the DMV database, coming from both Statutory and Non Statutiory Forces.

Meanwhile the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, addresing the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and the Select Committee of Public Accounts (SCOPA) on the 16th November, also expressed the need for finalisation of the database to ensure a seamless delivery of benefits.