Leaders of the Mkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV), a successor to the disbanded uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), have threatened to unleash a wave of mass action if the Department of Defence and Military Veterans fails to meet their demand for R5-million to fund their national conference within 14 days.
The ultimatum was delivered in a memorandum during a picket, led by national convenor Dan Hatto, at the department’s offices on Tuesday.
The veterans, representing former combatants of the liberation struggle, are demanding that the department immediately release funds for their upcoming conference, initially scheduled for the end of this month in Gauteng.
The MKLWV framed this not as a request but as a legal right that the department is illegally withholding.
The national conference is expected to host 500 accredited delegates, but insiders in the veterans group said the department is only willing to cover R1.4-million for 150 delegates, which the veterans reject.
The veterans argued that the department’s failure to release more funds undermines their organizational unity and democratic processes.
“Should the department fail to act, MKLWV will intensify its lawful programme of action, including mass mobilization, regional engagements and sustained advocacy through all constitutional channels,” the memorandum warns.
“The department must immediately release and allocate funds for the upcoming MKLWV national conference, in line with the legislative mandate of the department and the initial commitment made to fund 500 accredited delegates,” the memorandum stated.
The MKLWV cited Section 5(1)(d) and Section 7 of the Military Veterans Act of 2011, which explicitly mandate the department to resource and support recognized military veterans’ associations.
The support, the veterans argued, is essential for enabling such associations to perform their representational and advocacy functions effectively.
“The department’s failure or delay in fulfilling this commitment undermines the organizational unity of MK veterans, stalls legitimate democratic processes and perpetuates administrative injustice,” the memorandum asserted.
The MKLWV described the national conference as a “critical platform” for policy formulation, leadership renewal, and organisational consolidation.
According to the memorandum, the conference is essential for addressing the challenges facing military veterans and ensuring that their voices are heard in policy and legislative processes.
“The MKLWV national conference is a critical platform for policy formulation, leadership renewal and organizational consolidation of MK veterans,” the memorandum stated.
The veterans argued that the department’s support for the conference is not a discretionary act of goodwill but a matter of policy consistency and legislative compliance.
“This support is not a favour, but a legislative obligation and a matter of policy consistency,” the memorandum states unequivocally.
The failure to fund the national conference, the MKLWV argued, has far-reaching implications for the unity and democratic functioning of the veterans’ organization.
The memorandum accused the department of stalling legitimate democratic processes and perpetuating administrative injustice by withholding the necessary funds.
“The department’s failure or delay in fulfilling this commitment undermines the organizational unity of MK veterans, stalls legitimate democratic processes, and perpetuates administrative injustice,” it stated.
The MKLWV has also warned that the lack of funding not only disrupts their organizational activities but also erodes trust between the department and the veterans it is mandated to serve.
The MKLWV accused the department of failing to prioritize the welfare of veterans, citing service delivery failures and a lack of consultation on policy and legislative matters.
In the memorandum, the veterans highlighted the department’s recurring excuse of “lack of funding” as a justification for its failures.
However, they argued that this reasoning is contradicted by the department’s financial conduct, including the return of unspent funds to the National Treasury in successive financial years.
“The Mkhonto we Sizwe Libe-ration War Veterans is quite aware of the department’s recurring excuse of ‘lack of funding’. However, this reasoning stands in stark contradiction to the department’s own financial conduct,” the memorandum stated.
The MKLWV further accused the department of wasting resources on non-essential travel and administrative luxuries, which they argued reflect a lack of prioritization and accountability.
“This pattern reflects not a lack of funds, but a lack of prioritization, accountability, and commitment to the welfare of those who sacrificed for the liberation of our country,” the memorandum asserted.
The MKLWV has given the department 14 working days to respond to their demands to release the funds for the national conference or face mass actions.
The veterans have also called for structured dialogue to restore trust and efficiency in the department’s service to military veterans.
“The MKLWV has demonstrated the highest level of discipline and patriotism in pursuit of justice and institutional accountability.
“However, our patience must not be mistaken for weakness,” the memorandum stated.
