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Parliament, Thursday, 12 November 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans has expressed concerns about the Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DMV) ability to implement a Gauteng High Court Order.
The committee meeting followed an order issued on 11 March 2026 by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria after an application by the Council of Military Veterans Organisations of South Africa, which represents 32 veterans’ associations.
The court order arose from longstanding failures to register qualifying military veterans on the national military veterans database and process applications for statutory benefits.
The order directed the DMV to register qualifying veterans within 90 working days of receiving their applications and to decide on healthcare applications within 90 working days of receipt. It also requires the department to provide full written reasons for rejecting an applicant and to refer such cases to the Appeal Board if the applicants appeal.
The DMV told the committee that it was implementing the court order as a whole, including recommendations made by the committee, to deal with all outstanding applications. However, the committee expressed concerns about the absence of the Minister of Defence and the Acting Director General of the Department of Military Veterans, who are the primary respondents in the case, for a meeting to discuss the court order.
The committee proceeded with the meeting after committee members expressed their displeasure that those responsible for the implementation of the court order were not available to answer questions.
The committee called on the development of a clear implementation plan and for written feedback on the committee’s questions about the implementation plan.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS, MR MZIMASI HALA.
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