Durban — KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma handed over nine houses to military veterans in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg, on Sunday.
Duma said that military veterans are an important heritage that must be appreciated for many years to come. He also said it was through their efforts that on April 27, 1994, “we attained political freedom and democracy we are enjoying today”.
“Today we are here in Copesville ward 29 to honour military veterans for their selflessness by handing over keys to nine of the 20 houses,” Duma said.
He added that they had re-energised efforts to speed up the construction of their houses in conjunction with the National Department of Human Settlements, the Department of Military Veterans and various military veterans formations such as the Azanian National Liberation Army (AZANLA), Apla Military Veterans (APLAMVA) and the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA).
He thanked the Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, for the support and solid foundation laid by former MECs of this department.
“It should be remembered that we concluded the verification processes of Aloe Ridge occupants. From the initial verification exercise, 52 of the 262 occupants were found to be on the database of the Department of Military Veterans. These are the bona fide veterans that we are currently working with,” said Duma.
The first group of bona fide military veterans who occupied the Aloe Ridge Social Housing Project are now living comfortably in finished houses in the uMshwathi Local Municipality, he said.
Military veteran Jabulani Mthembu, 59, said that he now owned for the first time. He said he only received a special grant from the Government Employee Pension Fund (GEPF) as a source of income.
“My dignity has been restored. I am very grateful to the MEC and the department. I now own a property for the first time in my life,” said Mthembu.
The MEC also committed to delivering a total of 100 houses for military veterans before the end of this financial year. He said construction was under way across the province in the eThekwini, Msunduzi, Jozini, Umzimkhulu, and uMshwathi municipalities.
“I am very disappointed that there are criminals who have removed pipes to the geyser. We are calling on the community of Copesville ward 29 to stand together. Criminals have become the biggest threat to the freedom that we attained after years of struggle. Anyone who is committing crime against a military veteran is attacking the whole nation.”
He also said they were planning new housing projects for military veterans in Pongola, Newcastle and other municipalities.
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