Question NW767 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
23 September 2019 - NW767
Arries, Ms LH to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(a) Why have there been delays in the building and allocation of housing for military veterans and (b) are there any plans to speed up the process?
Reply:
(a)&(b) Indeed Honourable Member, the Military Veterans Programme has not been performing as expected and we are extremely concerned about the slow pace of delivery to our military veterans. On 3 May 2017, we convened a National Military Veterans Dialogue to exchange views and dialogue around finding solutions to challenges encountered in the provision of housing for military veterans. It has become evident to me that we have not moved far enough with delivery on this programme.
I will place the matter on top of the agenda of our MINMEC and it will remain a standing item until we make satisfactory progress on this matter.
Some of the reasons provided to me for delays in the delivery of houses for military veterans include:
(i) The finalisation and authentication of the beneficiary list by my Department and the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) has presented challenges for us. The completion of this process prior to the commencement of a military veterans’ housing project is very vital for planning. Where we proceeded to build and complete a project while the approved list had not been finalised, houses have been invaded by military veterans who did not qualify for these houses.
(ii0 Provincial structures of the South African Military Veterans Association in most cases dispute the beneficiary lists submitted by the National Department of Military Veterans.