ATC170315; Report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on an oversight visit to the Department of Military Veterans to determine the Distribution of Benefits to the Military Veterans in the Northern Cape Province on 2 February 2017, report dated 15 March 2017

NCOP Security and Justice

Report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on an oversight visit to the Department of Military Veterans to determine the Distribution of Benefits to the Military Veterans in the Northern Cape Province on 2 February 2017, report dated 15 March 2017.
 

1.     Delegation:

1.1.   The oversight delegation was composed of the following members: 

Province	Political Party	Present
Eastern Cape	African National Congress	Hon T Wana
Free State	African National Congress	Hon Mr J Mohapi
KwaZulu-Natal	African National Congress	Hon JM Mthethwa
	Democratic Alliance	Hon Mr M Chetty
Mpumalanga	African National Congress	Hon Mr MT Mhlanga
Northern Cape	African National Congress	Hon G Manopole
North West	Economic Freedom Fighters	Hon Ms TJ Mokwele
Western Cape	African National Congress	Hon Mr DL Ximbi (Committee Chairperson)

 

1. Background to the oversight visit to the Department of Military Veterans:

The Committee met with the Department of Military Veterans at the Hoedspruit Air force Base on 31 August and 1 September 2016. The Committee set an objective to conduct visits to see the housing provided to military veterans in Mpumalanga Province and to receive a presentation from the Department of Military Veterans on the distribution of benefits provincially, the progress on their turn-around strategy and to highlight strengths and weaknesses in the implementation of their programmes and distribution of benefits provincially. The Committee was not satisfied with the Departments progress and the housing structures provided. The Committee noted many defects in the construction of the houses and committed to monitor the situation. The Committee’s aim in the Northern Cape was to determine the distribution and quality of benefits to the military veterans in the Northern Cape Province.

 

1. Site Visit to Lerato Park Housing Complex

The Delegation visited the housing complex in Lerato Park where the Department of Military Veterans, through the assistance of the Department of Human Settlements, had built 38 houses. The housing project at Lerato Park started as a Presidential project in 2004 but due to budgetary constraints, the project was delayed. The construction phase was at an advanced stage with the housing fully completed however, the Department of Human Settlements experienced problems with cable theft that delayed the electrical compliance certificates and the hand-over of the houses to Military Veterans. The delegation applauded the Department of Military Veterans and the Department of Human Settlements for the well-designed, well-built and well-finished houses. The face brick house was 50 square metres built on a 325 square metre plot with an open plan kitchen and lounge, a spacious main bedroom and a second bedroom with ample room for furniture. The hot water to the house is supplied by a solar geyser.

 

The Delegation queried the 50 square metre size noting that the Free State Province had increased their size to 75 square metres. The Departments explained that the South African Military Veterans Association (SAMVA) had agreed to a standard 50 square metre size for all provinces with variation in design for each province. The Department of Military Veteran’s budget allocation was based on a 50 square metre house but the provincial SAMVA, through negotiations with the Province, could increase the size of the house. The top up for the additional square meters would come from the Provincial budget.

 

The housing distribution was complete and the Department of Military Veterans, with the assistance of the provincial SAMVA, identified and distributed the housing to 18 statutory forces military veterans and 20 non-statutory force military veterans. The Northern Cape Province records 2415 military veterans on the National Military Veteran’s Database (NMVD). 

 

1. Briefing Session with the Department Of Military Veterans and the Department of Human Settlements at the Garden Court Hotel:

The Department of Military Veterans’ Programme 2: Socio Economic support programme is the core business of the department and deals with:

Compensation of military veterans for injury in service, dedicated counselling, education support, pension, public transport subsidy, access to health care services, housing, database and social relief for distress.

 

1. The Department highlighted certain concerns with the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011:
   1. The term non-statutory forces (NSF) does not affirm the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters but denotes a non-recognised armed force.
   2. The database records 17 773 former NSF members while it also records 51 172 former statutory force members. The Act does not discriminate between the two forces and therefore skews the benefits towards the larger group of statutory force members who benefitted under apartheid. This was a cause for discontent among the veterans associations.
   3. The National Military Database records military veterans who are younger than democracy in South Africa. These younger veterans are receiving benefits and thereby placing those who deserve those benefits at a disadvantage. The Defence Decision Support Institute (DDSI) arm of the military is assisting to clear up the database by the end of 2017 as the Department does not have the IT capacity to resolve the matter.

1. Health Care

The Department provides 16075 military veterans with health care services through the South African Military Hospital Service (SAMHS). The Department has processed claims of R543 Million received from SAMHS to date. The Department has paid R24 Million in claims to date. The Northern Cape has 988 military veterans accessing health care.

 

1. Education support

The Department indicated 7886 military veterans and their dependents receive support with 62% receiving support at basic education level and 38% at tertiary level. The provision of education support is creating strain on the budget of the Department. The Department requires approximately R192 Million to fund the programme. The Northern Cape Province has 247 funded learners with a 176 funded at basic education level and 71 funded at tertiary level.

 

1. Social Relief of Distress

The Department provides for social relief of distress (SRD) to the amount of R1200 per month for a period of 6-12 months to assist military veterans. Currently 2158 military veterans receive the subsidy. The Northern Cape Province has 99 SRD applicants. The Department is exploring other avenues to fund the programme.

 

1. Compensation benefits

The demand for the compensation benefits far exceeds the ability of the Department to pay. The Department noted it had teething problems with this programme but required private sector role players to assist the Department to provide the services needed.

 

1. Committee Interaction:

Members noted with pleasure that the presentation was more detailed this time and that the presentation reflected and addressed the concerns previously raised by the Committee in Mpumalanga.

 

The delegation advised the Department to lobby the province to increase the size allocation of the houses. The Free State Province increased the sizes of houses from 50 square metres to 75 square metres. The Department established a team of Deputy Ministers and operation teams to conduct site visits and to undertake monitoring and evaluation on money spent. The teams are doing continuous inspections in provinces. The penalty clauses are being strengthened to prevent deviations. The Department, due to their lack of resources, is tapping into the Department of Human Settlements skills such as the use of National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) inspectors to quality assure the work provided. The Department welcomed the intervention by the Minister and that there was a political will to resolve the bureaucracy challenges.

 

The Delegation noted that the Minister was reviewing the mandate of the Military Veterans Act but that it may take longer than the need allowed. Members noted that an Act without regulations was meaningless. The Department was requested to advise the Committee regarding the changes to the Act that was required. The committee further advised the department to investigate prioritising military veterans at the SAMHS.

 

Members appreciated the presentation and acknowledged the matter was painful when you considered the number of military veterans and the benefits that they required. The delegation noted that the non-statutory force military veterans, who make up the larger number of military veterans, must receive priority and receive equal benefits to their statutory force members.

 

The delegation queried the DMV’s presentation in respect of the fact that in health services R54.3 Million value of claims was received but only R24 Million was paid. Members queried whether this was an indication of underspending within the Department. A similar question arose on the SRD slide where only R16.5 Million was paid. Members queried whether the Department was in a position to make payment.

 

The Delegation noted that Provincial offices must be established in terms of the Act but it was difficult for officials to get in touch with provincial offices. Members wanted to understand what is hindering the provincial premiers from providing offices in provinces.

 

1. Reply by Department:

 

1. Sizes of Houses: The Department indicated the size of the house is legislated in the Military Veterans Act. The problem is that not all provinces are equal and the housing budget allocated to each province is different. The Northern Cape Province does not get much of the budget. The Free State Province only delivered 30 houses but the Northern Cape Province with their smaller budget delivered 38 houses. The Department noted that if you deliver a different size it creates dissatisfaction within the SAMVA. Another consequence of the increase in size is that the Free State budget was depleted because of the change in size. The Department acknowledged that it could do better but required policy changes. The Department is of the view that project plans and timelines must be strictly adhered to and that punitive measures must be employed.

 

1. Funding of Benefits: The DMV cannot provide what is not budgeted for and is considering developing a means test in respect to education. The DMV noted the main cost drivers are housing and education and it is currently embarking on discussions to find alternative funding.

 

1. Payment of Claims: The department is processing the claims but had issues such as non-authentic claims. However, all the monies would be paid by the end of the financial year.

 

1. Office Space: The Northern Cape Province does not have office space. There is no resources such as a desk, computer, etc. The Northern Cape provincial coordinator proposed having district representatives to receive submissions and reports. Travelling long distances places a financial burden on the provincial co-ordinator. The military veterans must be transported to SAMHS by the provincial co-ordinator because there is no established medical transportation system for military veterans. The Department noted that in most provinces there was a concerted effort on the part of the Premiers to assist.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation: The challenge faced by the DMV is monitoring and evaluation and the Department has unfilled positions. To this end, two directors left the employ of the DMV and the Department is engaging the SAMHS to help with monitoring and evaluation.

 

1. Committee Conclusion:

The Delegation acknowledged the DMV’s openness about its shortcomings. The members emphasised that the challenge of working in a collaborative manner and integrated approach is lacking in government and that this must be elevated to the highest level.

 

1. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:
   1. The Committee recommended that the sizes of houses should be reviewed.
   2. The DMV and SAMHS should meet and enter into an agreement to address their challenges.
   3. That premiers in all provinces should be approached to assist the DMV with office space and that the DMV should look at innovative ways to work with other Departments to ensure that MVs receive their benefits.
   4. The Department was requested to advise the Committee regarding the changes to the Act that was required. The committee further advised the department to investigate prioritising military veterans at the SAMHS.

 

Report to be considered.

 

 

 

 

Report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on an oversight visit to the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) to determine the distribution of benefits to the Northern Cape Military Veterans in the Northern Cape Province on 3 February 2017, report dated 15 February 2017.

1.     Delegation:

1.1.   The oversight delegation was composed of the following members: 

Province	Political Party	Present
Eastern Cape	African National Congress	Hon T Wana
Free State	African National Congress	Hon Mr J Mohapi
Mpumalanga	African National Congress	Hon Mr MT Mhlanga
Northern Cape	African National Congress	Hon G Manopole
North West	Economic Freedom Fighters	Hon Ms TJ Mokwele
Western Cape	African National Congress	Hon Mr DL Ximbi (Committee Chairperson)

 

1. Briefing Session at Kimberley Sickbay – Department of Defence

Lt. Col. K Padayachee, the General Officer in command of the facility briefed the delegation: 

 

The SAMHS integrates the military veterans by registering the military veterans on its medical database. The challenge is that the Department of Military Veterans must fill in the application forms but this may take months to complete as a full medical background must be established before treatment may commence. Once a military veteran is registered the patient is received by the administrative section of the hospital and then referred to the nursing section for treatment.

 

Some of the challenges experienced is that, military veterans struggle to get their veteran identification cards. Another challenge is patient transport where a patient that is discharged is transported back home via public or personal transport. A patient should be transported via medical transport. The database was raised as a concern as patient medical records could not be accessed. The different databases need to speak to each other.

 

The Committee noted with concern the attitude of officials when addressing members of the Committee and as a principle reminds officials that the members of parliament are duly elected representatives of the Republic of South Africa and must be accorded the proper decorum and respect at all times.

 

Due to the detailed presentation received by the delegation from the DMV, the committee was of the view that the challenges raised by SAMHS should be addressed between the two Departments and made the following recommendations:

 

Committee Recommendations:

1. The Delegation identified a need to discuss the capacity constraints such as transporting of patients and the database concerns with the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
2. The Delegation advised the DMV and SAMHS to meet to sort out their challenges and to find solutions in order for Military Veterans to receive appropriate medical treatment.

 

Report to be considered.