‘Veterans will have houses’

COMPLETING low-cost houses for military veterans by the end of the 2015/2016 financial year is long overdue, and the commitment by Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu is “100 percent welcomed”, said provincial Military Veterans Association secretary Thuso Mkabile.

Mkabile’s sentiments came after an address by Sisulu at a gathering of more than 200 military veterans at the City’s chambers yesterday.

Sisulu announced that houses for military veterans would be prioritised and at the end of this financial year, the houses and recreational parks should be completed.

She said the more than 5 000 registered and verified military veterans in the Department of Military Veterans ( DMV) database “must have houses by the end of this financial year”, which would be in April 2016.

She said she would report back in 14 days on the plans and her plans would be executed.

Mkabile said the plans were long overdue and would make a great change in the lives of the veterans.

Mkabile said in 2008 there were plans to call an indaba to discuss the welfare of veterans, but the meeting never materialised.

He said the veterans would live a dignified life as a result of the houses being completed.

During her address, Sisulu said: “We owe our freedom to you. It is my mission to ensure that in this financial year, all military veterans have houses, decent houses for the sacrifices you have made for us as a nation.”

Sisulu said the veterans could build their own houses.

“Some of you still have energy from the camps. We must convert that energy into construction skills for you to work with us in building your own houses. I want you to become construction developers of the future and get involved in all mega projects.”

Human Settlements Ministry head of communications Ndivhuwo Mabaya said health and sporting facilities would be erected where the houses would be built.

“There are those who want the houses built where they are currently staying and those that are willing to move anywhere in their province.

“In Cape Town we are in the process of identifying land, and some of the land we are looking at is owned by the department of public works, which we are in communication with,” he said.

“We don’t think land is an issue. There is money that has been prioritised for this project, and we are hopeful that by the end of this financial year, we are going to reap results.

“Any veteran who is not on the database must engage with the department and register their names,” said Mabaya.