Minister sued for R10m over veterans’ health needs

JOHANNESBURG: Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been slapped with a R10 million lawsuit for allegedly failing to provide health care services to former freedom fighters.

The lawsuit was brought by Malik Vazi, a former Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) combatant- turned- businessman. Vazi, from Pretoria, was awarded a tender to provide health care and counselling services to former MK mem- bers, the PAC’s Azanian People’s Liberation Army and the Black Consciousness Movement’s Azanian National Liberation Army members.

The sole director of Zeal Health Innovations, Vazi’s company was awarded the tender in May to provide services to more than 16 000 military veterans.

The government has 57 000 military veterans on its database and 16 000 of them are in dire need of health care. Some of them were on chronic medication, while others suffer from Aids-related ailments.

The firm was earlier given an interim contract – between March and May – and was paid almost R500 000.

In his urgent court application, Vazi argues that the minister and the department’s acting director-general have failed to pay a cent since Zeal Health started official duties from June to September.

In terms of the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011, it is the responsibility of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans to provide health care and wellness services to former activists.

Vazi said: “The majority of the beneficiaries are already ill and require medical treatment of one sort or another. A significant number have chronic conditions. The average age of beneficiaries is 49 years old.”

According to documents in court, the previous company which rendered the service was improperly appointed. Vazi is asking the court to force the minister to pay from June until this month.

“By this time, the number of beneficiaries registered on the chronic disease manage- ment programme has risen to 327. Some 1 096 veterans had used the primary services and 57 had used the psychological services during July alone.

“All of these costs, cumulatively amounting to several million rand, have been borne by Zeal Health from its own resources,” Vazi said.

Attempts to get comment from the department were unsuccessful. Its spokesperson, Joy Peter, did not return e-mail requests and SMSes sent to her.