Military veterans confused over army payouts

HUNDREDS of military veterans queued outside the Lord’s Ground military base today with the false expectation that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was going to compensate them.

In fact, the Department of Military Services was looking to verify bona fide veterans and to register them on the military veterans database.

The exercise was also aimed at finding out which veterans were destitute. Registration does not automatically qualify members for benefits.

Many of the men in the queue along KE Masinga (Old Fort) Road thought the registration process would lead to a pension payout.

They blamed the department for the poor communication and said this was exacerbated by information passed on from friends or on social networking sites.

Chris Oellermann, 58, who was a member of the SANDF for 10 years before he was released, said that he expected some kind of compensation.

“I gave my life for this coun- try and I should be compensated. I had heard that we might get a pension payout,” he said.

However, Darryl Michel, whose former sergeant major told him to register, was aware of the means test that would determine if he was eligible for compensation.

“I was told that if we were eligible, we might get a lump sum or a monthly payment,” said Michel, who was a member of the South African Defence Force commandos until the unit was disbanded.

A veteran, who asked not to be named, was outraged at the possibility that he may not qualify for a payout.

“I heard about it from a friend who had already registered and I thought I was here for a pension payout, now I’m asking myself why I am here,” he said.

Meanwhile, 59-year-old Leon Stoltz said that he had been told that veterans would receive medical support and accommodation depending on their circumstances.

However, he said that he was not sure if all veterans were eligible and therefore had no expectations.

Most of the veterans only realised that they were not guaranteed compensation or employment when officials discussed the forms with them.

MISINFOMED: Darryl Michel, who was a member of the South African Defence Force commandos unit until it was disbanded. He was misinformed that the SANDF was veterans were to receive pension payouts.

EXPECTANT: After 17 years of military service, Pravin Partab said that all veterans should be compensated.