The Department of Human Settlement is set to deliver over 1500 housing units for military veterans across the country in the financial year 2021/2022. According to the department, the delivery of housing for military veterans is a priority.
Misleading information on veterans housing
The department was responding to a voice note circulating in the media platforms from an alleged General and former combatant of a ruling party, alleging that minister Lindiwe Sisulu has sent people in and around Free State to collate names of the military veterans with a promise of giving them houses and relevant benefits. According to the department, the Minister would like to distance herself and the Department of Human Settlements from those individuals who are allegedly promising veterans houses in her name or the Department. The content on the voice note is misleading and unfortunate and should be disregarded with the contempt it deserves.
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“As a matter of fact, the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) is not responsible for the database of the military veterans. The Department of Military Veterans (DMV) is the only department that is responsible for confirming those military veterans whom qualify for benefits including housing, healthcare and training. Therefore, DHS only works on an approved list from the DMV as the custodian of the military veterans database. It is worth underscoring that the military veterans housing programme is administered jointly with the DMV and is based on an MOU the two Departments signed in 2012,” said the department.
“It is well known that Minister Sisulu has been a staunch advocate for the well-being of the military veterans even before her assuming the portfolio of Human Settlements in 2014. When she was the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans she worked with the Executive and Legislatures at the time on the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011 which actually resulted in the establishment of the Department of Military Veterans,” added the department.
