Defence Committee Expresses Concern Over Continued Delays in Military Veterans' Benefits
During a briefing today on the amended Strategic Plans, annual performance plans, and the 2025/26 Budget of the DMV and the Castle Control Board (CCB), the committee stressed that the absence of a permanent Director-General undermines the department's ability to deliver on its mandate and to manage its budget effectively. The committee also highlighted the dysfunctional organisational structure as a major frustration.
Committee Chairperson, Mr Dakota Legoete, said: 'We urgently need the appointment of a Director-General. The current Acting Director General is uncertain about her future, which compromises accountability and decision making. The continued delays in making this appointment destabilise the department and make it difficult for us, as the oversight committee, to track the department's expenditure and performance.'
The committee said it was sad that the DMV through its inability to put its stakeholders first continued to return unspent funds back to National Treasury. Members of the committee pointed out that on various occasions veterans were reaching out to them complaining after waiting for more than a year for their benefits.
Of specific concern is the roll-out of the pension benefit where it appears that the DMV and implementing agent, the Government Pensions Administration Agency, appear to lack a coherent and responsive plan to serve them. The committee also raised serious concerns about the DMV's failure to establish a functioning internal audit unit which is an essential tool for financial accountability and risk management.
The committee highlighted the need for urgent intervention by the executive to turn around the DMV, starting with the appointment of a permanent Director-General, re-evaluating the organisational structure, addressing the findings of the Auditor-General and developing a more responsive department.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Select Committee on Public Infrastructure Welcomes the Department's Bold Reform Agenda for Infrastructure and Job Creation
The Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in the Presidency has welcomed the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's strategic and annual performance plans for the 2025/26 financial year. The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Rikus Badenhorst, described the plans as a clear and credible turning point for infrastructure-led development in South Africa. He said: "This is not a mere tweak of the department, but a fundamental shift in how it understands and executes its core mandate. Minister Macpherson agenda marks a critical departure towards a department that is a catalyst for infrastructure-led growth, a partner in job creation, and a driver of economic recovery." Following a detailed presentation by the Minister of the department, Mr Dean Macpherson, the committee affirmed its support for the department's renewed vision to serve as a catalyst for economic recovery, job creation, and inclusive growth. The plans are strongly aligned to the National Development Plan and Medium-Term Strategic Framework, and reflect an earnest commitment to reform, delivery and measurable impact. At the centre of this renewed vision is the repositioning of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) from a temporary job relief measure to a structured, skills-based employment pipeline. With a R7.2 billion allocation over the MTEF period, this reform aims to transform the EPWP into a credible contributor to long-term, dignified employment. Mr Badenhorst said the shift from welfare to workforce is one of the most important interventions in restoring both human dignity and economic resilience, remarked. 'We will monitor its implementation with keen interest,' emphasised Mr Badenhorst. The committee also welcomed the department's strategic focus on urban regeneration, repurposing hijacked and underutilised buildings, and optimising state assets for greater public value, particularly within inner-city precincts. This renewed developmental posture is essential to reversing years of stagnation, inefficiency and fiscal wastage. Minister Macpherson was frank in his assessment of the department's historic shortcomings, including systemic inefficiencies, audit deficiencies, and skills shortages. The committee commended the Minister's openness, and noted the department's new risk management framework as a strong response, particularly its intention to clamping down on tender irregularities, tighten controls on lease agreements, and combat collusion in the supply chain. Committee members posed rigorous questions during the session, including queries about the R589 million allocation for infrastructure support, the need to strengthen capacity in the EPWP, and concerns about the alignment of budget allocations with strategic intent. Particular attention was given to the transition to digital systems and its impact on job security, as well as the Department's plans to reduce its lease portfolio and address the long-standing maintenance backlog across government buildings. In response, the department indicated its commitment to prudent asset management, exploring alternative ownership models, and ensuring that modernisation does not come at the expense of employment or service continuity. Mr Badenhorst said to Minister Macpherson: 'It is clear that you bring political will to the table. This committee will match it with rigorous oversight, constructive engagement, and institutional support. Together, we can turn this department, and indeed South Africa, into a construction site of progress.' The committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the department's reform trajectory, underscoring the centrality of infrastructure to the nation's economic and social recovery. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the passing of former Deputy President David Mabuza
I have learned with deep sadness of the passing of former Deputy President and former Premier of Mpumalanga, David Dabede Mabuza. Deputy President Mabuza passed away today, Thursday, 3 July 2025, at a hospital following a short illness. He was 64 years of age. On behalf of Government and the nation, I offer my profound condolences to the late Deputy President's wife, Mrs Mabuza, and the children. I extend my condolences to Deputy President Mabuza's friends and the people of Mpumalanga whom he served as Premier from 2009 to 2018, and previously as a Member of the Executive Council of Mpumalanga across a range of portfolios. My thoughts are also with Deputy President Mabuza's comrades in his political home, the African National Congress, where he was elected as the organisation's Deputy President in December 2017. During his service as Deputy President of the Republic, Deputy President Mabuza applied his leadership and mobilisation abilities to his role as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament; leading the South African National Aids Council; coordinating anti-poverty initiatives in the form of Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development. Deputy President Mabuza also represented South Africa on global platforms and consolidated relations between South Africa and its closest partners. As Deputy President, he chaired the Cabinet Committees of Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development (GSCID) as well as Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security (JCPS). We are saddened today by the loss of a leader who was grounded in activism at the early stages of his political career and who came to lead our nation and shape South Africa's engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community in his role as Deputy President. The former Deputy President deserves our appreciation for his deep commitment to the liberation struggle and to the nation's development as an inclusive, prosperous, democratic state. Further announcements will be made in due course on memorial arrangements and the honours with which the country will pay its final respects to the former Deputy President. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Zawya
Anglo American Zimele opens global doors for South Africa's youth
From rural South Africa to luxury cruise liners, a new generation is rising confident, skilled, and globally connected. From the quiet streets of Limpopo and Rustenburg to the dazzling coastlines of the Caribbean and Europe, a powerful new story is unfolding, one of transformation, mobility, and second chances. Through a visionary partnership between Anglo American Zimele, Summit, and Silversea, dozens of unemployed youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are being trained in international hospitality and placed into life-changing work opportunities aboard luxury cruise ships. And they're not just travelling; they're thriving. "This is a great milestone for the programme and youth development in our host communities," says Larisha Naidoo, head of Anglo American Zimele. "Youth unemployment remains one of the major challenges that South Africa is facing, and this partnership is one of the ways we are contributing to reducing unemployment and poverty in the areas where we operate through impactful skilling." The programme combines hospitality training, personal development, and international placement to provide young people with the tools, mindset, and opportunity to succeed beyond borders. From no opportunities to global experiences For many participants, this is their first formal job, their first flight, and their first time leaving South Africa. But more than anything, it's their first real encounter with dignity and possibility. 'This is not just about employment. It's about reclaiming identity,' shares one of the programme leads from Summit. 'These young people left behind communities where poverty had swallowed hope. Now, they're earning international salaries, learning new cultures, and believing in themselves in ways that once felt out of reach.' And the numbers tell only part of the story. Some have used their income to build homes. Others are supporting their entire households. Many are saving to start businesses of their own. The financial impact is real, but the personal growth is where the magic lives. 'I never thought I'd make it out' Behind every uniform and passport stamp is a story. A young woman who once dropped out of school due to finances is now working in Europe and supporting her siblings. A young man who had never seen the ocean, now docking in cities across the Mediterranean, learning languages, and sending money home to his grandmother. 'I never thought I'd make it out,' says one participant stationed in Italy. "I used to wake up every day wondering if life would ever change. Now, I wake up in a new country with a sense of purpose and pride I've never felt before." They speak about the discipline they've developed, the friendships they've formed across cultures, and the way this experience has redefined what they believe is possible. Beyond jobs: Building personal brands and future leaders The transformation doesn't stop at the sea. As part of the programme's aftercare and reintegration phase, returned beneficiaries are now being supported through personal branding and career development workshops, ensuring their global experience becomes a launchpad for even greater opportunities. Masterclasses have begun across provinces, starting with Limpopo, where returned seafarers are now learning to articulate their stories, update their CVs, and position themselves for long-term career growth, whether in hospitality, entrepreneurship, or beyond. They are no longer just "former cruise workers." They are global citizens, future business owners, community role models, and storytellers of resilience. A model for youth empowerment done right As Youth Month comes to a close, this partnership offers more than inspiration; it presents a blueprint for real, measurable impact. It proves what happens when corporate responsibility meets intentional investment, and when community-rooted initiatives are paired with global-scale opportunity. Back home, families are hopeful. Communities are inspired. And a generation that once felt forgotten is finally being seen, supported, and celebrated. This isn't just youth development - it's nation-building. Because when we dare to believe in the potential of our young people, they show us exactly what they're capable of, and the world, quite literally, becomes their stage.
