Military veterans demand R4 million each and a farm

THREE military veterans who took part in the recent hostage drama involving two ministers and a deputy minister at St George’s Hotel and Conference Centre, in Irene, Tshwane, are fighting for their lives at different hospitals after they were allegedly beaten.

A fourth veteran had a kidney damaged during the hostage situation on Thursday when the military veterans allegedly demanded R4 million each and a farm.

The veterans, who call themselves Liberation Struggle War Veterans (LSWV), consist of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla) and Azanian National Liberation Army (Azanla) have accused the ANC of failing to distribute $128 million from the United Nations apparently earmarked as compensation for freedom fighters.

A member of LSWV, Lesley Kgogo, yesterday said three members were in hospital.

“We visited them in hospital, they are in a critical condition and one of them is really fighting for his life. We were not armed or carrying any weapons but we were severely beaten,” he said.

Kgogo said they were told to come to the hotel where they were expecting deputy president David Mabuza to address them but they were told that he was not available.

“The whole thing was orchestrated to make us look bad. We have been negotiating on these issues since November last year. All we want is to be paid from the $128m that the United Nations gave the ANC for our reparations.

“It isn’t taxpayers’ money and we know that they invested some of the money in different companies where only the elite are benefiting while we are dying as paupers.”

Kgogo’s allegations about the $128m from the UN were also confirmed by retired General Enoch Mashoala, the chairperson of the database verification and enhancement, an entity that verifies the credentials of all the liberation veterans, who said this money had been a bone of contention during the negotiations.

Mashoala was held hostage alongside Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, as well as Deputy Defence Minister Thabang Makwetla.

“The issue about the $128m from the UN was raised with Deputy President Mabuza and we are still waiting for further evidence about this money so the matter can be properly addressed, I am a military veteran myself and I would love to benefit from it too,” Mashoala said.

He said he was called to the meeting to make a presentation as part of the eight work streams tasked to deal with military veterans issues.

Mashoala said the veterans were agitated when they were told that Mabuza, who was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to head a task team dealing with military veterans matters, was not available to address them as promised.

“I must admit that we haven’t communicated adequately with the veterans and their issues isn’t (sic) a new thing, but they had no right to keep us hostage.

“Imagine these guys, when Minister Modise, who wasn’t feeling well and came out of bed to address them, asked to go to the bathroom during the hostage situation, they refused unless they could escort her to the toilet. I negotiated with their leadership to allow the minister to go to the bathroom without being escorted and I eventually succeeded.”

However, Kgogo said what caused the breakdown was a “disrespectful attitude from Mondli”.

“They kept us waiting for two hours, they didn’t even apologise for it and then they told us that the deputy president wasn’t available to see us.”

Kgogo also refuted claims that they were demanding R4 million each.

“That’s a lie, we are asking for what is due to us. We are talking about 45 000 members, who fought for the liberation of this country.”

Military veteran and Pan African Congress spokesperson Jaki Seroke also confirmed that the veterans were angry over the government’s failure to look after them.

While addressing a press conference, on Friday, Modise said they did not feel that their lives were in danger, but insisted that when the police stormed the area, they were not dealing with anything else but criminals who were violating people’s rights.

“We were unhappy about being refused to leave when the meeting had clearly aborted.

“We do not think that any citizen, whether they had volunteered to fight for the liberation of this country, has any right to interfere with any individual.”

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said three suspects who provided support were released on Friday while 53 would appear in court tomorrow.

He said the suspects were likely to be charged with at least three counts of kidnapping.

Police Minister Bheki Cele said the operation was peaceful as no blood (was) spilt, nobody (was) shot, the law was enforced and the people were protected.

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe could not be reached for comment as he also failed to answer questions sent to him about the money.