SACC Veterans Furious with SA Gov

Yes! South African Cape Corps was part of SADF and served in the Angola war. After being disbanded in 1992 SACC members were integrated into SANDF in 1994 when South Africa transitioned from an Apartheid state to a Democratic state. Many other SACC members who lived through the traumatic periods and vowed to offer up their lives for South Africa during the 60s, 70s, and 80s stepped back into civilian lives. 

It has been 30 years of democracy and still, these patriotic men who fought on the frontlines have not seen any form of reimbursement for the sacrifices they have made. Many are over the age of 50 years today and have lost family, friends, and more during their stint in the SADF and today they are treated like second-class citizens feeling entirely left behind and ignored as citizens by a government that is constantly under the spotlight for corruption and other irregular activities. 

Cornelius Pieterse who was in service from 1987 - 1993 and reached the rank of corporal says that he served on the Namibian border in 1987 - 1988. “Today we as the SACC veterans are looked down upon. We are not being paid and every time there seems to be a problem with documentation or the government’s system,” says Pieterse.

The Government of South Africa is the highest body and should be the standard for how systems function in the country. If they falter then it’s like the rest of the country and all privately owned systems can get a free pass should they tumble and make an error. The ruling Government can not get free passes for continuous errors that they are unable to resolve. The purpose of their existence is to serve the South African Nation and to do so at the highest performance levels possible.

Donovan Krediet a 50-year-old from Franshoek says that he served in SACC from 1990 - 1992. According to Krediet, Apla a military group who fought during Apartheid has received payment in 1997 already and they are also fighting for their pension alongside SACC today. “The projected monthly pension payment per veteran of R5000.00 is very low considering that many veterans are living on the streets. We want a reasonable amount that would allow us to look after our families and that is why R15000.00 is a more respectable total” says Krediet.

Irrespective of who the ruling government is they must respect the citizens of the Republic of South Africa and recognise all the contributions that citizens make throughout the years to build and preserve the greatness of the Nation. The SACC veterans have the right to be furious and ask questions from the ruling government which has had 30 years pass by without making any tangible contribution to the livelihoods and well-being of the SACC veterans.