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Military veterans feel left out on promises made by govt

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Military veterans held a summit in Bloemfontein to address challenges faced by former liberation fighters.

Some of the military veterans say they still feel left out on some of the promises made by government.

However, the Free State government has promised to build them decent houses.

A summit to discuss issues affecting military veterans and to look into their plight was held in Free State.

Tumelo Selelane is a former soldier who is now unemployed, who suffered from post-traumatic stress and stroke.

Selelane says military veterans still have a role to play in society.

“So we are going to raise our voices maybe they will be loud enough so that we can be recognised, so that people can understand that we are alive. We are not mentally disturbed; we are physically challenged more than others who are fit.”

The South African National Military Veterans Association has appealed for more funding in order to improve the lives of their members.

Thembile Maginxa says:”We don’t have our own budget. In 2007 conference we asked for a ministry as per resolution of the ANC to assist us.”

The Free State government says efforts are being made to improve the quality of life of former liberation struggle heros.

MEC for Cogta Sisi Ntombela says: “We are what we are today because of them and looking at their conditions that they are living it is not good, it’s bad.”

The Mangaung municipality has also pledged to make industrial land available for use by military veterans to help them earn a living.

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