MK veterans optimistic about Presidential Task Team’s verification process

The African National Congress (ANC) military wing’s uMkhonto we Sizwe council says it’s optimistic that the Presidential Task Team’s verification process of those who fought in the liberation struggle and those who claim they did but did not will soon produce positive results.

Carl Niehuis is reported to be among those who have failed the verification process. He’s leading a protest against the verification team on Friday.

The verification process is taking place as a unity conference is slated to take place at the end of the month.

The MK council’s secretary-general Gregory Nthatisi says they are concerned that the number of military veterans has been growing.

“All associations are facing this problem. I mean the war between enemies in terms of liberating this country is over, so there is no need for any structure of veterans to be growing. However, people were left out through this process of verification, because they did not come forward at the time when this process was being put in place,” says Nthatisi.

In October 2021, the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans, Chaired by Deputy President David Mabuza, held a media briefing to update the public on government interventions and the comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by Military Veterans: