WALVIS BAY – The Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, Hilma Nicanor, has warned dubious businesses that are conning war veterans through the sale of questionable vehicles to stop doing so. The minister said some businesses are selling vehicles that cannot even be used for a month at exorbitant prices to war veterans.
“This ministry has received numerous complaints in this regard. We are therefore calling upon businesses that make themselves guilty of such practices to immediately stop as such practices are undermining the good intentions of the ministry,” Nicanor said at the opening of the annual review and work meeting of the ministry this week in Walvis Bay.
Furthermore, Nicanor said the monitoring of progress of individual veterans projects was conducted and the results indicate that many veterans are successful in their undertakings. “However, I wish to urge all to come up with activities in the strategic plan aimed at curbing the problems of veterans especially those who suffered at the hands of some dishonest businesses that out there to rob them,” she said.
Nicanor said the ministry would continuously carry out its mandatory obligation of initiating, promoting and implementing projects and programmes which will adress the socio-economic needs of veterans.
“Despite the many challenges faced by the ministry, we have made some tangible achievements such as the five-year strategic plan, annual work plans and performance agreements that were reviewed and completed,” Nicanor said.
The ministry registered a total of 2 724 veterans during the 2013/2014 financial year which bring the total of registered veterans to 27 014. “We received a total of 60 787 applicants of which 33 773 applicants could not make it, which proves that careful vetting and subsequent approval of applications for registration of veterans is made. In this way veteran status is only granted to those who meet the requirements as stipulated in the Veterans Act,” she explained.
She went on to say that the ministry during the same financial year provided financial support in the form of education and training grants to 301 veterans and/or their dependants. Adding that a total of 688 beneficiaries were given education grants by the ministry to study at different recognised institutions. “We also assisted 286 funerals of veterans compared to only 157 during the previous year,” she said.
Furthermore veterans’ housing need assessments were done throughout the 14 regions and 76 houses are currently under construction for severely disabled and elderly veterans in different regions, while phase one of the construction of the Etaka Veterans Recreational Centre has already started and is progressing well.
By Eveline de Klerk