Ex-SWATF
More than 300 ex-soldiers from the then South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) who recently met in Rehoboth have unanimously decided not to vote for any party in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to Lukas de Klerk, chairman of the representative committee, the decision was made because none of the competing political parties recognise or promote the ex-soldiers' plight.
"We appeal to the ex-soldiers to stay away from the polling stations in protest against the lack of seriousness with which our problems, issues, pain and suffering have been taken over the years by any of the political movements," De Klerk said in a media statement.
With independence, SWATF was disbanded, and since then, Namibian conscripts who fought on the South African side have continued to seek recognition as war veterans.
In a previous court case, they attempted to challenge the constitutionality of the Veterans Act No. 2 of 2008.
The motion is currently withdrawn, but De Klerk is convinced it will be submitted again.
Financial claims
In the statement, the ex-soldiers and their families ask that there should be no interference with the case and insist that they are not interested in cooperating with any company, organisation or association to continue the court case.
"We only challenge the discrimination against us and only seek veteran status, such as that of former fighters of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN)," the statement reads.
Furthermore, they call for an investigation to be carried out into the rumours of outstanding money that the United Nations (UN) or Sanlam reportedly may still be holding on behalf of the soldiers.
At the time, Sanlam made a payout when a SWATF member died, financed by monthly salary deductions, De Klerk stated.
Claims were made that after independence, the UN provided funds to pay all soldiers, but according to De Klerk, the conscripts never received their share.
De Klerk said a total of 22 600 soldiers returned by the end of the war, although at least 7 000 of them have since died.
#namibiadecides2024
– [email protected]
According to Lukas de Klerk, chairman of the representative committee, the decision was made because none of the competing political parties recognise or promote the ex-soldiers' plight.
"We appeal to the ex-soldiers to stay away from the polling stations in protest against the lack of seriousness with which our problems, issues, pain and suffering have been taken over the years by any of the political movements," De Klerk said in a media statement.
With independence, SWATF was disbanded, and since then, Namibian conscripts who fought on the South African side have continued to seek recognition as war veterans.
In a previous court case, they attempted to challenge the constitutionality of the Veterans Act No. 2 of 2008.
The motion is currently withdrawn, but De Klerk is convinced it will be submitted again.
Financial claims
In the statement, the ex-soldiers and their families ask that there should be no interference with the case and insist that they are not interested in cooperating with any company, organisation or association to continue the court case.
"We only challenge the discrimination against us and only seek veteran status, such as that of former fighters of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN)," the statement reads.
Furthermore, they call for an investigation to be carried out into the rumours of outstanding money that the United Nations (UN) or Sanlam reportedly may still be holding on behalf of the soldiers.
At the time, Sanlam made a payout when a SWATF member died, financed by monthly salary deductions, De Klerk stated.
Claims were made that after independence, the UN provided funds to pay all soldiers, but according to De Klerk, the conscripts never received their share.
De Klerk said a total of 22 600 soldiers returned by the end of the war, although at least 7 000 of them have since died.
#namibiadecides2024
– [email protected]
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