MEDIA RELEASE 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

16 OCTOBER 2026 

Military veterans to access benefits without prior database registration from 1 November 2026 

Pretoria, South Africa. All South African military veterans, including those who served before 1994 and those who served in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), will be able to access healthcare and other benefits (based on a set means test) provided by the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) from 1 November 2026, regardless of whether they are registered on the Department’s database. 

The decision, announced by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and her Department on 15 October, removes the requirement for veterans with a force number to apply for registration on the National Military Veterans Database. Veterans who have already submitted applications, some dating back to the early 2000s, will also be deemed approved for registration with effect from 1 November 2026. 

The announcement follows a court order compelling the DMV to fulfil its statutory obligations to military veterans, including ensuring their timely registration on the database and providing healthcare benefits to qualifying veterans. 

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria issued the order on 11 May 2026, following an application by the Council of Military Veterans Organisations of the Republic of South Africa (CMVO SA), an umbrella body representing 32 military veterans’ associations across the country. 

The legal action followed decades of unsuccessful attempts to resolve the Department’s failure to meet its obligations under the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011. 

Rear Admiral (Ret) Robert Higgs, chairperson of CMVO SA, welcomed the announcement, describing the decision as a significant step towards addressing long-standing barriers preventing veterans from accessing their benefits. 

Higgs says, “This is a phenomenal and groundbreaking shift that immediately removes the biggest hurdle our military veterans have had to overcome: submitting an application for registration on the database, followed by years of silence, before they could access the benefits they deserve and are entitled to.” 

He also welcomed the recognition of veterans from former liberation forces, including the Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA), the Azanian National Liberation Army (AZANLA) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), who were never integrated into the SANDF and therefore do not have force numbers. These veterans have now been approved for inclusion on the database. 

Higgs adds, “Finally, the DMV is affording all our military veterans the recognition they deserve for their sacrifice by opening the door for them to apply to the Department for benefits to which they are entitled under the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011. Most have never had access to these benefits.” 

While welcoming the Department’s compliance with Part 1 of the court order, Higgs said CMVO SA would continue to engage with the Minister and the DMV to ensure compliance with Parts 2 and 3 of the Court Order. 

These provisions relate to the processing of applications for healthcare benefits, as well as the reconstitution of an Appeals Board to consider unsuccessful-rejected applications. 

Higgs acknowledged the budgetary constraints facing the Department but said government needed to work collectively to ensure that veterans received the support to which they were entitled. 

“Our government and the country owe all veterans a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. A united effort is therefore required from the executive and legislative arms of government, led by the President and National Treasury, to identify and ring-fence the funding needed to provide these men and women with their entitled benefits. 

“All our military veterans played an integral role in the evolution of our country and need to be recognised as our greatest generation. Some paid the ultimate price in service to our country, and their sacrifice helped underpin our democratic transition.” 

Issued by: Council of Military Veterans Organisations of the Republic of South Africa (CMVO SA) 
Media enquiries: JACO VAN AS 
COL (Retired) 
Secretary General CMVO 
Cell: 079 197 6267 Email: secretarygeneral@cmvo.org.za 

 

(Provided by the CMVO to all member organisations)