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The article in the Sunday Times, South Africa, 17th February 2019, has been brought to the WVV's attention.

 

The following extracts have been taken out of the article:

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• "We can't be encouraging an approach that says we still belong to an imperial past," said Department spokesperson Mbulelo Musi.

• The Department of Military Veterans has withdrawn support for an "imperial" commemoration of a World War 1 shipping disaster in which 646 mainly black South Africans died. The Department said this week it would not take part in the annual commemoration of the SS Mendi sinking.

• The annual ceremony, organised by the Gunners Association, is due to take place on Sunday at the SS Mendi memorial in Cape Town, just three days after President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the same site for a separate Armed Forces Day ceremony.

• Department spokesperson Mbulelo Musi said it had decided to support only "unified" ceremonies that did not involve formations rooted in the imperial and apartheid past, such as the Gunners Association.

• "Now in a democratic dispensation, we can't be encouraging an approach that says we still belong to an imperial past," he said. "It cannot be, for it defeats the purpose of what our democratic Government stands for, which is reconciliation, social cohesion and nation building." Musi said both World Wars were "wars of colonialism" that had little to do with SA's democratic freedom. "Colonialism was by nature divisive — it is the opposite of what we stand for as South Africans post-'94," Musi said. "We must therefore be very sensitive to these matters." Musi said the Department would take part in Armed Forces Day on Thursday "in the spirit of trying to say we are all together. It is unfortunate that people move outside the efforts of the nation."

• But Musi insisted the department's intention was not to dishonour victims but to avoid "reopening old wounds"

 

Points for consideration:

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1.    The South African Department of Military Veterans, DMV, which is under the Ministry of Defence and Military      Veterans, MODMV, is reported to have decided not to support future commemorations that are linked to an “Imperial” past. It is assumed that this relates to “British Imperialism” between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. The Cape Colony remained under Dutch rule until 1795 before it fell to the British Crown, before reverting to Dutch Rule in 1803 and again to British occupation in 1806. Thus, South Africa was part of the British Empire. This ended in 1961 – so the period in question is up to 1961.​ 

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• Question 1: Does this imply that it will support all commemorations after 31 May 1961?

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2.    The article singles out the SS Mendi commemoration of World War 1. It is presumed to be related to the services taking place now in South Africa. The DMV has always supported the numerous commemoration services in the past including sending descendants to the UK for the 100th anniversary in 2016. The Government instituted the Order of Mendi for Bravery on 30 November 2003. The SANDF named the last of four Valour-class frigates SAS Mendi (F148) in recognition of the SS Mendi. The President, Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa, accepted the Mendi bell from the UK Prime Minister Theresa May during her visit in August 2018. In 2012 President Jacob Zuma proclaimed that 21 February must be observed and commemorated as the SANDF Armed Forces Day each year and the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Honourable Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nquakula laid the official wreath at the Atteridgeville memorial. This has been done each year and the President will be doing so this year in Cape Town.

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• Question 2: What has suddenly changed that would make the DMV take such a stance this year and just before the service?

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3.    It appears that the Government and the SANDF will continue to commemorate the sinking of the SS Mendi and the DMV will be supporting Armed Forces Day which includes the President laying a wreath at the Mendi Memorial in Cape Town. In the Military Veterans Act No 18 of 2011, it states that military veterans include those that served before 1961 and that any policy regarding the affairs of military veterans must be aimed at: …”recognising and honouring military veterans in life and remembering them in death for their sacrifices on behalf of the nation.” It also states under benefits relating to military veterans that these should include “honouring and memorialising fallen military veterans”.

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• Question 3: Why would the DMV decide not to support veteran organisations in the commemoration of the sinking of the SS Mendi, yet support the Government and SANDF commemorations?

 

4.    What are formations rooted in the imperial and apartheid past? The Gunners Association was formed in 1941 which would then place it in the “imperial” era. It like so many other veteran organisations, (besides Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veterans' Association, MK and Azanian People’s Liberation Army Veterans' Association, APLA) are non-political. The Gunners along with many others are recognised military veteran organisations by the Government going back to the Veterans Act of 1999. These organisations are indirectly members of the South African National Military Veterans Association, SANMVA, which was to act as the association mentioned in the Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011.

 

• Question 4: What would make the DMV now exclude all military veteran organisations established before 1994?

 

5.    Reconciliation, social cohesion and nation building are defined in some dictionaries as:

1. Reconciliation - “the restoration of friendly relations” or “the action of making one view or belief compatible with another”

2. social cohesion - a society that “works towards the well being of all its members” and “fights exclusion and marginalisation” or “creates a sense of belonging” or “promotes trust”

3. nation building - as constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state.

 

• Question 5: How can the lack of support to like-minded organisations, that have been holding these commemoration services for over a 100 years, be assisting with reconciliation, social cohesion and nation building?

 

6.    Many veteran organisations have been holding these very commemoration services for over a 100 years irrespective of the Government of the day. In many of their constitutions it states that they are non-political and that they will remember the fallen irrespective of their gender, ethnicity etc. Many members of Government, SANDF and DMV have in the past attended and supported these services. Many of them have thanked the various organisations for ensuring these services carry on each year. At more and more of these services, representatives of the “enemy” countries are attending and paying their respects to all the fallen.

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• Question 6: By these veteran organisations holding these commemorations services, are they remembering the fallen comrades of yesteryear or remembering the “imperial” times?

 

7.    It is apparent that over the years there have been many comments that those that perished in the sinking of the Mendi were not acknowledged by the regime of the day as well as those regimes thereafter. It is noted that the SA Legion fought many running battles for a decade to ensure all surviving military veterans received equal pensions and all living veterans as well as those who had passed on were recognised as equals irrespective of race or gender. It should be remembered that all those that fought in World War 1 and 2 were volunteers and not ordered to fight on behalf of South Africa. All South African Governments from 1917 supported the commemoration services over the years even the current Government until now. Most of the commemoration services for over 100 years have been arranged by the veteran organisations.

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• Question 7: What has suddenly changed that would result in the DMV deciding not to support those organisations that have holding these services over the years?

 

8.    What is the point of these commemoration services?

Commemoration is defined in some dictionaries as “the action or fact of commemorating a dead person or past event” and “a ceremony or celebration in which a person or event is remembered”. The commemoration services of the sinking of the SS Mendi remembers the event – how tragic it was, a totally unnecessary accident. As well as the Roll of Honour of those individuals that perished in the icy waters.

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• Question 8: Does this promote or have anything to do with the “Imperial” past and break down reconciliation and nation building in the new South Africa?

 

Please fill in the form below with your details, answers, comments and inputs to these questions which should to be considered for us all to understand why this article was written. All veteran organisations need to consider the background to the DMV's decision before reacting out of emotion and passion. Hopefully this will allow all parties to review each other’s points of view and come to an understanding that will result in nation building together in South Africa.