Hon Deputy Speaker, Azapo will support every attempt to improve the lives of our military veterans. We have said before that our freedom did not come on a silver platter. People fought for it and some paid with their lives.
Some of those who were in the trenches, particularly those coming from the nonstatutory forces or liberation movement, are destitute as we speak. They have no access to health care. Some of them suffer from post-traumatic disorders and therefore need urgent medical care.
Some cannot find employment because while some of us were acquiring qualifications, they were out there waging a war of liberation. Therefore they cannot now support their families. Some of them are too old to seek employment and have no pension to fall back on.
Azapo says that the contribution of military veterans cannot be measured in rands and cents and wholeheartedly supports the Military Veterans Bill.