Over 22 000 former South West Africa Territory Force (SWATF) soldiers plan to sue the government for N$5.7 billion in unpaid veteran benefits and compensation.
They say they were not “murderers” during the apartheid era, claiming Namibians can today see the fruit of their work.
Speaking on behalf of the 22 600 former soldiers, Fernando Mathias says members of the territorial force defended Namibia’s borders in the past and protected the country’s property.
“But they are accusing us of being murderers, which is not true. Because today you can see the fruit of our work. Everything is okay,” he says.
This comes after the group held a meeting in Windhoek last week, demanding compensation and veterans benefits.
The group plans to take the government to court, saying they have not received benefits due to them since independence.
Ministry of Defence and Veterans affairs spokesperson colonel Petrus Shilumbu yesterday said the group’s allegations raise questions about the origin of the funds they claim are owed to them.
“Who has received that money they are claiming?” he asked.
Shilumbu said the group is free to pursue legal action if it believes it has a case against the government.
“Let them meet in court,” he said.
Shilumbu said former president Hage Geingob had previously responded to concerns raised by former SWATF members.
The Namibian previously reported that Geingob said the former SWATF soldiers should direct their demands for veteran benefits to their former employer.
“We will never be convinced that entertaining the demands of the former soldiers to be recognised as war veterans is constructive.
They were paid by those who hired them, and will not receive compensation from the government,” he said in the past.
‘THE MONEY IS THERE’
Another ex-soldier, Willem Coetzee, says the group has come across files containing members’ names, stating that the United Nations was to pay them N$8.8 million, the European Union N$4.5 million, and the government N$3.88 million.
“It is there at the commercial bank where these two fighters are being held by the Bank of Namibia.
They know about it. We have correspondence with the Bank of Namibia,” he says.
The group is calling for a forensic audit of the alleged funds, as well as a review of the Veterans Act.
Coetzee says the group held a meeting with a parliamentary standing committee on 29 April during which they admitted the Veterans Act is unconstitutional and discriminatory.
