By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The talks between government and liberation struggle war veterans have broken down.
The war veterans,who are protesting against the government’s failure to pay them reparations, were meeting Minister of Defence Thandi Modise at the St George Hotel in Centurion.
We have been reliably informed that some government officials were unable to exit the hotel and the veterans were demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa address their concerns, himself, tonight, as Modise was not able to address their grievances.
Visuals from the aftermath of the security forces storming the venue show several individuals lying face down on the ground. Emergency Medical Service (EMS) members are also inside the building.
The members placed their hardship at the ANC and the government’s doorstep,they had yet to receive reparations for their sacrifice for fighting in exile during apartheid.
The veterans belonged to an organisation called Liberation Struggle War Veterans (LSWV), which was based in all nine province.
The organisation’s demands were first brought to the government’s attention when its members marched to the Union Buildings in November 2020.
Modise was accompanied by her deputy, Thabang Makwetla and the minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele to the meeting.
Modise,Gungubele and Makwetla,were eventually rescued from the veterans and taken to a place of safety when members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) stormed the hotel. Stun grenades were used and arrests were also made.
The war veterans,most of whom are from Pietermaritzburg are demanding a R4,2 million reparation of each member who participated in the liberation struggle.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe on Wednesday said that Deputy President David Mabuza, who chairs the Presidential Task Team on Military Veterans, will meet them on Thursday.
However it emerged that Mabuza didn’t attend the meeting scheduled for 17:00.
This is a developing story.