‘Don’t be used to sow divisions’: Mapisa-Nqakula tells MKMVA

Defence and military veterans minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has taken what can be described as a veiled shot at the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), in the wake of their fresh vows of support for former president Jacob Zuma.

Mapisa-Nqakula took part in the Parliamentary session debating President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday, 17 February 2021.

Mapisa-Nqakuka: MKMVA must uphold Constitution

A military veteran herself, the minister has warned other former troop members to avoid being caught in the middle of matters which may create divisions.

“Whatever challenges we may be having as military veterans, and I am saying this being a military veteran myself, military veterans should never find themselves in situations where they are used to show divisions of counterrevolution in a country,” said Mapisa-Nqakula.

The minister said as military veterans, they have a duty towards the country’s constitution.

“Military veterans are an investment of any country, military veterans should strive all the time to make sure that there is peace and stability in a country alongside members of the defence force. Military veterans should forever uphold the constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” Mapisa-Nqakula further said

MKMVA to protect Zuma at all costs

The MKMVA made headlines recently, camping outside Zuma’s Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal, vowing to fight against any effort to arrest him. This after the State Capture Commission announced it would be approaching the Constitutional Court to seek a jail term for the former president, following his refusal to appear and answer to dozens of corruption allegations.

 “MKMVA will do everything within our members to prevent his arrest and to protect him from such humiliation. There will be from henceforth a presence of uMkhontowesizwe Military Veterans members at Nkandla. When we met President Zuma yesterday (Friday), there was a tune of MKMVA members there in full combat uniform. We will continue to have members of MKMVA in full combat uniform present at his residence for as long as we think it is necessary,” MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus said.

In contrast, members of the Umkhonto Wesizwe National Council (MKNC) have called on the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) to discipline Zuma for choosing to defy the Constitutional Court. The MKNC was formed as a breakaway group from the MKMVA.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has also praised members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for their assistance of over law enforcement, in ensuring compliance to the lockdown regulations.

“As we continue the fight against the pandemic, our focus should include measures under way to acquire and provide the necessary vaccines as directed by the interministerial committee (IMC) on vaccines, led by the deputy president,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.