South Africa’s failure to reintegrate former soldiers into civilian life is evident in the fate of the 78 South Africans arrested for allegedly plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea.
Most of them were members of the apartheid defence force’s 32 and 101 Battalions, while a few were Recces (Special Forces operatives) and Koevoet members.
“[The] Government has not really considered constructive ways to prevent such highly skilled soldiers from engaging in mercenary activities, said Guy Lamb, a researcher at the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR).
“Instead it has enacted punitive legislation [the South African Regulation of Foreign Assistance Act, 1998].”
Research into a nationwide sample of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) and Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla) veterans, conducted by the CCR for the Department of Defence, indicates that two-thirds of former liberation fighters are unemployed, lack proper housing and do not have a matric.
Lamb added that it is doubtful that most of the ex-soldiers now being held in Zumbabwe knew what they were getting into. Reports have indicated that the majority believed they would be security guards in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the absence of easily accessible civilian employment, ex-soldiers with special skills sell these in the security industry, legitimate companies and outfits like the now defunct Executive Outcomes, which employed 150 former members of 32 Battalion, Koevoet and Recces between 1989 and 1999.
The centre’s research among 410 MK and Apla veterans across all nine provinces showed that only 7,56% said they were in formal employment, 16% were involved in “income-generating projects” such as hawking, while 9% depended on government grants and 3% on their families.
During the integration process in 1994, 17 000 of the estimated 29 000 MK combatants and all 6 000 Apla members were inducted into the military. Demobilisation started in 1995 following countrywide protests over the process.
Today it appears that most veterans rely on informal support structures. The centre’s research indicates most respondents meet regularly and try to help each other. While many received vocational training in the liberation forces, the lack of matric remains a major obstacle to finding work.
Many black retired Special Forces operatives are in a similar position, according to the centre’s research.
Most of the 10% who are unemployed are Angolans, Namibians or Zimbabweans who received South African citizenship in the early 1990s. But they also lack matric or higher qualifications.
Unlike former MK or Apla fighters, most of whom underwent a demobilisation process, most ex-Special Forces operatives retired (80%) or secured voluntary severance packages. Of these, 90% have secured post-military employment.
This, the chairperson of the Special Forces League said, was because retired operatives were “the most highly qualified group”. They were selected because of their stable personalities and ability to think laterally.
“Very few become involved in incorrect activities. They are not desperate,” he added.
The centre’s research for the defence department shows a third of retired Special Forces operatives remain in the security and private military industry, including de-mining operations.
The research recommends that the government consider establishing a state-owned “special purpose enterprise” to provide logistical, security and training services for peacekeeping and humanitarian activities.
It also suggests forming a unified veterans’ association, and that veterans’ access to vocational, business and educational training be improved.
The Board of Military Veterans’ Affairs recently approached the Department of Labour to involve veterans in learnerships. The board is compiling a database of all veterans, to be completed in September.
“That will help us to know how many are unemployed and their levels of education,” said board chairperson Deacon Mathe.
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief General Siphiwe Nyanda told the Mail & Guardian that the military could not be held responsible forsoldiers who resigned or retired. Many had done so well before the new defence force was established. All had the opportunity to undergo skills training, while financial, social and other counselling remains available to those leaving.
However, the lot of ex-MK and Apla veterans may be changing.
At Tuesday’s defence budget briefing in Parliament, Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota hinted at a renewed focus within the SANDF veterans’ directorate on veterans’ welfare and rehabilitation.