SAMVOZA Safe House Project

SAMVOINT – Safe House Project
Background document
For internal briefing purposes ONLY

Project Brief dated 27th August, 2019

Project: SAMVOINT Safe House Project:

Whereas, the SAMVOINT Entities offers its members the opportunity to meet, network and attend Remembrance Services in countries outside of South Africa, the SAMVOINT Executive believes that our Zone 2A Entity, SAMVOZA, in South Africa, needs to differentiate more from other veteran organisations, if we are going to be meaningful to our membership and the communities in that Zone.
Since early 2016, SAMVOINT established our Medal and Welfare Office in Johannesburg and Yongama Zigebe has managed this office. The National Chairman of SAMVOZA, who is also our SAMVOINT Representative to the CMVO, Veteran Colin Bowring MMM, oversees its operation. There have been, and still are, many cases of veterans who are in desperate need of support, but battle to fill in the required forms in order to receive veteran benefits. They either do not have the skills, or the contacts to ensure that the forms are submitted in the required format, way and place. Aside from his visits to SANDF Medals and Awards, Yongama has been steadfastly visiting the DMV to ensure that applications for benefits are presented and being processed, and he also includes visiting veterans in 1 Mil Hospital.

Mid 2019, SAMVOINT was made aware of a veteran in East London who, for many years, had been supporting an elderly General, who was too ill to look after himself. This veteran and his family lived in the General’s home and, as part of his package; he rendered all manner of assistance in support of the General. The daughter of the General paid him a very small sum towards his service, but, from his point of view, he and his family had a roof over their heads. Subsequently, the General passed away and the daughter sold the house and the family was given three months to find alternative accommodation and work.

This veteran is himself elderly with a low skill-set, which tended more towards being a gardener. However, he had developed a sideline income from collecting bottles, glasses and other recyclable materials in order to suitably feed and clothe his family.

The veteran concerned is Veteran Tony Wilcox, who was not a SAMVOZA member at the time, but has subsequently joined. When our office was made aware of his plight, a SAMVOZA Member, Veteran Vuyani Mango, who lived in Port Elizabeth, undertook to visit Wilcox in East London to establish the exact situation. He found Wilcox’s position to be dire and in need of very urgent attention. Unfortunately, the DMV does not provide for urgent applications when it comes to housing benefits and, if we were to help, we had to find Wilcox alternative, temporary shelter.

Whilst Vuyani was searching for potential rental properties, he came across a family home in a township called Mdantsane, which is near East London. This was for sale by a Lulamile Joka, who was in the process of moving out of the area. This was fed back to SAMVOINT and a Sale Agreement was quickly drafted.

The next hurdle was to establish if Veteran Wilcox was prepared to live in a non-white township and, if the folk in the township were prepared to have a white family in their midst. Yongama visited the township and spoke to the neighbors and there were no objections, very much the opposite.

Vuyani also arranged for a job for Veteran Wilcox to better enable him to take care of his family and other housing expenses. Wilcox is currently working and his family well taken care of, having easily integrated into their new community, who are excited at having a white family in their midst.

Regrettably, Veteran Vuyani Mango subsequently passed away from injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident, while returning from East London, after visiting Wilcox. Yongama attended his funeral on SAMVOINT’s behalf. RIP Vuyani and thank you. ",

Our SAMVOINT office registered Veteran Wilcox’s application on the 24th of August 2019 and he was approved as a veteran. His application for the housing, education and social benefits was lodged on the 25th August and we are currently awaiting authorisation. In the meantime, Veteran Wilcox has a roof over his and his family’s heads and he reports that he feels perfectly safe and secure.

In time his housing application will be approved and he will move out of the SAMVOINT Safe House, which will then be available to another desperate veteran.

What has SAMVOINT done and what are the guidelines going forward:

This is a SAMVOINT project under the jurisdiction of SAMVOZA.
SAMVOZA will manage the project and make the rules.

The Safe House will only be made available on a temporary basis to military veterans while they wait for approval from the DMV for housing benefits.

There is no rent paid by the veteran, who, from benefits, is required to pay for his / her water and electricity consumption.

The Safe House is in the Mdantsane Township, East London, and was bought and paid for by SAMVOZA at a cost of R23,000 (Approximately AUD$2.300).

SAMVOZA is in the process of purchasing a second home, also in East London.
The intention is to develop this project throughout South Africa, with one or two such Safe Houses in major cities or towns.
Should Zones or Regions wish to donate a home, a SAMVOINT plaque will be displayed that can include the Region’s name. For example SAMVOA Queensland.

At this stage it is not envisaged that individual names will appear on the plaque.

There have been many cases like that of Wilcox, where SAMVOINT has been instrumental in providing guidance and follow-up in order to gain government support. For example, a veteran, Veteran Tommy Case from Port Elizabeth, received his Housing Benefit from the Department of Military Veterans in July 2017. Veteran Case used to beg for money and other assistance outside the First National Bank in Walmer, Port Elizabeth. He used to sleep in an alley behind a petrol station for many years and finally, through SAMVOINT’s efforts, Veteran Tommy Case received financial support and shelter from the DMV.

The photos shown will be updated, but is the house, as allocated to the Veteran and his / her family. (Better photos to follow):

Colin Bowring – Project Manager – Johannesburg – cbowring@samvoint.org
Yongama Zigebe – Project Coordinator – Johannesburg – yzigebe@samvoint.org
Tony Macquet – Project Champion – Melbourne – tmacquet@samvoint.org