Umkhonto weSizwe military veterans who did not get a chance to study further are going to be receiving free tertiary education.
The Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership has launched the KwaZulu-Natal Military Veterans’ Education Programme, which will offer a range of postgraduate programmes to more than 60 military veterans.
There are 65 military veterans enrolled in the programme, but more than 200 showed up on Tuesday at the Durban Exhibition Centre to register.
Themba Mavundla, 50, head of the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association in KZN, who has a B. Tech in management from Unisa, said many military veterans could not get jobs because they did not have qualifications.
“We were told liberation first and education later, and we heeded their calls; now they are demanding qualifications from us. Where do they think we will get them from?” he asked.
Mxolisi Nyuswa, 46, joined the MK in 1989 and was deployed in Uganda for military training until 1993, when most exiles returned to South Africa.
Nyuswa left the country with only a Grade 8, but recently got his matric. He is one of the registered vets on the programme and hopes this will better his job prospects.
“This will uplift veterans and the programme is well shaped to accommodate everyone, even those who do not have matric. I believe it will take us to a position where we can better provide for our families,” said Nyuswa.
Source: Daily News
