It is unclear as to what the mandate of the new Military Veterans Division within the Defence Ministry will be.

The ministry, which is headed by veteran government minister Lindiwe Sisulu, says it has yet to determine exactly what this section of the department will do. It was created as part of President Jacob Zuma's new cabinet.

The new division is widely regarded as nothing more than government paying lip service to the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association, which has determinedly supported Zuma.

The department admits it still has to finalise its mandate when it comes to dealing with issues relating to the men and woment who fought against apartheid.

It is unclear if former South African Defence Force members are also classified as veterans. Current laws seem to show that they are.

The Struggle Veterans' Action Committee claims that even men and women who fought for other anti-apartheid groups, like APLA, are being marginalised.