04 Jul 2018

 Minister Shaw Kgathi of Defence, Justice and Security has told parliament that there are financial schemes that soldiers can access to buy or build houses as outlined in Directive No.8 of the 2014 pertaining to Government Employees Mortgage and Vehicle Advance Scheme (GEMVAS).

In a response to a question in parliament on Tuesday Mr Kgathi added that the housing and salary advance schemes which were also introduced through the same directive were available to BDF ranks from entry levels up to D4 grade; among those he cited SHHA advance schemes for employees up to D4 grade as well as the salary advance scheme for employees up to D4 grade.

Over and above the general packages which individual employees could use to acquire or build a house, the minister said the BDF has internal contributory schemes which were also available to soldiers who may want to use such for building or buying houses.

These, he said were the BDF Welfare Trust Fund and the BDF Bank Loans Scheme; explain that under the BDF Welfare Trust Fund members could borrow amounts up to a maximum of P45 000, whereas under the BDF Bank Loans Scheme they could benefit from non-guaranteed loans from commercial loans.

Mr Kgathi, who indicated that he was satisfied with the level of uptake of the schemes, said the schemes were specific to individual soldiers’ choices and decisions.

Selebi Phikwe West MP Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked whether there were any financial schemes to assist soldiers to buy houses, and if they were enrolling for the schemes in satisfactory numbers. ENDS