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Flight-Sgt Vinesh Selvan NS
F/Sgt V. Selvan - South African National Defence Force.
Years of service	1996–2007
Battles/wars	Burundi
Awards

Early Life

Vinesh Selvan was born in Durban, South Africa and spent much of his childhood and teenage years growing up in the Indian township of Chatsworth, which was designated as such under the Group Areas Act of apartheid.

Military Life

Selvan joined the South African Air Force on 15 January 1996 as an Aircraft Technician and completed his basic military training at the Air Force Gymnasium in Valhalla, Pretoria. He was subsequently transferred to the School of Logistical Training for apprentice training, and later to 15 Squadron Durban, where he qualified as a Technician on the Oryx Helicopter Gunship. Selvan progressed in his career and transferred to 68 Air School as a lecturer at the Aircraft Mechanic Section before resigning from the military in 2007.

Medals and Decorations

Bravery

Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard) (NS)

General Service Medal

General Service Medal (South Africa)

Campaign medal

Tshumelo Ikatelaho (General Service Medal)

Long service medal

Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) (10 Years)

Emblems

Mentioned in Dispatches - Okhankanyiweyo (MID)

Commendation

• 15 Squadron Officer Commanding Commendation Certificate

The Burundi Incident

On 20 February 2002, Selvan was deployed to Bujumbura, Burundi as part of a peacekeeping contingent task team supporting combat search and research operations. At around 22h00, a special forces commander came under attack and was shot several times before Selvan placed himself in the line of fire and provided the wounded commander with an opportunity to escape. Despite being shot in both legs, Selvan maintained his firing position and effectively neutralized the threat. As a result of the encounter, Selvan suffered a gunshot wound to his right tibia which was broken. Both the commander and Selvan were unable to receive further treatment at the local hospital and were kept in tents for two nights before being airlifted back to South Africa and taken to 1 Military Hospital for surgery.

Selvan later was cited for his actions and became the first recipient of the Nkwe Series of Bravery Decorations and the first person of Indian descent to be decorated for bravery by the South African Military. He was awarded the Nkwe ya Selefera - Silver Leopard Decoration for Bravery.

In 2012, Selvan sustained flesh wounds in an explosion when military operatives attempted to blow up a wall using plastic explosives, which backfired. He was evacuated by military helicopter to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria for treatment.

Challenging The Defence Act 42 of 2002

After sustaining injuries from the shooting incident, Selvan was medically reclassified and deemed unfit for operational deployment, which led to the suspension of his operational allowances. Government Gazette 24904, Notice 47, Regulation 7673 dated 23 May 2003, Section 57 of the Defence Act 42 of 2002, stipulates that the Minister of Defence must establish a compensation committee to compensate soldiers injured or killed in active service It has never been promulgated. Selvan has since challenged the government on various levels, including the Presidency, to promulgate Section 57 of the Defence Act 42.

Selvan has since been advocating for the rights of soldiers and military veterans.

In late 2010, Selvan made recommendation to the Public Protector, Dr Thuli Mondasela who met with the Minister of Defence and initiated the following:

• The Military Veteran's Act,
• The Military Veteran's Department,
• The Office of the Military Ombudsman.

He declared his intention to petition the Constitutional Court to have Government Gazette 24904, Notice 47, Regulation 7673 Dated 2003–05-23 declared unconstitutional and to have Section 57 of Defence Act 42 of 2002 promulgated.

He has made applications to the relevant State platforms with little to no success:

• The Presidency – Written application to President’s Office.
• The Presidency – Two calls register the complaints via the Hotline
• The Presidency – A telephone call to Mr Mac Maharaj, President’s Spokesman.
• The Minister of Defence – Written application to Minister’s Office.
• The Minister of Defence – Formal meeting with Mr T.A. Ratsomo, Head of Ministerial Services.
• The Minister of Defence – Formal meeting with Mr Dlamini, Minister’s Spokesman.
• The Minister of Defence – Telephonic interview with Dr Paul Ngobeni, Minister’s Head of Legal Services.
• The Chief of the National Defence Force - Written application to Chief’s Office.
• The Chief of the Air Force - Written application to Chief’s Office.
• The Warrant Officer of the Air Force - Formal meeting with the Warrant Officer.
• The Chief of the General Officer Commanding of Air Force - Written application to General’s Office.
• The Officer Commanding of 68 Air School - Written applications to Colonel’s Office.
• The Head of Section of the Aircraft Mechanic Section - Written application to Warrant Officer’s Office.
• Dr Frene Ginwala – Telephonic request who referred me to Public Protector’s Office.
• Public Protector’s Office – 3 written applications
• Military Ombudsman’s Office – 2 Written application
• Legal Resource Centre – Cape Town. Personal interview (Mr Steve Kahanovitz)
• Human Rights Lawyers – Braamfontein. Personal interview (Ms Fundi)
• Political Party – Independent Democrats – Email application to Ms Patricia De Lille’s Office (referred to Mr Simon Grindrod and later Mr Cecil Burgess).
• Political Party – African National Congress – Formal meeting with MK Veterans Office.
• Political Party –Democratic Alliance – Email application to DA.

Minority Rights of the South African Indian Community

Vinesh Selvan has been a champion of the rights of the South African Indian community against marginalization and discrimination based on the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and race quotas policies of the South African government under democracy. In the 2021 riots, the Indian community of Phoenix was politically targeted. As a member of the South African Indian Cultural Advancement Society, Selvan wrote to the United Nations requesting that the community be recognized as a marginalized and discriminated group in South Africa.

The South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans

Vinesh Selvan, along with Leon Subban and others, founded the South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans in 2018. The primary goal and objective of the South African Indian Legion is to research, document, and preserve the history of South African Indian Military and raise awareness of the Indian Military's contribution to South Africa. Additionally, the organization serves as a veterans association, promoting camaraderie among soldiers and veterans, and providing assistance in the well-being of military veterans.

Advocacy for Religious Harmony

Selvan began taking an active role in the public domain after discovering a foreign national in South Africa attempting to sow division within the South African Indian community based on foreign politics. The individual was linked to establishing three organizations within a one-year period, promoting pro-foreign politics and ideology using the South African Indian Community. Selvan countered the division actively by launching awareness campaigns to the public and liaising with law enforcement agencies and government departments.

Organisations

• Centurion Muslim Community (2013) - Founder of the Centurion Muslim Community and First Madressah in the Centurion CBD, Pretoria which now operates in Doringkloof, Centurion.
• South African Indian Legion (2018) - Co-founder of the South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans.
• South African Indian Cultural Advancement Society (2020) - Co-founder of the South African Indian Cultural Advancement Society.