Merry Christmas
Chairman’s Message: December 2025

Dear Friends,

As we draw near to another year-end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your valued contribution to the organization, and to wish each of you Season’s Greetings. May you all enjoy a blessed Christmas and brilliant festive period, with 2026 bringing you all that you hope for.

This has been an amazing year, made special by so many of our former colleagues joining. Namibia has been outstanding with 2,426 Veterans now members of SAMVOZA. Virtually 100% of these have never belonged to a Veteran organization until this year, and they remain unrecognized by their own government as Veterans!

Through SAMVO, and our vision of a “no cost” organization, with Veterans helping Veterans (all of you), we have been able to do this. For this, I thank you. I hope that SAMVO has helped these members feel recognized, respected, and appreciated. Most are now proud owners of Membership Certificates, recognizing their service.

During 2025, with only a few days to go, we have had 2,814 new members join SAMVO, which must indicate that we are seen as an organization that vigorously supports our membership. Overall, we are now one of South Africa’s largest Veteran organizations, with membership now standing at 7,191. Of these, 4,397 live outside of South Africa, and 2,794 are domiciled South Africans.

Each of you have contributed to the success of SAMVO, and I hope you feel included in this success. Sometimes good things come to an end and Veteran Godfrey Giles MMM JCD, our SAMVOZA Vice Chairman, was a very good thing. Godfrey was much more than that and he will be sorely missed. Just prior to his death, the SAMVO Executive had decided to recognize his massive contribution with an individual plaque. Unfortunately, he subsequently passed away on the 16th October. The plaque is ready and waiting for safe passage to Johannesburg before the end of January, 2026, to be presented by our SAMVOZA Chairman, Veteran Colin Bowring MMM, to Godfrey’s family at his Memorial Service in early February.

Sadly, many other of our colleagues have passed on, and have moved to higher service, and our thoughts are with them, as also with the loved ones they have left behind.

All the very best to you all and safe travels.

Best Veteran regards,
Tony