SANMVA is structured at national, provincial and regional levels to be able to act effectively in addressing all military veterans issues.

SANMVA has align itself with World Veterans Organisations that are supportive of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion and to promote the full integration of military veterans in their communities.

SANMVA comprises of the following founder member organizations:

• The Azanian People’s Liberation Army Military Veterans’ Association,

• The Azanian National Liberation Army Military Veterans’ Association,

• The Council of Military Veterans’ Organizations,

• The uMkhonto We Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association,

• The Bophuthatswana Defence Force Military Veterans’ Association,

• The Ciskei Defence Force Military Veterans’ Association,

• The Transkei Defence Force Military Veterans’ Association, and

• The Venda Defence Force Military Veterans’ Association. 

The Objectives of the SANMVA are:

• To promote unity and cooperation among military veterans’ organizations in South Africa and to facilitate membership of the SANMVA by all military veterans’ groupings which are lawfully representative of the interests of individual military veterans;

• To promote and protect the common interests of military veterans’ organizations;

To promote and protect the socio-economic interests and welfare of individual military veterans and their dependants in South Africa;

• To foster and maintain the memory of all the men and women who sacrificed their lives to the honour, and in the service, of South Africa;

• To promote and maintain military veterans’ values and traditions; and

• To promote representivity within the SANMVA;