Military veterans must continue to be recognised for the contribution they made to reshaping the country's post-apartheid defence force, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

"The democratic government has begun honouring military veterans for their contribution to the attainment of freedom and the establishment of the constitutional democracy in our country," said Zuma in a eulogy prepared for delivery at the funeral service for Lt-Gen Lehlohonolo Moloi in Randburg.

He said Moloi, a former Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) commander, had helped build the SA National Defence Force after 1994.

"In this role, he had to provide support to many returning cadres who had to be integrated into a conventional army."

Zuma said today's SANDF was a collective to be proud of.

"We have an SA National Defence Force that is making significant contributions to peace-making and peace-building in the African continent."

He said the SANDF also represented a cross-spectrum of South Africans.

"We have an SANDF that made the nation proud in the manner in which it managed the health and farewell of our founding father Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela."

Zuma said Moloi could rest in peace after the good work he had done in his lifetime.

"Give our warm regards to Madiba, Chris Hani, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Albertina Sisulu, Bram Fischer, Ruth First, Amina Cachalia, Dorothy Nyembe and all the heroes and heroines to whom we owe our freedom and democracy and to whom we shall forever be indebted."

Moloi died last Friday at the age of 81. He was buried in a full military funeral.