ATT: ALL NEWS EDITORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: 03 September 2024

Military Ombud Takes Outreach Programme to Northern Cape Military Bases

The South African Military Ombud, under the leadership of Lt General (Ret) Vusumuzi Masondo, is visiting military bases in Kimberley, De Aar and Jan Kempdorp as part of an outreach programme aimed at educating soldiers about the operations and mandate of the Office.

The Military Ombud Office was established in 2012 to assist current serving and former members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) with complaints relating to their conditions of service. These include matters such as unfair dismissal, tools of trade, benefits, promotions, and other issues as prescribed in the Defence Act.

Part of the Office’s mandate is also to investigate complaints brought by members of the public against SANDF personnel for conduct while on duty.

Military Ombud Masondo emphasised that outreach programmes are important for both defence members and the public in order to improve understanding of the mandate and existence of the Office. During these engagements, the Office also educates military personnel on the processes that must be followed when lodging a complaint, particularly after exhausting all internal SANDF procedures.

“It is important for us as an Office to continuously educate those we serve about our mandate and the processes they need to follow when approaching our Office. Our Office remains open to assist soldiers and members of the public when they are aggrieved,” said Masondo.

Masondo further reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to maintaining its independence and ensuring fairness when dealing with cases involving SANDF personnel and members of the public.

“It is imperative that all cases reported to our Office are dealt with in a fair manner, without any undue influence,” he said.

In instances where the Military Ombud Office is unable to assist, complaints are referred to other relevant statutory bodies that may provide support, including the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA), the Public Service Commission, the Commission for Gender Equality, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), among others.

Issued by the Military Ombud Office

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