ATT: ALL NEWS EDITORS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:  26 JUNE 2025

Military Ombud takes its Outreach Programme to KZN

The Office of the South African Military Ombud is taking its Outreach Programme to its stakeholders in KZN. The Outreach Programme aims to educate the current serving and former members of the SANDF and also the members of the public about its mandate.

The Office will visit the military bases, taxi ranks and other public spaces to inform the stakeholders about its operations and processes. Established through the Military Ombud Act of 2012, the Office is mandated by law to investigate complaints lodged in writing by members of SANDF regarding their conditions of service, like unfair dismissal, promotions, tools of trade, and others.

Part of their mandate is also to investigate complaints brought by the members of the public against SANDF members on official duty, like the use of excessive force.

Current members and former members of the SANDF have 180 days to lodge a complaint with the Office after an occurrence, whilst members of the public have 90 days to approach the Office.

On occasions where the members approach the Office after the prescribed time frame, they will have to apply for condonation of late submission.

 Military Ombud Lt Gen (Ret) Vusumuzi Masondo said the Office has a citizen’s responsibility to educate the stakeholders from all walks of life. “In the recent survey that was conducted, we have ascertained that there are still more people who do not know about the existence of the Office and its role,” said Masondo.

Masondo says as an Office they need to share information, as this will empower them to know about their rights in a democratic country like South Africa. “We need to strengthen our relationship with all the role players and disseminate all the information about the Office,” said Masondo.

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY OMBUD.

For more information, please contact: