The Office of the South African Military Ombud and the Public Protector South Africa have entered into a five year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide a framework for cooperation and collaboration between the parties with the view to sharing information and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the two institutions.
The Military Ombud is an institution that was established in terms of the Military Ombud Act, Act 4 of 2012 to investigate complaints lodged in writing by a member and former members of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) regarding their conditions of service. The Office also investigates complaints brought by members of the public against SANDF member’s personal conduct in public.
The idea to establish a Military Ombud was partly triggered by the Public Protector South Africa in 2010 after military personnel inundated the office with complaints that brought to the fore the plight of retired soldiers and military veterans. The grievances highlighted the need for a faster mechanism with the necessary expertise to resolve such complaints expeditiously.
Part of the agreement is that “where a Party receives a complaint, which falls within purview of the other party’s mandate, the receiving Party shall refer the complaint to the other Party for consideration or may refer the complainant to the said Party for further assistance”.
Where the allegations which form the subject matter of the complaint have partial application to the mandate of either party, the Parties shall decide in the interest of proper and effective investigation of the complaint, the party that can best investigate the complaint or to conduct a joint investigation, as the case may be.
Military Ombud Lt Gen (Ret) Temba Matanzima said the agreement is important for his Office as they strive to be amongst the best institutions in the country. “The Public Protector is a very strategic partner and I am optimistic that this agreement will benefit the soldiers who are our important stakeholders,” said Matanzima.
Matanzima commended the Public Protector Office for the good work they did in resolving cases of soldiers who approach her Office before the establishment of the Military Ombud Office. “There are number of soldiers who got assistance from the Public Protector Office as there was no Military Ombud institution in the country prior 2012,” mentioned Matanzima.
The Public Protector said her office looked forward to cooperative relations with the Ombud.
For more information contact:
Nthombikayise Mdluli Jacha (Military Ombud)
Tel: 012 676 3812
Cell: 062 504 7717
E-mail: JachaQ@milombud.org
Oupa Segalwe (Public Protector South Africa)
Tel: 012 366 7035
Cell: 072 264 3723
E-mail: Oupas@pprotect.org
