By Jacobs Botha, Johannesburg
South Africa is set to host the Seventieth International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (17ICOAF) conference next year.
South African Military Ombud Lieutenant General (Retired) Vusumuzi Masondo said the ICOAF gathers representatives of ombuds institutions for the armed forces from around the world, which exist in various names and models.
To date, representatives of ombuds institutions of over 50 states have participated in the ICOAF initiative.
This as Masondo and a delegation attended the 16ICOAF which took place in Berlin, Germany, from 30 September to 02 October.
The Military Ombud addressed the conference on how ombuds institutions can uphold and enhance the various systems of care and support for veterans, especially focusing on supporting veterans with physical and mental health concerns.
Masondo shared with his peers that veterans who served in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) since 1994 have access to the necessary physical and mental health care they may require.
However, the Office has identified that a great number of military veterans who fought for South Africa’s liberation are excluded from the mandate in law and have little if not limited physical and mental health care support.
“A lesson for us involved in furthering the democratic order would be to remember to include all soldiers involved in such a struggle in future veterans’ dispensations. I found it serving the purpose of the Office to forge strong and reliable relations with stakeholders impacting veterans’ health,” said Masondo.
In sharing best practices and experiences, Masondo presented several case studies the Office dealt with regarding military veterans’ benefits.
In one case, the fund administrator decided to terminate the membership of a veteran because he failed to pay subscription fees. The member only learned about the membership termination after a claim he submitted was rejected by the fund administrators.
The member approached the Office to complain, and the Office assumed jurisdiction on the matter.
Upon investigation, the Office ascertained that prior communication by the fund did not reach the complainant, as he had changed cell phone numbers and no trace of informing the complainant was found.
The fund ultimately reinstated his membership and reimbursed him.
Masondo mentioned that the Office reaches out to veterans through the Outreach Programme that helps the Office to note the increase in complaints trends from veterans relating to health services post their careers as soldiers.
The objectives of the 16ICOAF were to raise awareness, facilitate and foster peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge and best practices.
