South Africa to Host International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for Armed Forces in 2025

South Africa will host the Seventieth International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (17ICOAF) in 2025. This announcement follows the recent participation of South African Military Ombud, Lieutenant General (Retired) Vusumuzi Masondo, at the 16ICOAF held in Berlin, Germany, from September 30 to October 2, 2024.

The ICOAF conference gathers ombuds representatives from armed forces institutions worldwide, offering a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. To date, representatives from over 50 countries have been involved in the ICOAF initiative, which provides a space to discuss challenges and opportunities faced by military ombuds institutions.

During the Berlin conference, Masondo addressed the role of ombuds institutions in enhancing care and support systems for veterans, with a particular focus on mental and physical health services. He highlighted the progress made in supporting South African National Defence Force (SANDF) veterans since 1994, ensuring that they have access to essential healthcare services.

However, Masondo also underscored a critical gap in the system—many veterans who fought for South Africa’s liberation struggle are excluded from the current legal mandate and receive limited healthcare support. He called for future veterans’ policies to include all soldiers involved in historical struggles for freedom. “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,” Masondo emphasized.

The Ombud further shared several case studies highlighting how the Office of the Military Ombud assists veterans in navigating complex bureaucratic processes. One notable example involved a veteran whose membership in a benefits fund was terminated due to missed subscription payments. After investigating, the Ombud’s Office found that the veteran was unaware of his membership termination, as he had changed contact details without the fund administrators notifying him properly. The Office intervened, and the veteran’s membership was reinstated, with full reimbursement.

Masondo also discussed the Office’s Outreach Programme, which helps identify increasing trends in veterans’ complaints related to health services post-military service. The initiative serves as an important tool in connecting veterans with the services they need and addressing their concerns.

The 16ICOAF conference aimed to foster peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and raise awareness on the various challenges faced by military veterans globally. Hosting the 17ICOAF in South Africa will provide an opportunity to further strengthen these international partnerships and advance discussions on supporting military personnel and veterans effectively.

South Africa’s role in hosting the upcoming conference is expected to bring greater focus on the importance of veteran care, not only within the country but across the world.