The ICT Ombuds
What is the Ombudsmen? The ICT Chamber has goal to be the Mediator of conflicts relating to SMMEs with their Clients, Partners, and other SMMEs, where a traceable dispute is logged. The other objective is to support the ICT SMME sector, working with its members, partners and other agents of change in the ICT Sector in order to assist the competition commission where unfair practices have been flagged by our members, where large corporate are posing as OEMs, Distributor, supplier, value added supplier, etc. In these case we will build cases and report to relevant bodies as provisioned by the state.
What is the Ombudsmen? An Ombudsman (conventional English plural: ombudsmen) is acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing the broad scope of constituent interests.
Why the ICT Ombuds SMMEs needs an effective way to to handle conflict, disputes, in order to avoid litigation due to its nature of requiring too much resources. Most SMMEs are not equipped to handle those processes. The Ombuds Work Group is part of the ICT SMME eco system and co-exists with the Chambers Legal Work Group. Here there are legal practitioners including advocates…
How does it Ombuds work? Common disputes are payments delayed, tender not not following fair processes, tenders canceling without reason, ect The aggrieved party sends an email to ombuds@ictchamber.org.za after having exhausted all available avenues and evidence has been gathered proving such efforts. A case is logged, and a subject matter goes to the internal committee for approval, in the meantime the aggrieved party is requested to notify the counter party(s) in writing of their intention to bring in the SMME ICT Ombuds office for intervention.
Please NOTE ICT SMME ombuds strongly encourages persons with complaints or disputes to first attempt to resolve them directly with the other party and build a portfolio of evidence. If your complaint against, remains unresolved, the ICT SMME Ombuds may be approached by following the outlined process.
Contact admin@ictchamber.org.za & chair@ictchamber.org.za