POLOKWANE – Former and current workers of Limpopo’s struggling bus service, Great North Transport (GNT), whose pension monies were lost, have accused the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) of failing to fulfil its constitutional obligation to protect citizens.

The workers, most of whom are elderly and now organising under the Make It Happen Foundation (MIHAFO), have said years of non-payment of their pension contributions have left them destitute, while the Chapter Nine institution they approached for help has ignored their plight.

The group is marching to SAHRC offices in the Polokwane central business district today, Wednesday, having begun at the Office of the Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, to call on government to investigate the Commission for abuse of power and violation of constitutional principles.

"Seeing us here is a result of Phophi's doing, out of her desire," say 800 GNT pensioners outside the Premier's office, accusing SAHRC of failing them over pension funds dating back to 1992. pic.twitter.com/SS9t8vqbO2

— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) September 9, 2026

A decades-old problem

The pension funds non-payment dates back to 1992, with some now being represented by beneficiaries following their passing.

According to MIHAFO managing director Harry Masindi, who is advocating for the workers, the demonstration is about more than just unpaid pensions. It is about human rights and dignity.

Masindi said workers had for years reported the disappearance of between R300m and R500m in pension deductions to the Commission, but no meaningful intervention followed.

Forensic investigations have confirmed that GNT deducted contributions from workers’ salaries for nearly two decades but failed to remit the money to administrators, leaving more than 800 current and former employees without retirement savings.

“The South African Human Rights Commission was created to be a voice for the vulnerable, but for GNT workers it has been silent,” Masindi said.

“These are pensioners who gave 20, 30 years of service driving buses for this province. Their money was taken from their payslips and never paid in. They have no income, no medical aid, no dignity. When they went to the Commission, they were failed again.”

Call for investigation

Masindi said the continued suffering caused by the missing funds amounts to a human rights violation in itself, and the Commission’s failure to consider that damage must be investigated.

“We are here to highlight community struggles with the SAHRC and to highlight the abuse of power,” he said. “We are asking the Premier, as the head of government in Limpopo, to call for an investigation into the office of the SAHRC. Government cannot watch while workers die without ever receiving what is due to them.”

What happens next

The march, organised by civil society, former and current GNT workers and beneficiaries and MDM structures supported by MIHAFO, assembled opposite Jack Botes in Polokwane.

Workers said they will continue picketing until a funded compensation plan is put in place and accountability is enforced.

In the past, the same pensioners staged night vigils outside Ramathuba’s office over the same pensions.