POLOKWANE – The pension fund crisis at Great North Transport (GNT) has taken a new turn after workers accused the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Limpopo of bias and a lack of openness.

The Make It Happen Foundation (Mihafo), which represents current and former workers, has taken its complaint to the national office.

Accusations of undermining collective bargaining

In a memorandum signed by representatives, including Harry Masindi, the foundation accuses provincial head Victor Mavhidula of trying to undermine collective bargaining by pushing for individual settlements.

Dispute over how much is owed

At the centre of the dispute is how much is owed to workers. The foundation says an initial liability figure of about R9 million was increased to R18 million.

Workers say they have not been allowed to see the final actuarial report and have not been given a clear explanation for a 17% deduction and a R3 million contingency provision taken from the pool.

They argue that the money due to them amounts to more than R400 million, for over 4,000 affected people.

“When we asked for an independent review of the calculations, the provincial mediator dismissed it as a waste of public money,” Masindi told Polokwane Observer.

An ongoing crisis

This is the latest chapter in a crisis that has run for decades. For years, the state-owned bus company deducted pension money from workers’ salaries but failed to pay it over to fund administrators.

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Hundreds of elderly drivers and mechanics have been left destitute, with some dying while waiting for their savings.

Demands to the national office

The foundation has given the national office 10 days to:

• Intervene
• Recuse provincial officials, particularly Mavhidula’s office
• Order a second independent actuarial opinion
• Stop individual settlements until a clear audit trail is provided

SAHRC denies bias

Mavhidula denied there was any bias. He said his office asked from the start whether workers were comfortable with the appointed actuaries, and the foundation had no objection at the time.

Doubts arose, he said, when the commission asked for proof of employment for the 4,000 names submitted for calculation.

“Just over 1 500 people were enlisted and could be proven so far,” Mavhidula said.

He said the process would remain open and more beneficiaries could be added after verification.

Mavhidula said government cannot pay pension money into one account for a third party to distribute. Each rightful beneficiary must be verified and paid into their own account, with proper provision made for estates where beneficiaries have died.