PENSIONS TRIBUNAL ON EDUCATION DRIVE IN THE FREE STATE

The Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator (OPFA) will embark on a community education campaign in the Free State to provide information on the role of the tribunal which is a dispute resolution body for employees and beneficiaries.

Over the following months, senior officials of the OPFA will travel to various provinces to explain how the statutory body can help to resolve pension disputes.

Pension Funds Adjudicator Muvhango Lukhaimane said the OPFA investigates and determines complaints of abuse of power, maladministration, disputes of fact or law and employer dereliction of duty in respect of pension funds.

The mandate of the OPFA is to ensure a procedurally fair, economical and expeditious resolution of complaints in terms of the Pension Funds Act, by:

• ensuring that its services are accessible to all;
• investigating complaints in a procedurally fair manner;
• reaching a just and expeditious resolution of complaints in accordance with the law; and
• are innovative and proactive in thought and in action.

Ms Lukhaimane said there appeared to be a general lack of knowledge, especially by people living in far flung areas, about the existence and mandate of the OPFA and the procedure to be followed when lodging a complaint.

Complaints to the OPFA include failure to pay retirement, death, disability and withdrawal benefits; dissatisfaction with benefits paid; dissatisfaction with decision and/or conduct of the fund and/or employer; division of pension interest in divorce matters; and allocation of death benefits.

Stakeholder engagement outreach programmes in the Free State will take place on Thursday 15 February at the Maokeng Community Hall in Kroonstad from 10am until 1pm and on Friday 16 February at the Rammulutsi Community Hall in Viljoenskroon from 10am to 1pm.