Great North Transport workers seek pension fund answers
On Tuesday, a group of over 800 people comprising mostly pensioners, widows, and children of deceased employees, staged an indefinite night vigil outside the premier's office.
POLOKWANE – The Office of the Premier in Limpopo maintains that former employees of Great North Transport (GNT) are directing their grievances about over R300m in lost pension funds to the wrong entity by involving Provincial Government.
These funds, which were not paid to the pension administrator, have been under investigation since 2021, with a report released in May.
On Tuesday, a group of over 800 people comprising mostly pensioners, widows, and children of deceased employees, staged an indefinite night vigil outside the premier’s office.
Group spokesperson Harry Masindi said they would remain until the report’s recommendations were implemented, although no specific deadline for action was mentioned in the report. “We have not spoken with Provincial Government officials since our arrival. The ball is in their court, but we are not leaving,” Masindi said.
Ndavhe Ramakuela, spokesperson for Limpopo Provincial Government, reiterated that they will not intervene in operational matters and directed enquiries to the GNT board. “We only play an oversight role. The affairs of GNT should be handled by them. The demonstration at our office is not effective,” Ramakuela added.
GNT spokesperson Leo Gama explained that of the 1 163 affected pension fund members, 991 have been located and compensated.
“A total of 172 members are, however, still unaccounted for, with 45 applications currently being processed,” he remarked.
Gama attributed the delays to challenges in tracing some members or their beneficiaries.
