By: Rodger Mandhlazi
The Open Democracy Institute (ODI), alongside a group of frustrated pensioners, staged a picket outside the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) offices in Pretoria on Tuesday, calling for the release of outstanding pension funds owed to former government employees.
The demonstration, which saw dozens of elderly citizens gathered at the agency’s premises, was aimed at highlighting what they described as years of delayed and unfair pension payments. Many of those present said they had served as teachers, principals, and civil servants, yet had not received their pension benefits since retirement.
According to Ntebogeng Gonga, an official from the Open Democracy Institute, the protest was about holding the GPAA accountable for long-standing delays. “We are advocating for the release of pension funds for civil servants who have worked for years and haven’t received their money. The crucial reason for this picket is that we demand pension justice for all those who have served the public faithfully,” said Gonga.
Several pensioners shared similar frustrations. Joyce Maluleke, a former government employee who worked for nearly three decades, said the delay had left many elderly citizens struggling to survive. “I worked for the government for more than 28 years. Now that I’m retired, I should be enjoying my pension. Instead, we’re pleading for what is rightfully ours. Some of us have grandchildren to care for, but we can’t support them without any income,” Maluleke explained.
In their memorandum, ODI gave the GPAA and the Department of Public Service and Administration 30 days to respond to their demands. The department, however, indicated that pensioners could expect communication within 14 working days and assured them that if any funds were found to be linked to rightful beneficiaries, those individuals would be contacted directly.
Meanwhile, ODI has warned that it will escalate the matter to the Financial Services Tribunal and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) should the department fail to meet the 30-day deadline. The organisation insists that pensioners deserve transparency, accountability, and timely access to their hard-earned benefits.
