Former and current employees of Great North Transport (GNT) have accused the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) of failing to act on their complaints over missing pension contributions reportedly amounting to hundreds of millions of rand.
The workers, many of them pensioners, marched to the SAHRC offices in Polokwane on Wednesday, demanding urgent intervention in the long-running dispute.
The protest began at the Limpopo Premier’s Office before the group proceeded to the SAHRC offices in the Polokwane central business district.
The workers are being supported by the Make It Happen Foundation, which says the pension dispute dates back to 1992.
According to the foundation’s managing director, Harry Masindi, workers have reported pension deductions of between R300 million and R500 million.
Forensic investigations have reportedly found that GNT deducted pension contributions from employees’ salaries for almost two decades but failed to pay the money over to pension fund administrators.
The dispute affects more than 800 current and former employees, with some beneficiaries continuing the fight on behalf of workers who have since died.
Masindi says the matter has had a serious impact on the workers’ dignity and livelihoods, particularly those who depend on their retirement benefits.
The group is calling on Premier Phophi Ramathuba and the SAHRC to intervene and ensure accountability.
The pensioners say they will continue pressing for answers, compensation and accountability until their grievances are addressed.
