Staff Reporter
A group of elderly individuals who were employed by the apartheid regime have vowed to take the government to court if their pension payments are not disbursed.
These former public servants, who served under the Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, and Ciskei homelands since the 1960s, embarked on a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria in a bid to seek redress for their pension fund exclusions.
The pensioners, including soldiers, teachers, and nurses, confirm that the discriminatory laws of the apartheid era resulted in them earning less than their white counterparts.
A representative from Civil Servants Pension Redress, Mary Beauty Malete expressed her discontent on the issue. “Government paid those people who were on duty from the 2nd of September 1998.
We then felt that we, as the individuals who were discriminated against and who genuinely contributed to South Africa’s progress, were excluded from the program. All government civil servants were discriminated against, particularly people of color, that is, the blacks.” She said.
Former soldier, George Matjila also voiced his frustration, saying their pleas have fallen on deaf ears for the past three decades.
“From the time Nelson Mandela was President, then it was Zuma, and we had hope with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Now we are here, and no one is listening to us.” He said.
“The President promised to look into the matter and appoint the Minister of Finance, but they have not come back to us.” He added.
Fatima Abdool continues the fight on behalf of her late mother, who worked as a nurse during apartheid and passed away last year. Abdool emphasized the significance of the pensions being paid.
“If she was still alive… She was passionate about the fact that the pensions should be paid. These are teachers and nurses who worked tirelessly during that time. They have been promised, but they have not received their payments to date.”
“Some don’t even have documentation to prove they worked, so they were denied their pensions altogether.”
A representative from the Presidency received the group’s memorandum during their demonstration at the Union Buildings.
The pensioners have vowed to pursue legal action to ensure their grievances are addressed, should the President or Minister of Finance fail to respond to their grievances.
