FEATURE
Writer: Silusapho Nyanda
Ombud to mediate in government pension disputes M
embers, pen-
pensioners and ben-
sioners and
eficiaries. The fund was
beneficiaries of
founded and is regulated
the Government Employ-
in terms of the Govern-
ees Pension Fund (GEPF)
ment Employees Pension
now have recourse when
Law.
unhappy with the service
Ramabulana has been
they receive.
To ensure the GEPF
appointed as the Om-
members and their fami-
bud. He says the office
lies are treated fairly, the
was established to assist
board recently estab-
people who are unhappy
lished an office to handle
with the services of the
disputes. The Govern-
GEPF.
ment Employees Pension
It will be especially ben-
Ombud (GEPO) is an
eficial to people who can-
internal but independent
not afford legal recourse.
office of the GEPF.
Before people take their
The GEPF is among the
20
Advocate Makhado
disputes to the Office of
largest pension funds in
the Public Protector or
the world, with over 1.2
to the courts, they can
million active members
seek mediation from the
and more than 450 000
Ombud.
Public Sector Manager • November 2021
