Four retired police officers who spent more than 100 years between them chasing criminals and dodging bullets are struggling to have their pension money released.
The officers, from the Whittlesea police station near Queenstown, blamed the delays on police management but police say it is not their fault.
Warrant Officers Bonga Mgole, Mlungisi Majikela, Mziwamadoda Kedema and Captain Phakamisa Njalisa are all in their 50s.
They resigned in January, February, March and July after serving as patrolling officers, detectives and commanders. They are now struggling to pay off debts accumulated during their working lives.
According to them, their employer should have deposited their retirement funds into their bank accounts within 90 days after their exit.
But provincial police bosses deny any delays in processing pension payouts in all four cases.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said all the required documentation had been filled, and the paperwork was then transferred to the treasury department for administration and handling. Mgole said there had been no communication between him and his employer as to why his package was taking so long to be paid out.
“The SAPS, who I spent 25 years serving, has today turned its back on me. I am not happy at all. What do these people think we are eating?
“We have families . Did I work for nothing all these years?”
Majikela said he made several inquires with his employer and officials at the Government Employee Pension Fund offices but that too yielded no positive results.
“At first they said they could not find my application. I then resubmitted my documents. Today they are no longer taking my calls.
“I should be at home enjoying my pension fund with my children but now I’m struggling as if I have never worked in my life,” said Majikela, who served for more than 30 years.
Njalisa, who was a crime analyst, said he was now living in despair.
“I have a medical dilemma from . Now my medical aid has been cancelled, and I really need the money to see the doctor, and feed 10 people,” he said.
He advised the officers to contact all the relevant departments to establish how far the process is.
“Any resigned employee has the right to request feedback from the former employer about the process of resignation and payment of pension funds,” said Tonjeni.
Despite repeated attempts, the Dispatch was not able to get comment from the Government Employees Pension Fund agency. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Four cops suffer as red tape delays pension payout
The officers, from the Whittlesea police station near Queenstown, blamed the delays on police management but police say it is not their fault.
Warrant Officers Bonga Mgole, Mlungisi Majikela, Mziwamadoda Kedema and Captain Phakamisa Njalisa are all in their 50s.
They resigned in January, February, March and July after serving as patrolling officers, detectives and commanders. They are now struggling to pay off debts accumulated during their working lives.
According to them, their employer should have deposited their retirement funds into their bank accounts within 90 days after their exit.
But provincial police bosses deny any delays in processing pension payouts in all four cases.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said all the required documentation had been filled, and the paperwork was then transferred to the treasury department for administration and handling. Mgole said there had been no communication between him and his employer as to why his package was taking so long to be paid out.
“The SAPS, who I spent 25 years serving, has today turned its back on me. I am not happy at all. What do these people think we are eating?
“We have families . Did I work for nothing all these years?”
Majikela said he made several inquires with his employer and officials at the Government Employee Pension Fund offices but that too yielded no positive results.
“At first they said they could not find my application. I then resubmitted my documents. Today they are no longer taking my calls.
“I should be at home enjoying my pension fund with my children but now I’m struggling as if I have never worked in my life,” said Majikela, who served for more than 30 years.
Njalisa, who was a crime analyst, said he was now living in despair.
“I have a medical dilemma from . Now my medical aid has been cancelled, and I really need the money to see the doctor, and feed 10 people,” he said.
He advised the officers to contact all the relevant departments to establish how far the process is.
“Any resigned employee has the right to request feedback from the former employer about the process of resignation and payment of pension funds,” said Tonjeni.
Despite repeated attempts, the Dispatch was not able to get comment from the Government Employees Pension Fund agency. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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