Adv. Anton Alberts: FF Plus MP said:
The FF Plus is shocked to note that the Transnet top management have received R63,6 million in incentive bonuses for the 2010/2011 financial year while at the same time Transnet is dragging its feet in implementing parliament’s order to supplement the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Pension Fund (TSDBPF) in order for the promised increases and back-pay to be paid out to impoverished Transnet pensioners. According to media reports, the bonuses were paid to the management despite failures in their performances.
“It is a disgrace that pensioners are suffering while Transnet pays bonuses to its management who apparently under-perform. That is why Dr. Pieter Mulder and a delegation of the FF Plus have asked for a meeting with Transnet to urgently discuss the issue with the management to ensure that the dragging of feet with the supplementing of the TSDBPF is sorted out immediately,” Adv. Anton Alberts, the parliamentary spokesperson on economic affairs for the Freedom Front Plus said.
The FF Plus has in the mean time heard that the committee which has to investigate the funding of the Second Defined Benefit Fund (TSDBF) will inform the trustees on the 26th August about their findings. “This is very good news and we hope they will have a very sensible plan to urgently pay the promised increases to pensioners. Notwithstanding this, the meeting of Dr. Mulder will still go ahead,” Alberts said.
“The situation is becoming unbearable and there is no communication with pensioners from the side of Transnet. In the mean time some of the impoverished pensioners are dying due to the tension caused by false expectations and Transnet dragging its feet with this matter. This has to be ended,” Alberts added.
Dr. Mulder will meet with Transnet in his capacity as leader of the FF Plus and as deputy minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. He will also personally discuss any further obstacles with the minister of public enterprises and president Zuma in order to finally resolve this issue and to have the pensioners receive that which they are entitled to.
