– GNT pensioners are still waiting for money deducted from their salaries decades ago.
– An actuarial review put the estimated compensation liability at R18.546 million, but there is still no funded payment plan.
– Almost a year after SAHRC mediation began, there is still no clear outcome, no clarity on who must carry the liability and no payment date.
The Democratic Alliance in Limpopo calls on Premier Phophi Ramathuba and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to accept their respective responsibilities and resolve the Great North Transport (GNT) pension and provident fund scandal, which has festered for decades. This follows a march to the offices of the Premier and the SAHRC by former and current GNT workers and beneficiaries of deceased former employees, who are accusing the SAHRC of failing to fulfil its constitutional responsibility to protect their rights.
Some of these pension failures appear to predate South Africa’s democracy. Yet, in 2026, affected pensioners and beneficiaries are still waiting for money deducted from salaries decades ago and are demanding long-overdue answers and compensation.
In November 2025, following years of intransigence and indifference by the Limpopo provincial government, the SAHRC confirmed that the GNT pensioners’ complaint had been formally registered and assessed and that it would mediate between the workers, GNT, the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA – GNT’s shareholder) and the Premier’s Office.
At the same time, the Premier confirmed that the provincial government had submitted itself to the SAHRC mediation process.
In June this year, we noted that an actuarial review had put the estimated compensation liability arising from the GNT pension failures at R18.546 million. We wrote to the Chairperson of the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Portfolio Committee, Ms Mapula Mokaba, requesting that a compensation plan be developed and that clarity be provided on how the compensation due would be funded.
LEDA also stated publicly that engagements between the parties had reached an “advanced stage” and that it was awaiting the SAHRC’s final report and directive.
Yet, almost a year after the mediation process began, there is still no clear outcome, no funded compensation plan and no payment date for those affected.
We and the affected pensioners are therefore entitled to answers: What became of the mediation process that began in November 2025? What agreements, recommendations or undertakings resulted from it? And who is responsible for implementing them, and by when?
The actuarial review established the nature of the failures and the estimated compensation liability. What remains unresolved is who must ultimately carry that liability and when affected pensioners and beneficiaries will actually be paid.
The Premier and the SAHRC must now explain why almost a year of mediation has still not translated into a funded compensation plan and actual payment.
Above all, this festering sore must be resolved, the pensioners and their families compensated, and their rights and dignity restored.