Suffer the powerless pensioners

ALMOST sixty years ago, I was a young man blessed with good health and strength.

I enlisted at the old South African Railways and Harbours (now Transnet) and enjoyed a wonderful, hard working career of almost 40 years.

Although my principal tasks were dealing with finances and estate matters, I did not shy away from tough physical work in times of emergencies.

At times I even drove and stoked steam locomotives to keep the wheels of industry turning.

As is the practice at all big firms, there are gold embossed certificates on retirement and the promise of a good monthly pension and a reliable medical scheme. Well done, good and faithful servant!

About five years after retirement, some twenty of us Chairman of Transnet Pensioners Clubs were summoned to Transnet headquarters in Johannesburg and given the bad news that our pension funds were on the verge of collapse.

Transnet management very slyly contracted private, eloquent financial consultants to paint a dismal picture of our supposedly weak pension fund. We were encouraged to sign an agreement to accept a 2% per annum increase, until such time that our weak pension fund is stabilised and strengthened.

Since then, our pension funds should have had a massive financial boost of R80-billion when certain assets were sold off.

I believe central government has discussed this matter at great length in Parliament. Judges have also ruled in favour of the pensioners, but Transnet management simply refuses to pay out our money.

Every day my telephone rings, calls from poverty stricken pensioners from the deep rural areas who plead with me to attempt to improve their financial plight.

What’s wrong with Transnet? Why are they derailing our lives? Surely they know derailments cause mayhem.

I am almost sure all our very, very influential politicians in this area, including our Honorable President Jacob Zuma, will read this report, and do something to assist in alleviating the suffering of Transnet pensioners who are only receiving about half their monthly pensions.

RAY PEYTERS