Hundreds of former and current Great North Transport (GNT) employees who had camped outside the Limpopo Premier's Office in Polokwane since 15 October returned home on Tuesday afternoon (11 November). The move followed a meeting with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
The workers, demanding unpaid pension and provident fund benefits and other statutory obligations, agreed to leave after SAHRC officials promised to mediate between them, GNT, the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA), and the Office of the Premier.
For nearly four weeks, employees from 11 depots, including Makhado, held sit-ins and night vigils. Elderly men and women accused the provincial government of withholding funds owed to them. Protesters also complained about being denied access to toilets and water during the camp.
Gezani Sithole from Bungeni, who worked at the Makhado depot for 20 years before retrenchment, said he hadreceived only R100,000. "We were robbed. Our contributions were deducted every month but never deposited properly," he said. "At UIF, we received very little, and SARS is sending letters claiming we owe money due to GNT's non-payment."
MIHAFO managing director Harry Masindi alleged that more than R500 million remained unaccounted for, claiming workers were underpaid or lost accrued interest during pension-fund transitions. "Some elders have died from stress because medical aid contributions were not made. Families continue to suffer," he said.
GNT spokesperson Leo Gama denied the allegations, saying the company was "fully compliant" with the Pension Funds Act. While there were "isolated instances" of delayed payments due to cash-flow problems, these have been resolved. Gama said the CEO, CFO, and COO had been suspended to allow a governance investigation, and Moremi Actuaries was appointed to review potential mismanagement before 2010.
A 2021 BDO forensic report found the GNT board of trustees had failed to report non-compliance to the pension fund registrar, and 11 depots did not make timely contributions. LEDA has committed to fast-track outstanding pension and medical-aid payments.
Last month, Premier Phophi Ramathuba said paying the R500-million demanded without supporting records would be "reckless," while DA spokesperson Jacques Smalle called for complaints to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, the Pension Funds Adjudicator, and an Auditor-General investigation.
SAHRC provincial head Victor Mavhidula confirmed to Limpopo Mirror that the complaint had been registered and assessed. "We will mediate among the parties and facilitate a process to find a way forward. A programme is scheduled for 18 November, and we are confident it will be resolved without further human-rights violations," he said.
MIHAFO welcomed the intervention, saying it "restores the dignity of senior citizens who spent 27 days sleeping on the pavement, denied basic rights while demanding what is rightfully theirs."