Ex-councillors cry foul over pension
Moretele said to have withheld portion of funds
Former Moretele local government councillors have accused the municipality of defrauding them of thousand of rands in pension funds .
About 33 councillors who lost their jobs after the 2016 municipal elections said they were shocked when they were paid their pension funds.
They alleged the municipality misappropriated their pension contributions by withholding a portion of the employer’s contribution and manipulated their salaries to enable the municipality to short pay the fund.
According to the ex-councillors, the municipality was expected to pay 28% of their salary over to the fund – 15% for the employer portion and 13% for their portion – but the municipality only paid 13% despite their pay-slips showing that the full 28% had been deducted.
Gladys Mboweni, 67, who worked for the municipality for 17 years, said she earned R30 000 a month by 2016.
She said she approached the Municipal Councillors Pension Fund and discovered that for two years the council did not make contributions although the amount was shown to have been deducted from her salary.
“Between 2014 to 2016 our salaries were debited, but nothing was sent to the fund for both employer and employee contributions,” Mboweni said.
Thomas Rampou, 61, said the employer was supposed to pay an administration fee of 6% to the fund, but that amount was funded from the employers contribution, thereby reducing their total contribution to 7%.
“If this is not theft then I don’t know what it is,” he said.
Rampou said they have had more than five meetings with the employer since their term ended but they had not been given a proper explanation why the council failed to make full contributions.
He said the municipality passed the blame on to the SA Local Government Association (Salga) and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).
Moses Bhiya, 67, said it was “corruption. I am disappointed and not afraid to say they have stolen from me.”
Peter Makhudu, 63, said the municipality has not been transparent and although they shifted the blame to Cogta and Salga, these parties have to answer for themselves.
Malope Kgoele, 61, said if the council paid him the right amount, it would improve his health and help educate his children. Lesetja Magongwa, a former speaker, said the municipality had disappointed them.
Former mayor, Keneilwe Motsepe, said the employer’s lack of cooperation was a clear reflection of maladministration.
Acting municipal manager Shimane Maroga said the matter has been brought to their attention
“We are currently trying to get to the challenges faced by our former councillors. As soon as we get adequate information we will keep you posted,” Maroga said.
Consumer Line will monitor the developments.