STELLALANDER-VRYBURG: A series of coordinated peaceful demonstrations took place on Tuesday, 25 November across cities and towns in South Africa and Namibia as members of the Civil Servants Pension Redress Movement (CSPRM) called for action on longstanding pension-related grievances.
Participants, many of them retired civil servants, gathered in Vryburg at the Mini Garona Government building to demand the release of what they refer to as outstanding pension redress funds. The group is calling for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to address their concerns, alleging that delayed resolutions have left senior citizens without benefits they believe are owed to them. Among the key demands highlighted by CSPRM are:
The release of pension redress payments.
The disbandment of the Joint Technical Team (JTT), which the group accuses of failing to resolve pension disputes.
Transparency from the GEPF regarding the management of its reported R3 trillion fund.
Clarity and accountability from worker unions regarding past pension agreements.
The scrapping of PSCBC Resolution 7 of 1998 and subsequent related resolutions.
Implementation of resolutions adopted at the 2019 CSPRM Belhar conference.
Greater recognition of the contributions made by former civil servants. The demonstrations follow years of petitions and engagement efforts by CSPRM, which maintains that thousands of elderly former government employees have been negatively affected by unresolved pension matters.
In a statement issued ahead of the demonstrations, CSPRM National Deputy General Secretary Dr David C. Jantjies encouraged supporters to participate peacefully and come prepared for weather conditions, emphasising the movement’s call for dignity, justice, and respect for senior citizens. The CSPRM said it intends to continue its campaign until its concerns are formally addressed, while authorities and the GEPF have yet to issue responses regarding the latest round of demonstrations.
