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Johannesburg - Transnet pensioners are dragging the state-controlled transport giant and four other respondents into court.
Gordon Thomson, an 89-year-old pensioner of the controversial Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund, supported by the FF+, submitted the relevant court documents to the Constitutional Court on Monday.
FF+ MP and labour spokesperson Willie Spies is acting as second plaintiff representing more than 60 other pensioners.
The pensioners are unhappy with the stipulation in the Transnet Pension Fund Amendment Act (41 of 2000) that fixes their annual pension increases at only 2%. They say this provision is discriminatory.
"The clause places Transnet pensioners in a weaker position than other state pensioners registered with the Registrar of Pension Funds," says Spies.
The charge has consequently been laid against the government, Transnet, the ministers of public enterprises and finance, as well as the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund.
The court is also asked to oblige the pension fund to register with the Registrar of Pension Funds.
According to Spies, pension funds registered with the registrar have to pay annual increases linked to inflation.
"In practice, increases are about 75% of the inflation rate. If funds cannot afford the increas,e employers, who themselves established the funds, have to made good the shortfall. Transnet, however, has the luxury of being answerable only for an increase of 2% per year."
Spies says there are more than 80 000 affected pensioners -all workers who retired before 2000.
- For more business news in Afrikaans, go to Sake24.com.