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Cape Town: Tuesday, 29 March 2022

The Western Cape regional office of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is relocating to new premises. The office, previously located at Thibault Square, Standard Bank Building in Long Street, Cape Town, will start operating from the Buitengracht Centre at 125 Buitengracht Street from Thursday 31 March 2022.

The new premises have a much bigger working area and office space; thus, the walk-in service center will be able to accommodate more people inside as opposed to clients queueing in the streets where they are often forced to contend with the harsh elements and may potentially be exposed to threats to their safety.

According to Mario Johns, GEPF Branch Manager in the Western Cape, the GEPF is committed to ensuring that its members, pensioners, and beneficiaries receive quality services and that those services are offered in the most comfortable, safe, and client-friendly environment. The operating hours are from 07:00 to 16:00.

In trying to get services closer to the people, the GEPF has nine (9) walk-in centers and seven (7) satellite offices across the country.

The GEPF is Africa’s largest pension fund with more than 1.2 million active members and over 473 000 pensioners and beneficiaries. It is a defined benefit fund that manages pensions and related benefits on behalf of government employees that currently boast assets worth more than R2.09 trillion.

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For more information please contact:
Rakgwatha Mokou (Manager: Media and Stakeholder Relations)
Telephone: +27 (0) 12 319 1126
Mobile: +27 (0) 81 814 0030
Email: Rakgwatha.Mokou@gpaa.gov.za

Mack Lewele (Senior Manager: Communications)
Telephone: +27 (0) 12 399 2543
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 450 5076
Email: Mack.Lewele@gpaa.gov.za

01 July 2021

The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), today officially launched the Government Employees Pension Ombud (GEPO). The Ombud, which is an independent internal structure of the GEPF has been set up to deal with administrative complaints against the GEPF from its members, pensioners and beneficiaries.

“The purpose of the GEPO is to facilitate, investigate, determine and resolve complaints lodged by members, pensioners and beneficiaries of the GEPF in a fair, impartial and timely manner”, says the Chairperson of the GEPF, Dr Renosi Mokate. “Furthermore, the GEPO provides an informal yet accessible and cost-effective alternative to other remedies, such as court proceedings.

I would like to express our appreciation to retired Judge Bakone Justice Moloto and Advocate Makhado Ramabulana for the work done to establish the Ombuds Office”, she concluded.

Advocate Makhado Ramabulana will act as the Ombud effective from 1 July 2021. Advocate Ramabulana graduated with a BA Law and LLB degrees from the University of Venda, before joining the Cape Bar where he practised as an advocate from July 1999 to July 2004. He has held various roles within the pension funds industry including in the office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator, Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) and remains a Trustee on various Pension Fund Boards. A detailed profile of Advocate Ramabulana is provided with this press release.

The GEPO, which is a first for the GEPF, is mandated to investigate administrative complaints lodged against the Fund by GEPF members, pensioners and beneficiaries. Amongst others, the Ombud will engage on matters related to:

• Unreasonable delays in processing of payments that are due
• Failure of officials to perform their duties in terms of the Fund’s law and rules
• Breaking of a commitment without a justifiable reason
• Providing incorrect or misleading information

Detailed guidelines on how to lodge a complaint is available for the benefit of members, pensioners and beneficiaries on the GEPO website at www.gepo.co.za with the option to lodge the complaint on the website. Complaints can also be submitted in writing or emailed to the:

Office of the Ombudsman Attention:

Complaints Manager, PO Box 11005 Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028

Email: enquiries@gepo.co.za

Telephone: 012-110-4950

Issued by Government Employees Pension Fund

About the Government Employees Pension Fund

The Government Employees Pension Fund is among the largest pension funds in the world, with over 1.2 million active members and over 450 000 pensioners and beneficiaries. It is founded and regulated in terms of the Government Employees Pension Law (1996) and its mandate is to manage and administer pensions and other benefits for government employees in South Africa.

We work to give members, pensioners and beneficiaries’ peace of mind about their financial security after retirement. We do this, by ensuring that all funds in our safekeeping, are responsibly invested and accounted for and that the benefits due, are paid efficiently, accurately and timeously.

Date: 10 June 2021

Pretoria – Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is aware of reports of a hostage incident at its eThekwini regional office. We have been informed that an aggrieved GEPF client held officials of the Government Pension Administration Agency (GPAA) hostage at the office.

The GEPF has been informed that there was no harm to anyone. The member has been detained by the South African Police Services (SAPS) and remains in their custody.

The GEPF is appreciative of the efforts of the South African Police Service, office security personnel and employees in dealing with the incident. The necessary counselling will be provided to the affected officials.

The GEPF remains committed to engaging with its members with respect to any concerns they have.

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For more information, please contact:

Matau Molapo, Communications

T: +27 (0) 12 424 7315

M: +27 (0)79 1910 757

E: matau.molapo@gepf.co.za

NOTICE TO:

Members, Pensioners and beneficiaries

We at the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) are constantly striving to improve the level of service that we provide to our stakeholders. To arrive at a deeper understanding of the needs of our stakeholders, we have commissioned AfricaScope South Africa to undertake a comprehensive perception survey within our stakeholder group.

The focus of the survey will be to ascertain our stakeholder perceptions of the GEPF by means of telephonic and/or online questionnaires. The results of the survey will assist the GEPF in its efforts to be more efficient and effective.

AfricaScope will be drawing a completely random sample of individuals from out datasets. We wish to stress that the process is completely scientific and random and in no way targets any particular individuals or groups of individuals. Under their code of professional ethics, they may not divulge to GEPF any personal details of any participating individual and therefore you can be assured that any responses you provide will be totally anonymous.

If you are selected to participate in the survey, we respectfully urge you to please participate and to give your honest answers to the questions asked. In that way we at GEPF will be able to fully understand the needs and wishes of our valued stakeholders.

The survey began during the month of February and is currently in an advanced planning stage. AfricaScope will be contacting the first respondents within the next weeks.

You will be given the choice of completing the survey telephonically or on-line.

Thank you

Issued by the:

Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF)

Date: 03 March 2021

The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is shocked and saddened by the passing of longtime board member Dr. Frans le Roux on 2 March 2021 and substitute trustee Corporal Thobile Maqhubela on the 18^th February 2021.

Dr. Le Roux served as a pensioner-elected trustee on the GEPF Board as well as a member of the Benefits and Administration Committee and the Investment Committee.

Corporal Thobile Maqhubela, who was an employee – nominate substitute trustee served on the Benefits and Administration Committee and the Finance and Audit Committee.

GEPF Chairperson of the Board, Dr Renosi Mokate, on behalf of the Board and staff members passes her deepest condolences to the Le Roux and Maqhubela families, their colleagues and friends.

The GEPF acknowledges the dedication, diligence and professionalism with which both trustees served the Fund. The Fund will forever be grateful for their tireless contribution and dedication to its members, pensioners and beneficiaries.

May their souls Rest in Peace.

Issued by:

Government Employees Pension Fund

Date: 05 January 2021

The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is shocked and saddened by the passing of two of its Board Members, Mr Alan Thompson and Dr Lese Matlhape on 04 January 2021.

Dr Lese Matlhape served as a specialist trustee on the Remuneration Committee since 2015 while Mr Alan Thompson served as a Trustee on the Board as well as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee and the Benefits and Administration Committee from 2018.

GEPF Chairperson of the Board, Dr Renosi Mokate, on behalf of the Board and staff members passes her deepest condolences to the Thompson and Matlhape families, their colleagues and friends.

The GEPF acknowledges the dedication, diligence and professionalism with which the two Trustees served the Fund. The Fund will forever be grateful for their selflessness and dedication to its members, pensioners and beneficiaries. May their souls Rest in Peace.

Issued by:

Government Employees Pension Fund

Pretoria, Monday 26 October 2020

The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Musa Mabesa as its new Principal Executive Officer (PEO).

Mr. Mabesa is currently the Acting Principal Executive Officer at the GEPF, having previously occupied the position of Head: Corporate Services at the GEPF.

Commenting on the appointment, the GEPF Chairperson, Dr. Renosi Mokate said, “We are pleased that following an extensive process during which an impressive list of talented candidates were interviewed, the Board has selected Mr. Mabesa as Principal Executive Officer. Mr. Mabesa is a high caliber leader with the necessary skills as well as the requisite strategic and operational knowledge of the GEPF and the pension and investment industry. We are confident that together with the current Executive team he will be able to successfully implement the strategic vision of the Board.”

Mr. Mabesa says he is deeply humbled by the opportunity given to him by the GEPF Board to lead Africa’s largest pension fund. “I look forward to working with the GEPF team and all our stakeholders as we continue to ensure that the GEPF meets its obligation to protect the retirement benefits of its members and pensioners through proper administration and prudent investment during the tough economic climate that South Africa and the world is facing. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead one of the world’s top pension funds. There is no doubt that the challenge is huge.”

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Issued by Government Employees Pension Fund

For more information, please contact:
Matau Molapo, Communications division
T: +27 (0) 12 424 7315
M: +27 (0)79 1910 757
E: Matau.molapo@gepf.co.za