A former Gauteng teacher has lost his car and was on the verge of losing his house as well due to Gauteng education’s failure to pay his pension benefits.
A 60-year-old Lucky Tsotetsi retired as an educator after he was affected by stroke in 2016.
Tsotetsi told the publication that all his funeral policies had all lapsed after he failed to pay them.
“My daughter and I are leaving from hand to mouth because department is still refusing to pay my pension. I went to the Springs education district in an effort to get answers but I am being sent from pillar to post.
Department tells me I owe them money, because when I retired in 2016, they kept on paying me,” he said.
A source within the Gauteng District told the publication that it was unfair for the department to ask Tsotetsi to pay back the monies back as the fault lies with the Human Resources personnel.
“People who did Tsotetsi wrong were people in the district. When he sent his letter of resignation, every one in the HR office knew what was expected of them yet they failed to execute their duties,” a source said.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson Steve Mabona said they were aware of Tsotetsi’s unfortunate issue and they were working to resolve the matter.
“The Gauteng Department of Education is aware of the unexpected delays in processing the termination of the said former employee.
“We are closely monitoring this matter with colleagues from GEPF, to ensure they expedite this case,” said Mabona.
Last week, the publication exposed how the department failed Tsotetsi by failing to pay him his pension despite him retiring back in 2016.
At the time, the retired teacher said they were punishing him for something he did not have a knowledge of, adding that had he known that how “self payment” worked he would have stopped it immediately.
Tsotetsi further said he was not aware that he had to asked the department to remove him from its payroll system immediately after he retired.
“I am not familiar with salary self payments, therefore I did not at my behest ask the GDE not to take me off its payroll system. The district HR specialist, is willing to vouch for me on this because she alluded to those above her that what they were doing was wrong but it fell on deaf ears.
“My pension benefits are still to be paid and the district says I owe it R206 861 which I did not even borrow whatsoever. I am broke as it is, all my policies lapsed due to the GEPF and GDE blunders which have affected my health and well-being”.
Saturday Star