[Afr] Die hooggeregshof in Bloemfontein het 'n uitspraak gelewer wat waarskynlik ernstige gevolge vir Mafube Plaaslike Munisipaliteit (MLM) sal hê. Soos wyd berig, is 'n hooggeregshofbevel teen MLM toegestaan vir betaling aan die Munisipale Werkers Aftreefonds ten bedrae van R37 795 476,32. Dit is nie nagekom nie en toe die balju die munisipale bankrekening aangeheg het, was daar slegs R97 000 beskikbaar. Die res het geheimsinnig verdwyn.
In sy uitspraak van 5 September 2024 het regter Ramdeyal heelwat vrae oor die gedrag van die bestuur en raad van MLM.
Die regter spreek kommer uit dat, in plaas daarvan om die hooggeregshofbevele uit te voer, en selfs al word dit beskou as ‘n saak van dringendheid, dit 'n voortdurende stryd vir die aansoeker is om betaling vir die agterstallige pensioenbedrae te kry. Dit lyk asof hulle pogings om die situasie reg gestel te kry, op 'n volgehoue basis deur MLM teëgestaan word, met onder andere taktieke soos die opskorting van die uitvoering van die bevel, aansoeke van verlof om apél teen hofbevele en, soos in die huidige geval, die aanvoer van die wan-samevoeging van partye... Verkeerde remedies wat deur die applikant gebruik is, is ad infinitum.”
Dit blyk dat hierdie jarelange wanpraktyk van die Munisipaliteit, steeds voort gaan. Die onsinnige verdediging daarvan en nie-betaling van sy werknemers se pensioenfondsbydraes is steeds aan die orde van die dag. Daar bestaan wel ‘n bindende hofbevel, maar die Munisipaliteit glo dit is beter om “self” aan die geld vas te klou, deur verskeie remedies en strategieë te gebruik, maar vermy gerieflikheidshalwe om van die “wit olifant in die kamer” ontslae te raak.
Wat het geword van die pensioenfondsbydraes wat deur die Munisipaliteit afgetrek is?
Dit is duidelik dat, sou die lede van die fonds se bydraes uitstaande bly, dit groot nadele vir hulle kan inhou. Lede sal toenemend minder voordele ontvang indien hulle afgelê word of selfs wanneer hulle uit eie keuse bedank. Sommiges sal moontlik glad nie enige voordele ontvang nie. Eise kan geweier word sou lede siek of gestremd word, of selfs terf terwyl hulle in diens is. Die Fonds is nie in staat om die uitstaande bedrae te belê nie, wat 'n statutêre vereiste is om uiteindelik die lede te bevoordeel, met die gevolg dat hul grondwetlike reg op sosiale sekerheid geskend word (a 27(1)(c) van die Grondwet). Dit is vanselfsprekend dat, as hierdie saak nie dringend aandag kry nie, die nadelige effek daarvan op die lede verwoestende gevolge vir hulself en hul gesinne kan hê.
Die Munisipaliteit kan nie voortgaan om die saak te vertraag en die regte van die aansoeker se lede te skend nie. Werkende burgers se regte moet beskerm word, en nie blatant geskend word nie.
Nie-betaling van die pensioenfondsbydraes is 'n ernstige wetsoortreding en daarom het die regter gelas dat die aangeleentheid na die Nasionale Vervolgingsgesag verwys word vir oorweging om strafregtelike verrigtinge teen die Munisipaliteit in te stel vir oortreding van die Pensioenfondswet.
Die volle uitspraak kan afgelaai word vanaf MBF se webblad by www.mafubebf.org
MBF nooi inwoners, sake-eienaars en belastingbetalers uit om ons kantore by Kerkstraat 18A, Frankfort op Maandae tot Donderdae van 08h30 tot 16h00 en Vrydae 08h30 tot 12h00 te besoek. Bel of stuur 'n WhatsApp boodskap aan Marina by 079 145 4295. Besoek ons webwerf www.mafubebf.org en volg ons op Facebook
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[Eng] On 5 September 2024 the Bloemfontein High Court handed down a judgment which is sure to have serious repercussions for Mafube Local Municipality (MLM). As widely reported, a High Court order was granted against MLM for payment to the Municipal Workers Retirement Fund amounting of R37 795 476.32. This had not been complied with and when the sheriff attached the municipal bank account, only R97 000 was available. The remainder mysteriously disappeared.
In his judgement of 5 September 2024, Judge Ramdeyal have more questions about the conduct of the management and Council of MLM.
The judge expresses concern that instead of complying with the High Court orders, “there is an ongoing battle by the applicant to seek payment for the arrear pension amounts as this is an urgent matter. Their attempts to remedy the situation seems to be opposed by the respondents on a consistent basis with stay of execution proceedings, leave to appeal against court orders and, as in the current matter, raising mis-joinder of parties, incorrect remedies used by the applicant ad infinitum.”
This practice by the Municipality seems to have continued over the years; frivolous defences and non-payment of its employees' pension fund contributions still remains unabated. A binding court order exists, yet the Municipality considers it necessary to present various remedies and strategies to hold onto the outstanding monies but conveniently avoids addressing the elephant in the room: what happened to the pension fund contributions that had been deducted by the Municipality?
It is clear that severe prejudice would result to the Fund's members whilst contributions remain outstanding. Members would receive increasingly less benefits if retrenched or upon resignation, with some possibly not receiving any benefits at all. Claims can be repudiated if members become sick, disabled or die while in service. The Fund is unable to invest the outstanding amounts which is a statutory requirement, ultimately benefitting the members, with the result that their constitutional right to social security is breached (s 27(1 )(c) of the Constitution). It is axiomatic that the prejudice caused to members can have devastating consequences for them and their families if this matter is not attended to as a matter of urgency.
In light of the history of this matter and its prejudicial component on working citizens of this country whose rights should be protected, and not blatantly infringed, as it is. The Municipality cannot continue to delay proceedings and delay the rights of the fund's members from being enforced. Non-payment of the pension fund contributions is a serious breach of law.
The judge ordered that the matter be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for consideration of instituting criminal proceedings against the Municipality for breach of the Pension Funds Act.
The full judgement may be downloaded at MBF’s website – www.mafubebf.org
MBF invites residents, business owners and taxpayers to visit our offices at 18A Church Street, Frankfort on Mondays to Thursdays from 08h30 to 16h00 and Fridays 08h30 to 12h00. Call or send a WhatsApp message to Marina on 079 145 4295. Visit our website www.mafubebf.org and follow us on Facebook.
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