Agb Speaker, aangesien dit die Week van Bejaardes in Suid-Afrika is, is dit ook belangrik om te verwys na die lot en welvaart van die pensioenarisse van Transnet se Tweede Vastevoordeel-pensioenfonds.
Kragtens wetgewing ontvang hierdie pensioenarisse slegs 'n verhoging van 2% in hul pensioen per jaar. Die fonds met 80 000 lede is een van die grootste pensioenfondse in Suid-Afrika, maar die gemiddelde pensioen is net R2 833 per maand. Nadat mediese bydraes en munisipale tariewe afgetrek word, moet baie van hierdie pensioenarisse met minder as R1 000 per maand oorleef en dit is onaanvaarbaar.
Kragtens wetgewing waarborg Transnet die verpligtinge van hierdie fonds. Kragtens wetgewing, waarborg die staat weer op sy beurt die verpligtinge van Transnet. Ondanks die beloftes van verskeie Ministers, vanaf 1990 tot die algemene verkiesing vanjaar, is daar niks gedoen om die lot van hierdie pensioenarisse te verlig nie.
Die swak bestuur van die ou Suid-Afrikaanse vervoerdiens, Transnet, en die raad van trustees van di fonds, het daartoe gelei dat di fonds sedert 1990, byna meer as R25 miljard se skade gely het. Dit het daartoe gelei dat 40% van hierdie pensioenarisse tans minder kry as die staat se maatskaplike welsynspensioen. Hulle kry wel 'n karige bonussie, maar dit is net eenmalig en dit verhoog nie die salarisskaal waarop pensioene bereken word nie.
Die DA is baie bly en verheug dat die Komitee oor Openbare Ondernemings in die Parlement eenparig nou 'n besluit geneem het om hierdie wetgewing te wysig, sodat pensioene met 'n verhoging van 2% per jaar aangepas word na 'n inflasieverwante pensioenverhoging per jaar.
Die DA doen 'n beroep op die komitee dat di wysiging van die wet so gou as moontlik plaasvind ten einde die lot van die mense te verlig. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Dr S M VAN DYK (DA): Hon Speaker, since it's the Week of the Aged, it is important also to refer to the fate and wellbeing of pensioners of Transnet's second defined benefit pension fund.
In terms of legislation these pensioners are only receiving a 2% annual increase. The fund has 80 000 members and is considered one of the biggest pension funds in South Africa, but the average pension amount to a paltry R2 833 per month. Many of these pensioners have to survive on less than R1 000 a month after medical contributions and municipal rates have been deducted, and that is unacceptable.
In terms of legislation Transnet guarantees all obligations of this fund. And from their side, government guarantees the obligations of Transnet. Notwithstanding many promises from various Ministers since 1990 up to the general election this year, very little has been done to improve the plight of these pensioners.
Poor management of this fund by the previous South African transport services, Transnet and the board of trustees has resulted in a loss of nearly R25 billion, since 1990. This has resulted in 40% of these pensioners currently receiving a pension which is less than the state's social welfare pension. They do receive a meagre bonus, but this is a once- off payment and does not increase the salary scale used to calculate pensions.
The DA is very pleased that the committee on Public Enterprises in Parliament has unanimously decided to amend this legislation so that pensions with an annual increase of 2% would be adjusted to an annual inflation-related pension.
The DA urges the committee to finalise this amendment as soon as possible in order to alleviate the plight of these people. I thank you.]