Speaker, die VF Plus het met dank kennis geneem van die Minister van Finansies, mnr Pravin Gordhan, se sentiment dat daar reeds te lank gesloer word met die uitbetaling van beloofde verhogings van pensioene en bonusse aan Transnet pensioenarisse.
Die VF Plus wil egter graag sien dat die volgende sal gebeur. Die Minister van Finansies moet, saam met die Minister van Openbare Ondernemings, mnr Malusi Gigaba, ferm druk op Transnet plaas om op te hou sloer met die uitbetaling van pensioene aan Transnet pensioenarisse.
Transnet moet hul verpligting nakom en, soos onderneem aan die Parlement, die Transnet Tweede Vastevoordeelfonds met R1,9 miljard aanvul.
Die Minister van Openbare Ondernemings moet druk op die trustees van Transnet se pensioenfonds plaas om so spoedig moontlik veranderinge aan die rels van die Tweede Vastevoordeelpensioenfonds te maak, sodat die uitbetalings van pensioene kan voortgaan.
Die VF Plus sal graag wil sien dat die Minister van Openbare Ondernemings sal sorg dat die proses om die rels te verander, versnel word, sodat die uitbetaling van verhogings op pensioene nog hierdie jaar sal plaasvind.
Die situasie raak nou onhoudbaar en daar vind geen kommunikasie met die pensioenarisse plaas nie. Hierdie voetslepery deur Transnet is soveel erger as dit teen die agtergrond van die betaling van aansporingsbonusse van R63,6 miljoen aan die Transnetbestuur vir die 2010-11-boekjaar beskou word. Dit is 'n skande dat pensioenarisse krepeer terwyl Transnet bonusse aan sy bestuur betaal ten spyte van klaarblyklike gebreke aan die prestasie van sodanige bestuurslede. (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS (FF Plus): Speaker, the FF Plus learnt with gratitude of the Minister of Finance Mr Pravin Gordhan's sentiment that the matter regarding the payment of increases in pensions and bonuses to Transnet pensioners, as promised, has dragged on for too long.
The FF Plus would like to see that the following happens. The Minister of Finance, in co-operation with the Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr Malusi Gigaba, must put firm pressure on Transnet to stop dragging its heels with regard to the payment of pensions to Transnet pensioners.
Transnet has to fulfil its obligation and its undertaking to Parliament that the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund will be supplemented with R1,9 billion.
The Minister of Public Enterprises should put pressure on the trustees of Transnet's pension fund to amend the rules of the Second Defined Benefit Fund as soon as possible, in order to proceed with the payment of pensions.
The FF plus would like to see that the Minister of Public Enterprises ensures that the process of amending the rules is accelerated, so that the payment of increases in pensions will still happen in this year.
The situation is now becoming unbearable and there is no communication with pensioners. This feet-dragging by Transnet is so much worse when it is considered against the background of the performance bonuses amounting to R63,6 million that were paid to Transnet management for the 2010-11 financial year. It is a disgrace that pensioners are living in wretched conditions while Transnet is pays bonuses to its management despite an obvious lack of performance by such members of management.]