Adjudicator finds pension fund administrator didn’t do enough to find beneficiary

Tennant’s representative submitted that it failed to trace the complainant because the cost was higher than the benefit available. He was employed by Fidelity Services Group (Pty) Ltd from 26 May 1998 until 20 May 2024 when his services were terminated. He was previously registered as a member of FGPF and the employer later joined the Private Security Sector Provident Fund (PSSPF) from 1 November 2002.

The PSSPF paid him a withdrawal benefit of R137 614.48 on 11 August 2025, but the complainant was aggrieved by the employer’s failure to submit his retirement claim form. He provided a copy of his payslip from the employer for 25 April 2022, reflecting a provident fund deduction of R194.80. However, the PSSPF submitted that the employer commenced participating in the fund on 1 November 2002 and wasnon-compliant in terms of section 13A of the Act.

PSSPF submitted that it issued section 13A letters to the employer regarding its non-compliance and the matter had been reported to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) according to statutory requirements. PSSPF confirmed that the complainant’s membership started from 1 October 2003. On 9 May 2025 the complainant had a fund credit of R133 199.59, representing provident fund contributions received for October 2003 to April 2020, July 2020 to April 2024 and June 2024.

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In addition, PSSPF stated that its records indicated that the employer was granted a Covid-19 relief contribution holiday for the April 2020 to June 2020 contribution periods. PSSPF stated that, considering the fund’s qualification of service rule at the time, the employer ought to have started payment of full provident fund contributions from November 2002. The employer owed an amount of R4 057.11 in respect of outstanding contributions from November 2002 to September 2003 and May 2024, together with late payment interest of R137 784.31 calculated up to 3 July 2025. On 3 November 2025, PSSPF provided proof of payment indicating that the complainant was paid a withdrawal benefit of R137 614.48 on 11 August 2025.

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