The Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator has referred the Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union pension fund to the Financial Services Conduct Authority for investigation and potential penalties. A widow is seeking the death benefit due following her spouse’s passing, alleging that the Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union pension fund has delayed and failed to respond. The Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator has condemned the fund’s silence, describing it as “concerning,” and referred the matter to the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) for investigation and potential penalties.
The OPFA reported a 13%increase in new complaintsfor the 2024/25 financial year, rising to 10,331 complaints from 9,177 the previous year. Non-compliance by employers failing to pay contributions remained widespread, accounting for 44.34% of complaints, while withdrawal disputes made up 38.79%. The Financial Services Conduct Authorityhas flagged 5,830 employers who are not meeting their legal obligation to pay pension deductions within seven days.
The case at hand involves the non-payment of a death benefit to the widow of a former Afripack employee who passed away on August 6, 2023. According to the complainant, she submitted all necessary documentation to claim the benefit, only to be contacted by a trustee, Mr Zuma. Rather than handlingthe matter through official channels, he arranged to meet her in town and handed over a letter stating the deceased’s benefit amounted to just R6,000.56.
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She questioned both the unusual meeting location and the accuracy of the amount, pointing out that her spouse had been employed since 1981. The complainant also provided supporting documents, including the employer’s confirmation of employment from 19 February 1981 and a letter from the Master of the High Court dated 24 January 2024.
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