The Citizen reports that Police Minister Bheki Cele has been silent on the plight of a destitute ex-KwaZulu-Natal SA Police Service (Saps) former captain – owed a pension by the state for 32 years of service, including a decade as an underground Crime Intelligence agent.
However, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) on Monday undertook to probe the matter. Retired due to ill-health, the former policeman had been behind a string of successful investigations into the siphoning of public funds by corrupt officials at the SA Revenue Service (Sars). Despite highlighting the dangers of being taken out of a safe house and staying at home without bodyguards, the Saps has failed to beef up security around the former cop. Having last week promised “to find the letter” dated 7 November, 2022, addressed by the former policeman to the minister, Cele’s spokesperson could not respond to requests for comment. However, the GEPF maintained the problem could lie with the Saps. GEPF spokesperson Karabo Moiloa said: “Our payments department will follow up with the Saps. In most cases, the GEPF sends back to employers submitted forms not fully completed. The fault could lie with his former employer.” The penniless former policeman sought interventions in letters to the Public Protector, Crime Intelligence head, Saps national commissioner and Cele. In one of several letters appealing for help from government departments, he wrote: “I resigned due to severe illness, with comorbidities and according to my doctor, my life expectancy was at zero.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brian Sokutu at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
- Read too, Ex-Saps employee embroiled in pension battle after 32 years of service, at The Citizen
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