Johannesburg - Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo on Monday urged former public servants to come forward and lodge pension claims at the Government Employees Pensions Fund (GEPF).
There are over 44 000 unclaimed pension benefits at the GEPF.
''The Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA), which administers the pension fund on behalf of the GEPF has reported that by 31 May 2018, there were 17 271 cases of unclaimed benefits and during the same period, there were 26 919 cases of unpaid benefits. The combined total number of cases is 44 190,'' Dlodlo said in a statement.
''In terms of section 3 of the Public Service Act, 1994, the Minister is, subject to the Labour Relations Act and any collective agreement concluded, responsible for the determination of any conditions of services generally or categories of employees including salary scales and allowances for particular categories of employees in the public service. Pension is included in the definition of conditions of service.''
She called on family members of deceased former public servants to contact the GEPF and ascertain whether they are entitled to any unclaimed pension benefits.