Delay of Pension Fund Payout By GEPF

<p>My name Mrs M Z Xhangu, my husband passed on the 24th of August 2014. He was working for South African Police Service, based at De Deur Police Station. A week after the funeral i submitted the required documents for the pension funds pay-out. All those necessary documents for the claim were submitted in Park Town, that is the Head Quarters for SAPS, the office receives documents and courier them to Government Employees Pension Fund Offices (National) in Pretoria.After I have submitted all the documents GEPF office required their office kept quiet and i made follow-up after 4 months, only to be told that my identity copy and death certificate copy were not clear, i made copies and resubmitted at Parktown Head quarters as it is convenient for me and i waited again, hoping that i will get the update on the status since i assumed all the documents were complete. The process went on like that with no communication and in January 2016 i went to Parktown Head Quarters to find out on the status of my claim. What a surprise, the lady who assisted me told me that the GEPF System shows that my identity copy and the stamp on the death certificate were unclear again, but who cared to contact me no one? (Where is Batho Pele Principles in this case) in addition to that i was told the bank date stamp on bank forms 894 for my daughter (Over 18 years) and step daughter (Over 18 years) has expired and the forms need to be resubmitted as well. I went back to the bank for date stamp and Department of Home Affairs to request the copy of the death certificate and i made a copy of my identity in colour so that it is eligible enough and i resubmitted again. The file was finally complete and GEPF started working on it from the 24 January 2016 and thereafter i called the GEPF Offices to confirm if all the documents are complete to start working on and i also asked them about their turnaround time if all the documents are complete, they told me that it takes 60 working days for them to complete the whole process and i was happy to hear that. In March 2016 i contacted the GEPF Offices and they told me that the file is at their Forensic Unit thereafter it will go to payment for calculations. On the 9th of April i physically went to GEPF Offices in Pretoria to find out on the status and they told me that the official working with my file is on leave but they will send her email to speed up the process. Shooooohhhh, i called GEPF Offices again in mid April 2016 they told me that the file is at their Legal unit for calculations and that will be the final stage. I called GEPF Offices again during the second week of MAY 2016 they told me that the file is at their payment unit but in order to reach the final stage of payment the file passes 4 or 5 officials.I further asked their procedure if the turnaround has lapsed (Like in my case) can’t they give such cases a priority and they said no, all the files irrespective of the deadline or not they go through the same process. I am a widower and unemployed, my daughter was supposed to have registered at the College to upgrade her symbols so that next year she can enrol at her preferred University to further her studies but the situation as it is now it means She has lost one year doing nothing at home and it is also expensive because I have to make sure that there is enough food for both of us during the day. As for my other 2 daughters that is except my step daughter, they are being deprived the opportunity that other kids has because i cannot buy them clothes, balanced diet food and i cannot pay for their school trips even if is educational because i am unemployed. Hello peter please assist me i am even ashamed to walk on the street because i owe people money and I promised to pay them as soon as the pay-outs is done but now it looks like i am just waiting for the dark, i have lost hope if i will get this money. Please Hello Peter i heard people talking successful stories about you and your magical intervention.</p> <p> </p>