ASSOCIATION FOR MONITORING AND ADVOCACY FOR GOVERNMENT PENSIONS (AMAGP)

VERENIGING VIR MONITERING EN VOORSPRAAK VAN STAATSWERKNEMERS PENSIOENE (AMAGP)

Website: https://www.amagp.co.za

Webblad: https://www.amagp.co.za

The English Title for AMAGP (ASSOCIATION FOR MONITORING AND ADVOCACY FOR GOVERNMENT PENSIONS) will be utilised in the future.   Furthermore, the generally accepted acronym, GEPF (GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PENSION FUND) will be used when referring to the State Employees Pension Fund.

Die akroniem vir die Engelse titel van die Vereniging, AMAGP (ASSOCIATION FOR MONITORING AND ADVOCACY FOR GOVERNMENT PENSIONS), sal hierna gebruik word.   Verder sal die algemeen bekende akroniem, GEPF, vir die GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PENSION FUND, gebruik word wanneer na die STAATSWERKNEMERS PENSIOENFONDS verwys word.

The above association is officially registered as a Non-Profit Organisation.   The organisation aims to help protect members of the Government Pension Fund (GEPF)'s pension benefits.  AMAGP is sincerely concerned about the sustainability of the GEPF and that members' legitimate interests are protected throughout.

Bogenoemde vereniging is amptelik geregistreer as 'n Nie-Winsgewende Organisasie.   Die organisasie het ten doel om lede van die Staatswerknemers Pensioenfonds (GEPF) se pensioenvoordele te help beskerm.  AMAGP is opreg bekommerd oor die volhoubaarheid van die GEPF en dat lede se regmatige belang deurgaans beskerm word.

The Association is composed of voluntary members (pensioned and serving government employees) of the GEPF. National Management is responsible for managing the organization and is backed by supporting structures responsible for media, legal, financial, information and administrative matters.

Die Vereniging is saamgestel uit vrywillige lede (pensioenarisse en dienende staatswerknemers) van die GEPF. 'n Nasionale Bestuur is oorhoofs verantwoordelik vir die bestuur van die organisasie en word gerugsteun deur ondersteunende strukture verantwoordelik vir media, regsaspekte, finansiele aspekte, informasie en administratiewe aangeleenthede.

The Association studies a wide range of information available across a wide front, and through value adding, meaningful studies are completed and conclusions about the management of the GEPF by the Board of Trustees are made.

Die Vereniging bestudeer 'n wye reeks van informasie beskikbaar oor 'n wye front en deur waardetoevoeging word sinvolle studies voltooi en afleidings en gevolgtrekkings gemaak rakende die bestuur van die GEPF deur die Raad van Trustees.

Although the interests of the members are protected by law, there is a concern in the current economic order that the GEPF's sustainability may be compromised. Injudicious investments and even the risk of state capture are risks that threaten the fund. Those cases that indicate unacceptable risk are analysed in depth and questions asked from, or points of view are made to, the GEPF Council. If such questions are not answered satisfactorily, stakeholders will work together to give impetus to the matter. In many cases the concerns or points of view are promoted via the media and also political representatives to Parliamentary level.

Alhoewel die lede se belang in die wet beskerm word, is daar 'n ongemak in die huidige ekonomiese bestel dat die volhoubaarheid van die GEPF in gedrang kan wees. Onoordeelkundige beleggings en selfs die gevaar van staatskaping is risiko's wat die GEPF bedreig. Die gevalle wat op onaanvaarbare risiko dui, word in diepte ontleed en daar word vrae en/of standpunte aan die GEPF Raad gestel. Indien sodanige vrae nie bevredigend beantwoord word nie, word daar met belanghebbende instansies saamgewerk om impetus aan die saak te gee. In baie gevalle word die bekommernisse of standpunte gepromulgeer deur die media en ook politieke verteenwoordigers tot op Parlementere vlak.

The Association does not intend to compete with any trade union or to pilfer their members. On the contrary, the organization believes that, through cooperation with these institutions on members' retirement interests, such interests can be better protected. In this aspect, significant pioneering has already been done and much success achieved in wide sensitisation of organisations and individuals. A major breakthrough was the overall resistance to employing GEPF funds to serve as salvage for SAA.

Die Vereniging het geensins ten doel om vir enige vakbond kompetisie te wees of om lede af te rokkel nie. Inteendeel, AMAGP glo dat deur samewerking met hierdie instansies oor lede se pensioenbelang, sodanige belang beter beskerm kan word. Op die terrein is daar alreeds baanbrekerswerk gedoen en is reeds baie bereik om sensitering te doen. 'n Groot deurbraak was die algehele verset om GEPF fondse aan te wend om as reddingsboei vir SAL te dien.

The Association is in its infancy and additional members are essential to support the pressure group in the important task for the benefit of its members, consisting of approximately 1,3 million serving government employees, and a further approximately 430 000 pensioners and their dependants. The more members that join AMAGP, the stronger our power will be to exert pressure for the protection of our pensions.

Die Vereniging is in sy kinderskoene, en addisionele lede is noodsaaklik om die drukgroep te ondersteun in die belangrike taak tot voordeel van sy lede wat bestaan uit ongeveer 1,3 miljoen staatswerknemers in diens, en 'n verdere ongeveer 430 000 pensioenarisse en afhanklikes. Hoe meer lede by AMAGP aansluit, hoe sterker word ons vermoe om druk uit te oefen ter beskerming van ons pensioen.

MISSIE.

Om die Staatsdienswerkers se Pensioenfonds te beskerm teen moontlike wanaanwending, korrupsie en plundering tot die voordeel van die lede van die Fonds.

MISSION.

To protect the government employees pension in the interest of the members of the fund, from possible corruption, misuse and plunder.

BELEID

• Die Fonds moet ten alle tye tot die maksimum voordeel vd pensionaris bele word. Enige beleggings in BBBEE- en Sosio-ekonomiese projekte moet alleenlik plaasvind, as daar aanvaarbare winste gemaak word.
• Die Fonds moet finansieël volhoubaar wees.
• Beleggings risikos moet beperk word.
• Abnormale groot beleggings in SOEs ( State Owned Enterprises), veral waar die bestuur daarvan verdag is, moet vermy word.
• Politieke inmenging met die Fonds moet uitgeskakel of tot die minimum beperk word.
• Soos die betrokke wet ( Government Employees Pension Fund Law of 1996) dit vereis,is die Raad van Trustees verantwoordelik vir die Fonds. Die OBK is onder hulle beheer en dus nie direk tov die Fonds aanspreeklik nie.
• Die aktiwiteite en besluite van die Raad van Trustees moet deursigtig wees. Geheimhouding moet vermy word en daar moet behoorlike kommunikasie met lede vd Fonds wees.

POLICY

• The Fund must at all times be invested in the best interest of the members of the fund. BBBEE and other Socioeconomic investments must only be allowed if the profit and risk is acceptable and in the interest of the members.
• The Fund must be sustainable.
• Investment risks are to be kept at an acceptable level.
• Investment in State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) must be limited. The Fund must not be used to rescue bankrupt and badly managed SOEs.
• Political interference with the Fund must not take place or must be limited.
• As stated in Government Employees Pension Fund Law of 1996, the Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the total well-being of the Fund. The investments of Fund moneys by PIC, as an investment agency, is therefore also their responsibility.
• The decisions and actions of the Board of Trustees must be transparent. Secrecy is not acceptable. Therefore the members of the Fund are to be continuously kept informed of the state of the Fund.