Ixopo Advice Office

tel: 039 834 2169

ixopo@ccjd.org.za

Helping a Mother to Obtain a Retirement Fund

A 67 year-old woman came to the office on 5^th January 2015 to ask for advice about obtaining her daughter’s provident fund. Her daughter had died in February 2014. She had been working at MacDonald’s and was contributing to a retirement fund.

The mother had contacted the MacDonald’s head office in Gauteng but had been unable to make progress. The office had promised her the daughter’s retirement fund but not paid it.

CCJD paralegal Bazamile Magubane (right) got the number of the head office in Gauteng from the client. She spoke to a man who asked her to email him the details of the deceased as well as the client’s details in order to check what was going on. He promised that he would come back to her.

On the 08/01/15 the client came with another office number for the retirement fund. Mrs Magubane called it and spoke to a man told her to tell the client come to his office to sign some outstanding papers. Mrs Magubane told the client and she went to his office in Durban the following day.

On the 14/01/15 the client came to report that she had signed those forms and she had been promised that she would receive money at the end of February. Mrs Magubane asked her to come back to the office to report back if this happened or if she experienced further delays.

On the 12/02/15 the client came again to report that she hadn’t received any money. Mrs Magubane contacted the retirement fund and found out that there were more documents that needed to be signed by the client. She informed the client who went to Durban and signed the documents. Mrs Magubane then again phoned the McDonalds administrator, who said they were still processing the application. He requested that she tell the client to be patient and said he was sure that by the end of February 2015 everything would be sorted out.

Mrs Magubane reported back to the client and asked her to keep her updated. She followed up with the client on 12^th May. She said she had received her money in March. She said she would spend it on her child’s education.