The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration has requested a joint meeting with the Standing Committee on Finance to discuss allegations of irregularities at the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA).

The committee noted recent media reports alleging serious irregularities at the GPAA – the agency responsible for administering funds for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), and which serves 1.7-million employees and pensioners.

According to media reports, a senior financial manager was suspended after refusing to approve payments of over R21-million that he deemed questionable.

The senior financial manager now faces disciplinary measures.

“The manager had reportedly previously asked the Minister of Finance to investigate contracts dating back to June,” said committee chairperson Jan de Villiers.

Last week, the committee noted media reports about an alleged “ghost contract” for the lease of a non-existent building by the GPAA.

The contract reportedly related to the lease of a building for GPAA’s headquarters for the next 10 years at a cost of just under R1-billion, allegedly without following proper procurement processes.

De Villiers said that the latest developments were concerning as they reflected a “pattern of potential irregularities” and financial misconduct at the agency.

He warned of undermining the public’s trust in government and stressed the need for whistleblower protection as “non-negotiable”.

“If individuals who act in good faith to protect the public purse are silenced or punished, we risk eroding the foundations of ethical, transparent and accountable governance,” he said.

He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to clean governance and the protection of pensioners’ funds.

The committee said it would continue to demand full disclosure from the GPAA, monitor all related investigations and ensure that there were consequences where wrongdoing is identified.