How can I claim my provident fund from my former employer after being unable to reach the company headquarters?

The long answer

As it is 19 years since you left the company, your provident fund money would have been put into an unclaimed benefits fund two years after you left. You should still be able to claim the money, though 10X says that the biggest problem may be to find the administrator of the fund, which may have changed over time. 

The Human Resources Manager for the new company should be able to direct you to the right provident fund administrator, otherwise the FSCA will direct you to the administrator of the fund. You can call the FSCA's toll-free enquiry number at 0800 20 3722. 

According to 10X, you must get in touch with your previous employer and ask for an instruction form that includes instructions for the administrator on what to do with the funds in your provident fund. The necessary supporting documentation, such as a copy of your ID and proof of bank account, must also be submitted.

Each provident fund is given a number, which is its unique identifier. 

As far as I could establish, the administrator of the provident fund may have knowledge of or administer the unclaimed benefits funds. If this is the case, you could contact them and give them your information (ID, etc.) and ask them to assist you to claim your Provident Fund. 

The FSCA website explains how to find out if you have pension funds due to you:

• Online search via the FSCA website (click here)

• Email enquiry – ID number: [email protected]

• Email enquiry – general request: [email protected]

• SMS enquiry – ID number: 30913

• SMS – general enquiry: 30766

• Toll-free telephone enquiries: 0800 20 3722

• Walk in clients: River Walk Office Park, Block B, 41 Matroosberg Road, Ashlea Gardens

Make sure that you take down the name of each person you speak to and what they say, so that you can use this for lodging a complaint if necessary to the Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator (OPFA). 

To complain to the Pension Funds Adjudicator, you must first submit a written complaint to the pension fund or employer and wait up to 30 days for a response. If you don't receive a response or are not satisfied, you can complete the official complaint form from OPFA. You can download the form from the website: https://www.pfa.org.za/complaint-forms/. Submit it with a copy of your ID and proof of fund membership and proof of the initial complaint and the fund's response. You can submit it by email (using the address below) or online (https://www.pfa.org.za/submit-a-complaint/).

These are the contact details for OPFA:

Address: 4th Floor, Block A
​Riverwalk Office Park
41 Matroosberg Road
Ashlea Gardens
Pretoria

Tel: 012 748 4000 or 012 346 1738

General enquiries: [email protected]

If you need help with lodging the complaint, you can ask Legal Aid for assistance. They are a means-tested organisation that must assist people who can’t afford a lawyer. These are their contact details:

• Legal Aid

Tel: 0800 110 110 (Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm)

Please Call Me: 079 835 7179

Email: [email protected]

Wishing you the best,
Athalie