A critical narrative analysis of the deployment of corporate arrangements in the conduct of government employee pension fund

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The South African (SA) government is experiencing problems with regard to its service deliverymandate in public institutions. These problems have resulted from a number of factors, such asSA's history of unequal distribution of resources; the introduction of remedial legislations andprogrammes when the new government took office in 1994; incorrect implementation of theselegislations and programmes with the accompanying departure of skilled managersaccompanied by the influx of new and inexperienced managers. Deliberate interventions wereintroduced to address this service delivery problem however, many public institutions remainunsuccessful in fulfilling their mandate to service delivery.In this study, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is used as a case study tolearn more about the effect of corporate governance in addressing service delivery problems inpublic institutions. As a government entity, the GEPF experienced some service deliveryproblems with regard to its mandate. Like any other public entity in SA, the GEPF is governedby all legislative provisions governing public entities and is equally affected by challenges suchas scarcity of resources (financial; equipment and skills).The objectives of the study is to identify major principles and techniques related tocorporatisation as an approach to management practice; to identify major challengesencountered by GEPF prior to corporatisation; and to analyse the deployment of corporatearrangements in the conduct of the GEPF in relation to these techniques and principles. Thebasis of this research is a thorough literature study and interviews with managers of the GEPF.The major finding of this study is that the GEPF has entrusted basic duties and responsibilitiesaffecting its mandate to employer institutions (EIs). These basic yet sensitive functions havebeen left arbitrarily to EIs, hence the GEPF is unable to execute its duties in its benefitsadministration in line with its vision. Other findings include internal processes are incorrectlyapplied, thus hampering effective and efficient benefits administration; there is lack of, or limiteduse of a performance management system; there is an inability to deal with predictableproblems; and the organisation of resources does not support the vision of the GEPF.Achievements in terms of the corporatisation process to improve performance were noted. Theenrolment of the services of consultants to assist the GEPF to improve its performance led tothe following: approval of the organisational structure that supports the GEPF's vision; empowerment of managers in terms of skills capacity; conversion of contract workers topermanent; and taking an aggressive approach to performance and risk management. It istherefore concluded that although challenges still exist, the GEPF has embarked on asystematic process to rid itself of the challenges it faces.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University