The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) has finally moved with the technological times, establishing an online self-service system and app for its members.
However, both the system and the app were inaccessible at the weekend, with the self-service system coming back again online at the time of writing.
Formed in May 1996, the GEPF is regarded as Africa’s largest pension fund, with over 1.2 million active members. It has over 450 000 pensioners and beneficiaries, and assets worth more than R1.61 trillion.
According to the pension fund, the new online self-service and app aim to improve members’ access to their latest pension information anywhere and anytime. It also enables members to trace resignation and retirement benefit claims, update personal information like address and contact details, access the latest benefit statements, and nominate and update beneficiaries, among its functions.
The GEPF promises its online-based services will save users’ time and effort by not having to travel long distances, limit holding on for long periods for a call centre agent as well as long queues at its branches.
To be able to access GEPF self-service, members, pensioners and beneficiaries are requested to first register through auto self-registration online, states the GEPF.
After going live on Friday, the GEPF took to social networking site Twitter at the weekend, tweeting that the system was down. “Kindly note that [the] GEPF system is currently down due to network problems. The network problem is affecting connection to the GEPF self-service Web and app platform.
“We are busy sorting out this problem and we hope the network will be back soonest. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause or have caused.”
To access the GEPF app, members can download it from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
In the comments section of the Google Play Store, users have expressed some issues with the app, with many noting inability to log in as the main headache.
Craig CW Thiem wrote: “This app doesn’t work at the moment. You can’t even register. Once you enter your details, it just buffers endlessly. But it’s probably just a glitch. I’m sure they’ll have this really helpful app up and running soon!”
Frans Botha wrote: “Poor design. Non-functional in current state. Unable to load after multiple reinstalls. Much like admin in service, it’s kind of inefficient.”
Another user, SM wrote: “USELESS APP – does not allow for registration.”
Monique Strydom said: “Can’t sign in. When it goes to the verification questions, none of the options presented are correct, so I cannot choose the correct one.”
Given Malefane also had trouble logging in, writing: “One cannot log in. It does not work. Waste of time and data.”
To view a video demonstration of theself-service system, click here.
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