Lebogang Paul Mogashoa (pictured) has been appointed as South Africa’s new Pension Funds Adjudicator, taking over from Muvhango Lukhaimane, who leaves after 12 years at the helm.
Mogashoa takes office on 8 December for a three-year term, stepping into a role that demands deep expertise in retirement fund law and administration.
The Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator (OPFA) resolves disputes between retirement fund members and their funds, ensuring the rights and interests of the public are protected. It investigates and determines complaints under the Pension Funds Act and handles additional matters designated under the Financial Sector Regulation Act. As the Adjudicator, Mogashoa will oversee the OPFA’s operations, ensuring impartial and effective dispute resolution, while maintaining compliance with legislation.
According to a media statement issued by National Treasury, Mogashoa has 17 years of experience in retirement fund law, governance, and administration. He has served as deputy principal executive officer and company secretary of the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund and held senior positions including senior corporate legal counsel at the Pension Fund MANCO for the South African Tourism Board.
His career began at the OPFA as a legal intern, where he later advanced to senior assistant adjudicator.
An admitted Advocate, Mogashoa holds an LLB from the University of Limpopo, an LLM in Mercantile Law from the University of Pretoria, and a Master of Management in Governance and Management from the University of Witwatersrand. He has also completed an Executive Development Programme at Stellenbosch University.
Big shoes to fill: Lukhaimane steps down
After 12 years at the helm, Lukhaimane steps down, leaving a legacy of efficiency and fairness. She oversaw thousands of determinations, returning millions of rands to aggrieved retirement fund members and building the OPFA into a respected, robust dispute-resolution body.
Lukhaimane became South Africa’s fifth Pension Funds Adjudicator on 1 July 2013, after serving as deputy PFA since 1 June 2012. She eliminated the backlog of complaints dating back to 2007 and strengthened stakeholder engagement, making the OPFA more visible and accessible to the public.
She said retirement funds play a critical role in the economy.
“Pension funds, smartly invested, provide a mechanism for unlocking savings, stimulating economic growth and ensuring that pensioners are provided for in retirement. By regulating them appropriately, the elderly can be protected against poverty, investment can be facilitated and systemic risk reduced.”
Reflecting on her tenure, Lukhaimane said: “It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve in this role – championing fairness, promoting accountability, and striving to protect the rights and dignity of retirement fund members.
“I am encouraged by the collective progress we have made and appreciate that there is still more to be done. As I step off at my station, I remain confident in the capacity, integrity, and continued role of the office in protecting consumers.”
The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, congratulated Mogashoa on his appointment and thanked Lukhaimane for her outstanding contribution to the OPFA.
