Teachers' unions have urged members to be patient about claiming compensation for pension fund discrimination in the past.
Women educators who were forced out of the state pension fund when they married, unmarried teachers with children and "casual "workers who were never allowed to join the pension fund may be able to claim compensation from the R1,5 billion pool which the state pension fund has set aside for this purpose.
But the education unions have asked members to wait until the conclusion of work by the Pension Task Team set up by the civil service unions and the government before taking steps to claim compensation.
"Members must hang in there," says National Union of Democratic Teachers' provincial secretary Don Pasquallie. "We will keep them informed of developments."
He says it is unlikely anyone will get a free handout. Victims of compensation are more likely to be allowed to buy back pension rights at rates which prevailed in the past, at the time when they were excluded.
National Union of Educators' executive director Mike Myburgh says it is too early for members to claim compensation. "The task team is still looking at the implications. Procedures will be set up later through which people can apply."