Service - Leadership in Government - Issue 75

S
interview
Pride of
the workers
The National Fund for Municipal Workers,
established in 1997, has grown to be
the largest retirement fund in the Local
Government industry with more than
52 000 active members employed at 214
municipalities throughout South Africa.
Service spoke to the Fund’s CEO,
Leslie Ndawana
Mr Ndawana, you were appointed in August 2020 as
Principal Executive Officer and Chief Executive Officer
of the Fund. Please share your journey that led to this
point in your career.
I have been in the South African retirement funds
industry for more than a decade. I have experience in
functioning as a decision-maker, as an advisor and as
a compliance professional – all these facets require a
critical understanding for a person in the position such
as the National Fund for Municipal Workers (NFMW)
Principal Officer and Chief Executive Officer.
I have been with the NFMW since 2017 when I was
appointed as the Deputy Principal Officer; in this role, I
was mainly responsible for fund governance and Boardrelated
matters.
What are your aspirations for the National Fund for
Municipal Workers (NFMW)?
I want the Fund to be a recognised participant in the
dialogue on issues of national importance such as
sustainable socio-economic development of our nation,
transformation, equality, and justice, among others. The
retirement assets/savings managed by the NFMW and
other retirement funds should also contribute to creating
an environment that is conducive to live in, such that
our members benefit from the Fund’s assets not only at
retirement but also during their working life.
From an operational perspective, I want to see the
NFMW with an integrated and seamless system such
that it should take less than one working day to process
and pay a claim (subject to tax processes). The current
three-day standard is too long! Lastly, I would want
the NFMW to develop into the most trusted custodian
within local government, growing our members’
investments and keeping them informed along the way
to a secure retirement.
What are the main objectives of the Fund?
The Fund’s purpose of existence is to financially secure
our members’ future. This becomes relevant given the
current economic environment and the continuously
___ __
The Fund’s purpose
of existence is to
financially secure our
members’ future. This
becomes relevant
given the current
economic environment
and the continuously
widening fiscal gap
32 | Service magazine