Trustees | Woolworths Group Retirement Fund

Board of Trustees

The trustees of a retirement fund have a responsibility to monitor and manage the Fund’s investments in accordance with set laws that tell them how a fund’s assets may be invested.

The Fund’s member-elected trustees are available if you would like to talk to them about Fund issues, queries, etc. Please feel free to contact them – their details are listed below.

Read the Fund Rules of the Woolworths Group Retirement Fund here.

Read the Amendments to the Fund Rules of the Woolworths Group Retirement Fund here.

Annual report

The Board of Trustees (“the Board”) is pleased to advise members that the Fund’s audited annual financial statements for the financial year ended 28 February 2021 have been submitted to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (“FSCA”). The Fund received an unqualified audit opinion from its external auditors, and the Fund’s actuary has confirmed that the Fund remained in a sound financial position as at the financial year-end.

Read the Annual Trustees’ Report for 2023 here.

Member-elected trustees

The following trustees have been elected by you, the Fund members.

Shane Thomas

Functional and Technical Trainer

Tel: 012 641 5054

E-mail: shanethomas@woolworths.co.za

Mandla Skosana

HRA: Supply Chain & Logistics – Midrand Campus

Tel: 012 621 6146

E-mail: mandlaskosana@woolworths.co.za

Belinda Modiba

Store Admin DM ( HR ) – Eastgate

Tel: 011 677 4511

E-mail: StoreAdminMgr2EastgateJHB@woolworths.co.za

Lefu Mabula (Alternate Trustee)

Operations Manager – Perishables: Midrand Distribution Centre

Tel: 031 710 1400

E-mail: lefumabula@woolworths.co.za

Kay Raidoo (Alternate Trustee)

Head of Division 3 – KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape

Tel: 031 276 3151

E-mail: kayraidoo@woolworths.co.za

Woolworths-elected trustees

The following trustees have been elected by Woolworths.

Julian Novak (Chairperson)

Head of Perishables – Foods

Tel: 021 407 2666

E-mail: juliannovak@woolworths.co.za

Bradley Nitsckie

Chief Supply Chain Officer

Tel: 021 407 2505

E-mail: bradleynitsckie@woolworths.co.za

Cornelius du Plessis

Group Head of Remuneration and Benefits

Tel: 021 407 2494

E-mail: corneliusduplessis@woolworths.co.za

Justin Crowhurst (Alternate Trustee)

Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 021 407 2326

E-mail: justincrowhurst@woolworths.co.za

Anil Narshi (Alternate Trustee)

Group Tax Manager

Tel: 021 407 3291

E-mail: anilnarshi@woolworths.co.za

Duties of the Board of Trustees:

The Board is responsible for the proper and sound management of the Fund, in terms of these Rules.
The Board must act with due care, diligence, skill and in good faith.
Members of the Board must avoid conflicts of interest, and must declare any interest they may have in any particular matter serving before the Board.
The Board must apply sound business principles and ensure the financial soundness of the Fund.
The Board must appoint a principal officer who is fit and proper to hold such office and may appoint any staff which in its opinion are required for the proper execution of the business of the Fund, and shall determine the terms and conditions of service of the principal officer and of any person employed by the Fund.
The Board must ensure that the relevant minutes, accounts, entries, registers and records as are essential for the proper functioning of the Fund are kept.
The Board must ensure that proper control systems are employed by and on behalf of the Fund.
The Board must ensure that adequate and appropriate information is communicated to the members regarding their rights, benefits, contributions and duties in terms of the Rules.

The Board must take all reasonable steps to ensure that contributions are paid timeously to the Fund in accordance with the Act and the Rules.
The Board must take out and maintain professional indemnity insurance and fidelity guarantee insurance.
The Board must obtain expert advice on legal, accounting and business matters as required, or on any other matter of which the members of the Board may lack sufficient expertise.
The Board must ensure that the Rules, the operation and administration of the Fund comply with the provisions of the Act and all other applicable laws.
The Board must take all reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of medical records concerning any beneficiary’s state of health.
The Board must approve all disbursements.
The Board must ensure that any mortgage bond, title deed or other security belonging to or held by the Fund, except when in the temporary custody of another person for the purposes of the Fund, is kept in safe custody, in a safe or strongroom at the registered office of the Fund or with any financial institution approved by the Board.
The Board must make such provision as it deems desirable, and with due regard to normal practice and recommended guidelines pertaining to the retention of documents, for the safe custody of the books, records, documents and other effects of the Fund.