I-Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) ithi ngoku igxile ekubeni neengxoxo nemibutho yabasebenzi ehleliweyo nasekuphumezeni amanyathelo okulawula iindleko asele eqalisile, endaweni yokufaka esinye isicelo sokunciphisa ukunyuka kweminikelo ka-2026 esele kuvunyiwe. Injongo yayo kukunciphisa izinga lokunyuka kweminikelo kwiminyaka ezayo, kuqalwa ngohlengahlengiso luka-2027.
Ethetha ne-Moonstone emva kwesigqibo seveki ephelileyo seBhunga leeNkqubo zezoNyango (Council for Medical Schemes) sokusikhaba isindululo se-GEMS sokunciphisa ukunyuka komndilili weminikelo ka-2026, obalwa ngokobunzima beminikelo yamalungu, ukusuka kwi-9.5% ukuya kwi-7.5%, igosa eliyintloko lale nkqubo, uGqr Stan Moloabi (oboniswe emfanekisweni), uthe ngoku le nkqubo kufuneka ithathe oko akuchaze njengendlela “elumke kakhulu” neqwalasela kokubini isiqabu ebesilindelwe ngamalungu ngenxa yokunyuka okuncitshisiweyo kunye nenkxalabo yomlawuli yokuba ukunciphisa iminikelo ngoku kunokudala uxinzelelo olukhulu ngakumbi kwiminyaka ezayo.
Funda: CMS rejects GEMS bid to cut 2026 contribution increase as unions demand answer
I-GEMS iza kudibana neBhunga loNxibelelwano loLungelelaniso lweNkonzo kaRhulumente (PSCBC) kwiveki ezayo phambi kokuba ibambe uthethathethwano olongezelelekileyo nemibutho yabasebenzi ukuze kuxoxwe ngendlela eya phambili.
“Akukho mathandabuzo okuba amalungu ethu avakalelwa kukuba i-7.5% yayiza kuzisa isiqabu kule meko ikhoyo ngoku, utshilo u-” Moloabi. “Ngoku ekubeni sinesigqibo, inkqubo kunye nabasebenzi abalungelelanisiweyo kuya kufuneka bathethe bathi, yeyiphi eyona ndlela ilungileyo eya phambili?”
Endaweni yokulandela esinye isicelo ekupheleni kwalo nyaka, uMoloabi uthe eyona khosi inobulumko iya kuba kukuqhubeka nokuphumeza amanyathelo okonga esikimu ukuze abe nefuthe kuhlengahlengiso lwegalelo kwixesha elizayo, ukuqala ngo-2027.
Uthe ukungenisa esinye isicelo kuya kufuna omnye umjikelo wonxibelelwano lwamalungu, utshintsho lweenkqubo, kunye nokuphunyezwa kolawulo kwiinyanga kuphela phambi kokuba amalungiselelo aqale kumjikelo olandelayo wegalelo.
“Bekungayi kuba bubulumko kuthi, ‘Kulungile, silapha apho sikhoyo’?” Wathi uMoloabi. “Ukuba sinokufikelela kwipesenti engcono ngakumbi ngo-2027, ngoko ke ubuncinane siya kube sisombulule ingxaki.”
Uthe le nkqubo kufuneka ithathele ingqalelo inkxalabo yeCMS’ yokuba ukunciphisa iminikelo ngoku kunokutshintsha nje uxinzelelo lwemali kumalungu kwiminyaka ezayo.
Isicwangciso sogcino-mali se-R1.7 yebhiliyoni
UMoloabi uthe isicelo se-7.5% asiveli sodwa.
Emva kokuba i-GEMS yehlise umyinge wayo wokunyuka kwegalelo ngo-2026 ukusuka kwi-9.8% ukuya kwi-9.5% emva kothethathethwano lokuqala nabasebenzi abaququzelelweyo, imibutho yabasebenzi yalukhaba olo lwando luhlaziyiweyo. Iingxoxo ezithe vetshe phakathi kweGEMS, abasebenzi abaququzelelweyo, kunye noMphathiswa weNkonzo kaRhulumente noLawulo, u-Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, zibe nesiphumo sesivumelwano sokuba esi sikimu siza kusebenza kwiCMS ukuze kuncitshiswe ngakumbi ukuya kutsho kwi-7.5%.
Kungelo xesha kuphela, wathi, inkqubo yacela iingcaphephe zayo ukuba ziqinisekise ukuba ukuncitshiswa okunjalo kunokuxhaswa ngaphandle kokubeka esichengeni uzinzo lwexesha elide lwe-GEMS’.
Uqikelelo lwe-Actuary lwalusekwe kungenelelo lolawulo lwamabango esele luqhubeka apho i-GEMS iqikelela ukuba iza kuvelisa malunga ne-R1.7 yebhiliyoni yokonga ngexesha
Uqikelelo lwe-Actuarial lwalusekwe kungenelelo lolawulo lwamabango esele luqhubeka apho i-GEMS iqikelela ukuba iza kuvelisa malunga ne-R1.7 yebhiliyoni yokonga ngo-2026.
Olo ngenelelo lubandakanya utshintsho kwiinkqubo zolawulo lwamabango, izilungiso ezikhethiweyo zemithetho, utshintsho lweenkqubo, kunye nohlengahlengiso lokusebenza olubandakanya ababoneleli ngeenkonzo.
UMoloabi uthe ukuphumeza loo manyathelo kufuna ngaphezulu kokutshintsha nje amazinga egalelo. Iinkqubo sele ziqwalaselwe malunga nokunyuka okuvunyiweyo kwe-9.5%, ngelixa ezinye iindlela zokungenelela zifuna abasebenzi abongezelelweyo, uphuhliso lwenkqubo, kunye nohlengahlengiso lokusebenza ngaphambi kokuba baziswe.
“Besiqinisekile ukuba kufuneka sifezekise olu londolozo,” uthe. “Olo londolozo, lwakuba luphunyeziwe, lwalusisiseko sethu esithi sisaza kusebenza kwindawo ezinzileyo.”
Ugxininise ukuba xa i-GEMS ibhekiselele kugcino oluqikelelweyo, isiqinisekiso sasingekho ngenxa yokuba inkqubo yayithandabuza ukuba ungenelelo luya kuphumelela. Endaweni yoko, ibonise ubunyani bokuba uqikelelo lwe-actuary alunakuze luqinisekiswe de lube luphunyeziwe.
“Ayikuko ukuba siyayithandabuza,” uthe. “Ngamanye amaxesha uvelisa into ethile, kwaye iziphumo azikho kanye le nto ucinga ngayo.”
Nangona i-CMS ekugqibeleni yalile isicelo, ungenelelo luyaqhubeka nokuphunyezwa, kwaye, ngokutsho kukaMoloabi, ukonga okubangelwayo kuya kondla kuhlengahlengiso lwegalelo elizayo.
UMoloabi uthe le nkqubo iqala ngomjikelo wegalelo lika-2027 kodwa ijonge ukunceda amalungu kwixesha elide.
“Oko kunokuba yinto entle kuphela,” uthe. “Mhlawumbi ukwehlisa ukunyuka ngento ethile, kodwa loo nto iya kuxhomekeka kubungakanani bogcino oluphunyeziweyo.”
Indlela i-GEMS kunye ne-CMS ezisivavanye ngayo isindululo
UMoloabi uthe umahluko phakathi kwesindululo seGEMS’ kunye novavanyo lweCMS’ ugxile kwindlela ugcino oluqikelelweyo lwesikimu olunokuthathelwa ingqalelo ngayo.
Ucacisile ukuba isicelo se-GEMS’ sakhiwe kwinkqubo yongenelelo lolawulo lwamabango esele luqhubeka ukuba inkqubo ikholelwa ukuba iya kuvelisa ukonga okwaneleyo ukuxhasa ukonyuka kwegalelo eliphantsi ngaphandle kokubeka esichengeni uzinzo lwexesha elide.
I-CMS, nangona kunjalo, yavavanya isicelo isebenzisa imifuziselo esekiweyo ye-actuary kunye neendlela zamabango embali.
NgokukaMoloabi, umahluko ubonise uxanduva lwenkqubo kunye nomlawuli. Nangona i-GEMS yayikholelwa ukuba ugcino oluqikelelweyo lomelele ngokwaneleyo ukuthethelela ukonyuka kwegalelo eliphantsi, i-CMS kwafuneka ukuba iseke uvavanyo lwayo kwiimodeli ezimiselweyo ze-actuary kwaye ibonise amava amabango.
Uye wavuma ukuba uqikelelo, ngokwendalo yabo, luhlala luphethe ukungaqiniseki, yiyo loo nto iingcaphephe zihlala zivavanya uqikelelo oluchasene nedatha yamabango asakhulayo kwaye zisebenzisa iindlela ezininzi zokuqikelela kunokuxhomekeka kuqikelelo olunye.
“Isiseko somlawuli sokuthatha izigqibo ziindlela zobugcisa eziqhelekileyo kunye neemodeli ze-actuary. Into ebesiyibeke phambili asiyonto iqhele ukwenza.
UMoloabi uthe i-CMS ayizange iqiniseke ukuba uqikelelo lokonga iindleko, olwalungekaqinisekiswa ngamava amabango asele eqwalaselwe, lunika isiseko esaneleyo sokuvuma ukunyuswa kweminikelo ngezinga elisezantsi. Ngokutsho kwakhe, umlawuli wakhetha ukuxhomekeka kwiindlela ze-actuary esele ziqinisekisiwe kunokuba asebenzise uqikelelo lokonga iindleko olwalusele luqala ukubonakala, kodwa lungekaqinisekiswa ngokupheleleyo ngokuhamba kwexesha.
Ngokutsho kukaMoloabi, umlawuli waphinda wagqiba kwelokuba, ukuba olo londolozo lweendleko luqikelelweyo alwenzeki, umlinganiselo woovimba bemali wale nkqubo unokwehla ngakumbi, kuze kuthathe ixesha elide ukuba ubuyele kumlinganiselo osemthethweni we-25%.
Xa i-CMS yayicela iinkcukacha ezongezelelweyo ngexesha lovavanyo lwayo, i-GEMS yongeza idatha yamabango yakutshanje kwisicelo sayo.
“Umlawuli wakhupha ileta wathi, ‘Ndifuna iinkcukacha ezongezelelweyo.’ Emva koko songeza iinkcukacha ezazingekho ngaphambili. Amabango awayesele efikile ngelo xesha ayesele ebonisa ukongiwa kweendleko ngenxa yamanyathelo kanye esithetha ngawo, kwaye lowo ngumahluko omkhulu.”
UMoloabi ugxininise ukuba i-GEMS iyayihlonipha inkqubo yolawulo kwakunye nesiphumo sayo.
Uthe le nkqubo ingenise oko yayikholelwa ukuba lelona tyala linamandla inokuveza, yaphendula kuzo zonke izicelo zeenkcukacha ezongezelelweyo, yaza yasamkela isigqibo somlawuli emva kokugqitywa kovavanyo.
“Sinikezele ngezona nkcukacha zibalaseleyo sinokuzinikezela, zaza zavavanywa. Ngokusekelwe kolo vavanyo, isicelo sakhatywa. Yinkqubo leyo.”
Inyathelo elilandelayo: iingxoxo nemibutho yabasebenzi
Nangona i-CMS sele ifikelele kwisigqibo sayo, iingxoxo ze-GEMS nemibutho yabasebenzi ehleliweyo zisekude ukuba zigqitywe.
Le nkqubo iza kudibana ne-PSCBC ngomhla we-14 kaJulayi, kulandele ezinye iingxoxo nemibutho yabasebenzi nganye emelwe kwelo bhunga.
UMoloabi uthe ezo ntlanganiso azibizwanga ngenxa yale mbambano ikhoyo ngoku.
“Aziqali ngoku,” utshilo. “Le yindlela ebesisebenza ngayo.”
Uthe ukubandakanya imibutho yabasebenzi kwiingxoxo kudala kuyinxalenye yolawulo lwe-GEMS kunye neenkqubo zayo zokusebenzisana nabachaphazelekayo.
Nangona kunjalo, uvumile ukuba iingxoxo zeveki ezayo ziza kuqhutywa kwimeko yokuphoxeka okubangelwe sisigqibo se-CMS.
Ephendula ukugxekwa nguMbutho waBasebenzi bakaRhulumente (i-Public Servants Association, i-PSA), othe i-GEMS ayizange inikezele ngobungqina obunamandla ngokwaneleyo kwi-CMS, uMoloabi ubuze ukuba eso sigqibo sinokufikelelwa njani ngaphambi kokuba imibutho yabasebenzi ilubone uxwebhu lwesicelo.
“Bacela ukuba i-CMS ne-GEMS bobabini babanike iinkcukacha zesicelo. Oko kuthetha ukuba abakayiboni. Ngoko ke, kunokwenzeka njani ukuba umntu enze uvavanyo lwento angazange ayibone?”
Xa ebuzwa ukuba i-GEMS iza kusinika na isicelo eso, uMoloabi uthe iingxoxo ezizayo nemibutho yabasebenzi lelona qonga lifanelekileyo lokuxoxa ngalo mba.
Uthe imibutho yabasebenzi iza kufumana ithuba lokuphakamisa imiba efuna ukuqwalaselwa, kwaye i-GEMS iza kwabelana ngolwazi “ngokomlinganiselo ovunyelweyo ngokweemfuno zolawulo”.
“Siza kuxoxa ngemiba abayiphakamisayo… Ndiqinisekile ukuba lo mba uza kuvela, kwaye siza kuxoxa ngawo ngokomlinganiselo esivunyelwe ngawo ngokweemfuno zolawulo ukwabelana ngolwazi. Sabelana ngolwazi oluninzi kwezi ntlanganiso.”
Kwangaxeshanye, ugxininise ukuba imibutho yabasebenzi idlala indima ebalulekileyo.
“Apho kukho ubudlelwane phakathi komqeshi nomqeshwa, kuya kubakho imibutho yabasebenzi,” utshilo, esongeza ngelithi i-GEMS iyaluqonda uxanduva lwemibutho yabasebenzi lokumela iimfuno zamalungu ayo nokuwathethelela.
Nangona kunjalo, ulindele ukuba iingxoxo zeveki ezayo zibe “ngqongqo nezibandakanya ukuxoxwa nzulu kwemiba”.
Kutheni i-GEMS ikholelwa ekubeni ingxoxo ngeemali ezigcinwayo kufuneka iqhubeke
Enye yezona nkxalabo ziphambili ze-CMS yayikukuba ukuvuma ukunyuswa kweminikelo ngezinga elisezantsi kunokubeka uxinzelelo olongezelelekileyo kwimeko yemali ye-GEMS nakwisakhono sayo sokuhlawula amatyala.
Funda: CMS explains why it rejected GEMS’s bid to lower contribution increase
Xa icacisa isigqibo sayo, umlawuli uthe ukunyuswa kweminikelo nge-7.5% bekungayi kujongana ngokwaneleyo nemingcipheko esisiseko yezemali neyokuhlawula amatyala yale nkqubo, kwaye kunokunyusa ukuxhomekeka kwiimali ezigciniweyo, nto leyo enokwenza kube nzima ngakumbi kwi-GEMS ukubuyela kumlinganiselo osemthethweni wogcino lwemali oyi-25%.
Ngokwengxelo edityanisiweyo yonyaka ye-GEMS yamva nje, umlinganiselo wayo wokuhlawula amatyala ubumi kwi-24.72% ekupheleni kuka-2025, ungaphantsi kancinane kowona mlinganiselo usezantsi ofunwa ngumthetho.
Ingxoxo malunga nokuba ingaba umyinge wangoku wemali egciniweyo usafanele na kwinkqubo enkulu yezonyango enamalungu athile kuphela, ayisiyonto intsha.
Ekuqaleni kwalo nyaka, i-PSCBC yacela i-CMS ukuba iqwalasele ukuba ingaba imfuneko esemthethweni yomlinganiselo we-25% wemali egciniweyo kufuneka ihlaziywe na. Umlawuli wala, esalatha ukuba le mfuno imiselwe kuMmiselo 29 woMthetho weeNkqubo zezoNyango kwaye isebenza ngokulinganayo kuzo zonke iinkqubo zezoNyango.
Funda: CMS says GEMS cannot cut 25% reserve requirement
UMoloabi uthe i-GEMS isamkela ngokupheleleyo eso sigqibo kwaye ayinandlela yimbi ngaphandle kokusebenza ngaphakathi kwesakhelo somthetho esikhoyo.
Kwangaxeshanye, ukholelwa ekubeni ingxoxo ebanzi malunga nendlela ekufuneka kumiselwe ngayo imilinganiselo yemali egciniweyo kufuneka iqhubeke.
Ugxininise ukuba i-GEMS ayiceli ukuphathwa ngendlela ekhethekileyo. Endaweni yoko, ukholelwa ekubeni naluphi na uphononongo lwexesha elizayo kufuneka luqwalasele indlela yokumisela imali eyinkunzi esekelwe kumngcipheko kulo lonke icandelo, kuthathelwa ingqalelo izinto ezifana nobukhulu benkqubo kunye nokuguquguquka kweendleko zamabango.
Esebenzisa umzekelo webango elixabisa i-R8 yezigidi lonyango lwesifo segazi esinqabileyo, uMoloabi uthe elo bango linokuba nefuthe elikhulu kwiimali ezigciniweyo zenkqubo encinci yezonyango.
Kwi-GEMS, enamalungu aphambili amalunga nama-890 000 kunye nabaxhamli abazizigidi ezi-2.4, elo bango linye liya kwabelwana ngomthwalo walo phakathi kwamalungu amaninzi kakhulu, nto leyo ekhokelela ekunciphiseni okukhulu kokuguquguquka kweendleko zamabango.
Ngokutsho kukaMoloabi, umsebenzi osele wenziwe kwiimodeli zemali eyinkunzi esekelwe kumngcipheko ubonisa ukuba inkqubo elingana ne-GEMS inokufuna imali egciniweyo emalunga ne-18% ukuya kwi-22%, endaweni yomlinganiselo osemthethweni wangoku we-25%. Nangona kunjalo, ugxininise ukuba lo mba useyinxalenye yengxoxo ebanzi yecandelo, kunokuba ube sisindululo esenzelwe i-GEMS kuphela.
“Yiyo loo nto,” utshilo, “sikholelwa ukuba kufuneka kubekho ingxoxo.”
Nangona kunjalo, ugxininise ukuba umlawuli wayecacise ngokulinganayo ukuba iingxoxo ezinjalo azinakwenziwa egameni lenkqubo enye yezonyango kuphela.
“Umlawuli ucace gca: ayinakuba linyathelo le-GEMS kuphela. Ngumba ochaphazela icandelo lonke.”
UMoloabi uthe naluphi na uphononongo lwexesha elizayo kuya kufuneka lubandakanye icandelo lonke leenkqubo zezonyango kwaye luxhaswe luhlalutyo lobugcisa, kunokuba luxhomekeke kwiimeko zenkqubo enye.
Okwangoku, i-GEMS isagxile ekwakheni kwakhona imali yayo egciniweyo ngokwesakhelo esikhoyo.
Ngokusekelwe kuqikelelo lwangoku lwale nkqubo, uMoloabi uthe i-GEMS ilindele ukuqala ukwandisa kwakhona umlinganiselo wayo wemali egciniweyo ukususela kulo nyaka, ize ibuyele ngaphezu komlinganiselo osemthethweni we-25% kwisithuba seminyaka emibini ukuya kwemithathu ezayo.
Ukulungelelanisa ukufikeleleka kweendleko kunye nozinzo lwezemali
Kuyo yonke le ngxoxo, uMoloabi ubuyele kumceli mngeni awuchaze njengowona uphambili ojongene nale nkqubo: ukulungelelanisa imfuno yamalungu yokufumana iinkonzo zonyango ezifikelelekayo ngokweendleko kunye noxanduva lokuqinisekisa ukuba i-GEMS ihlala izinzile ngokwezemali.
“Kukho into enye ecace gca ebisoloko ivela,” utshilo. “Kukulinganisa iimfuno zamalungu ngokubhekiselele ekufikeleleni kwiinkonzo ngokweendleko kunye nozinzo lwezemali.”
UMoloabi uthe ukulungelelanisa ukufikeleleka kweendleko kunye nozinzo lwezemali kuye kwakhokela indlela le nkqubo eqhuba ngayo umsebenzi wayo kuyo yonke inkqubo yokumisela iminikelo, ukususela kwiingxoxo zamaxabiso nemibutho yabasebenzi ehleliweyo ukuya kuthethathethwano lwayo ne-CMS.
UMoloabi ukwahlule phakathi kokufikeleleka kweendleko njengoko kubonakala kuhlengahlengiso lweminikelo lonyaka kunye nokufikeleleka kweendleko xa i-GEMS ithelekiswa neemveliso ezifanayo zezinye iinkqubo zezonyango.
Nangona evuma ukuba ukunyuka kweminikelo kubeka uxinzelelo kumalungu, uMoloabi uthe i-GEMS ikwaqwalasela ukufikeleleka kweendleko ngokujonga imali ehlawulwa ngamalungu xa efumana i-inshorensi yezempilo ethelekisekayo. Ngokwaloo mlinganiselo, uthe i-GEMS isengamaxabiso aphantsi malunga ne-23% kuneemveliso ezifanayo kwimarike evulelekileyo yeenkqubo zezonyango, kwaye imalunga ne-51% ngaphantsi xa kuthathelwa ingqalelo inkxaso-mali karhulumente.
Uthe injongo yale nkqubo isahleli ikukuqinisekisa ukuba nayiphi na imali eyongiweyo evela kwinkqubo yayo yokulawula nokunciphisa iindleko iyabonakala kuhlengahlengiso lweminikelo lwexesha elizayo, ngelixa iqhubeka nokusebenza ngaphakathi kwesakhelo somthetho esilawula iinkqubo zezonyango.
Xa ebuzwa ukuba ngowuphi umyalezo omnye angathanda ukuba amalungu nabacebisi bezemali bawuthathe kule nkqubo, uMoloabi uthe:
“Sikhona ngenxa yamalungu e-GEMS. Siza kuqhubeka nokwenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuqinisekisa ukuba i-GEMS ihlala ifikeleleka ngokweendleko, ngokuhambelana nomsebenzi wayo.
“Kwelinye icala, kufuneka sikulungelelanise oku nokuqinisekisa ukuba le nkqubo ihlala izinzile ngokwezemali nakwixesha elizayo. Okwangoku, ngokusekelwe kumthetho okhoyo, loo nto ilinganiswa ngomlinganiselo wemali egciniweyo, obekwa esweni ngumlawuli.
“Kukulinganisa phakathi kwezi zinto zimbini.”
Eli nqaku liguqulelwe kwisiXhosa ngu Ongeziwe Babane.
