Former Robben Island CFO loses bid to unfreeze pension benefit
The ruling found sufficient prima facie evidence for withholding but did not determine whether Karabo Ramela committed fraud or caused the claimed losses.
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FST sets aside pension ruling in dispute between SAIPA and former CEO
The decision clarifies when prior civil proceedings may prevent the Pension Funds Adjudicator from investigating a complaint over withheld benefits.
Death benefit ruling puts Mutsila judgment into practice
Although the retirement fund misapplied section 37C, the OPFA found the same outcome was equitable after applying the Constitutional Court’s guidance.
SCA upholds Adjudicator’s reading of ‘12 months’ in section 37C
The retirement fund was not entitled to pay the benefit into the estate because it only learned of the member’s death more than a year later.
Tribunal: liquidation does not bar arrear contributions complaint
The Adjudicator conflated jurisdiction with enforcement and overlooked the potential personal-liability provisions in the PFA.
Fund rules prevail over ‘informal understanding’ in contribution dispute
The Tribunal says membership could end only in accordance with the fund’s rules, and WhatsApp exchanges did not amount to a valid withdrawal.
Adjudicator slams fund over unresolved death-benefit claim
Nearly nine years after the claim was lodged, the fund still could not confirm whether the benefit had been allocated or paid.
Tribunal dismisses R824 000 claim over delayed fund credit transfer
The FST rejects the member’s loss calculation based on assumed money market returns, affirming that the fund’s rules limit accrual to bank interest.
Death claims test trustees as section 37C meets real-world complexity
From disputed dependants to contested deaths, trustees are judged on how they investigate and explain their decisions.
Benefit payment hold-up leads to compensation order against fund
The Pension Funds Adjudicator finds that delays in processing a member’s withdrawal and transfer of retirement savings were wrongful and negligent.
Non-responsive retirement funds face stricter action from Adjudicator
Summonses and subpoenas may be used to address non-cooperation by funds and administrators, as the OPFA seeks to improve the efficiency of its investigations.
Bill gives Labour Court, CCMA, and bargaining councils power to order unpaid contributions
Misaligned statutory deadlines for employee retirement fund contributions raise practical compliance questions, particularly for employers with non-monthly payroll cycles.
Ruling clarifies trustee discretion when employers seek to preserve pension benefits
The judgment emphasises the responsibility of trustees to exercise their discretion fairly when deciding whether to withhold benefits in terms of section 37D.
Fund ordered to compensate member for delayed pension payments
The Pension Funds Adjudicator finds that prolonged administrative delays caused material prejudice to the member.
Two-pot reform does not unlock vested RA benefits – Tribunal
The system introduced limited access to savings components, but it did not change the longstanding withdrawal restrictions applicable to RAs.
Being married isn’t enough to secure a death benefit
The Pension Funds Adjudicator draws a line between entitlement to a monthly spouse’s pension and the allocation of a lump-sum death benefit.
Adjudicator upholds R4.5m allocation after wife fails to prove financial dependency
The customary wife failed to substantiate her claims of financial dependency and was shown to be estranged from the deceased.
