
Two pots showing results, but success hinges on preservation and education
Industry experts say that small, unclaimed pots left behind by members pose a growing challenge that must be managed to protect long-term retirement outcomes.

Industry experts say that small, unclaimed pots left behind by members pose a growing challenge that must be managed to protect long-term retirement outcomes.

Examining international retirement models reveals key lessons, from managing early withdrawals to ensuring disciplined investing and the critical role of financial advice.

It is also open to discussions on letting members transfer all their vested savings into their retirement and savings components.

The two-pot system has changed how members check balances and withdraw funds, but evidence shows the reform alone won’t fix long-term retirement shortfalls.

Despite fears of mass withdrawals, early data shows most members are preserving their two-pot savings – a shift that could leave South Africans up to four times wealthier in retirement.

Even after record withdrawals, retirement fund assets expanded in the third and fourth quarters of 2024, driven by movements in financial markets.

The FSCA finds wildly inconsistent withdrawal charges under the two-pot retirement system, with some members paying up to R750 per transaction.

The OPFA on how retirement funds should address non-compliant employers, death benefit allocations, and requests to withhold benefits.

A revamped licensing schedule and an enhanced Integrated Regulatory Solution platform will form the backbone of COFI-aligned supervision.

Many fund members are tapping into their savings components as soon as the tax window opens, data from the Actuarial Society indicates.

The Pension Funds Adjudicator rules the fund acted within the law when it refused a member’s request to dip into his FlexiPension plan.

The SpendTrend25 report reveals how high interest rates and stagnant incomes are pushing consumers towards credit, loyalty rewards, and early retirement withdrawals.

Sanlam reports that most withdrawals came from financially strained members in mid-life, with little evidence that funds were used to reduce debt. Instead, spending patterns suggest pressure to cover everyday expenses.

Danie van Zyl of Sanlam Corporate Investments warns that allowing access to retirement components in retrenchment cases might jeopardise long-term savings and place added pressure on trustees.

The South African Revenue Service outperformed its revised estimates for 2024/25, buoyed by strong personal income tax, VAT, and company income tax collections.

The Authority has withdrawn the temporary exemption for retirement fund transfers, signalling the full implementation of updated regulatory requirements.

Unathi Kamlana says the Authority will support the integration of advanced technologies and strengthen frameworks for consumer protection, cyber resilience, and financial inclusion.