BPOPF warns as pension cash-outs spiral
Friday, August 01, 2025 | 900 Views |
Public appeal: Malindah says the crisis caused by rampant pension encashments is not something in the future, but the present PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI
Changes to the Retirement Fund Act in October 2022 have allowed different classes of pension fund members to encash greater amounts of their savings for loans, mortgages, and medical expenses or receive a cash payout of 50% of savings, rather than the previous one-third.
Local pension funds estimate that at least seven out of every 10 pensioners are cashing out the maximum 50% at retirement, a situation that leaves many with net replacement ratios lower than the ideal. The net replacement ratio is the ratio of one’s pension compared to the final salary before retirement, which indicates how a pensioner will be able to survive after retirement.
Instead, they should serve as a warning to health authorities, community leaders, and policymakers that something is not right. According to the Palapye District Development Committee’s latest report, 130 abortion cases were recorded between April and June 2026.On the face of it, the overall figure may represent a decline from the preceding quarter. However, going deeper into the figures, the monthly trend tells a different and more worrying...