Retirement Age Misperceptions Are Fals There is, in fact, no basis in law for raising retirement ages. The Treasury has, therefore, said that there is no legal basis to change retirement ages. Retirement age continues to be determined by the contracts of employment of the individual, pension fund rules applicable in respect of that employee, or applicable labor legislation. The Government Employees Pension Fund has added that the retirement age has not changed. Thus, while public officers under GEPF under the scheme still retire at 60 or early if they take early retirement, there is simply no increase to 67 or beyond.
How Did The Misinformation Spread?
False articles flooded social media feeds to say the retirement age of South Africa will be universalized to 65 as of May 2025, or will be raised to 67 for public service purposes at least. The claims have been publicly denied by government agencies, trade unions, and fact-checking agencies.
Actual Framework Governing Retirement Age
Public Sector: These are governed by the Public Service Act of 1994, which gazetted the standard retirement age as 60, with early retirement permitted from 55 onwards.
- Private Sector: Here, it’s governed by employment contracts and pension fund rules. The employer has to comply with the fair dismissal laws, which generally prohibit imposing retirement on an employee before the contractually agreed age or the custom and practice of the industry.
- Constitution of a Pension Fund: Retirement limits are set by the individual pension fund or employer; in other words, there is no uniform policy relating to this matter in the country.
What Should You Do
In case you are uncertain about your retirement age:
- Check your employment contract for any retirement terms.
- Check your pension fund or HR policy, possibly in the public sector.
- Make inquiries with your employer or union for confirmation if there are announcements or rumors about changes.
- In this time of rapid misinformation, it is wise to go by official statement or reputed news personalities for clarification.
Also Read: R370 SRD Grant Appeal 2025: Full Guide To Reinstate Your Payment