What benefits do I get as a public servant from the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF)?

The Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF) is a defined benefit fund with over 1,2 million active members and more than 400 000 pensioners and beneficiaries. 

All government employees whose conditions of service fall under the Public Service Act are members of GEPF. This includes employees of all national and provincial government departments, as well as employees in the offices of the provincial premiers, the Public Service Commission, Provincial Service Commissions and the office of the Auditor-General. 

  • Members of GEPF qualify for benefits on retirement and also on resignation or discharge. If a member dies, death benefits are paid to his/her beneficiaries, who can also claim benefits to help pay for funeral costs.
  • To qualify for pension and other benefits, members pay a monthly amount of 7.5% of their pensionable salary to GEPF. Their employer also contributes by paying a certain amount every month. 
  • Your benefits from the fund are guaranteed. All GEPF benefits are defined in the Government Employees Pension (GEP) Law and rules, which is why GEPF is called a defined benefit fund. 
  • Benefits are protected against inflation. The GEPF has a solid track record in safeguarding the value of members’ retirement wealth. According to the Fund rules, the annual pension increase paid to GEPF pensioners must be at least 75% of the average increase in consumer inflation during 1 December - 30 November of the previous year. Where pensions fall behind inflation, GEPF also pay catch-up pension increases.
  • Actuarial valuations of the Fund are conducted at least every three years. According to the latest valuation, undertaken as at 31 March 2014, GEPF is 100% funded.

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Contact details

Toll free number: 0800 117 669
Fax number: 012 326 2507
Email: enquiries@gepf.co.za
Website: www.gepf.co.za

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