Treasury Shuts Down Retirement Age Rumours: No Change to Pension Rules in South Africa

Have you seen a WhatsApp message or Facebook post claiming that South Africa is raising the retirement age to 65 for everyone starting 30 May 2025? Don’t panic — it’s false.

The National Treasury has officially debunked these rumours, which stem from a widely shared article on an obscure website. The claims included talk of sweeping pension reforms, a new mandatory retirement age of 65 for all, and the introduction of phased pension options. But according to Treasury, there is no such policy in place.

“There is no standard retirement age set by government in South Africa,” Treasury told Daily Maverick. “This is determined by individual employers and retirement funds, not by the state.”

What You Should Know About Retirement Rules in SA

In South Africa, retirement age isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you work in the private sector, your retirement age is usually spelled out in your employment contract or pension fund rules. There’s no law that says you must retire at 65.

For public servants, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) allows retirement from age 60, with early retirement options from age 55. The Public Service Act of 1994 governs this, and there have been no changes to these rules.

The old age grant, available through the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), remains accessible from age 60 for both men and women.

Where Did the Misinformation Start?

The rumour appears to have gained momentum after an old hoax resurfaced — a fake version of the Public Service Amendment Regulations that falsely claimed the retirement age would be raised to 70. It circulated on social media but was never linked to any official documentation or gazette.

Labour Experts Warn Against Believing the Hype

Labour lawyer Avi Niselow weighed in, stressing that South Africa has never had a universal retirement age — and forcing someone to retire without a written agreement could land employers in legal trouble.

“It’s not about what’s trending online,” said Niselow. “If there’s no contractual agreement, pushing someone out based on age is often illegal.”

He also warned employees not to act on these misleading reports: “If someone resigns based on misinformation about early pension access, they could suffer permanent financial damage. You can’t un-resign.”

Always Check the Source

South Africans are urged to be cautious and verify claims with credible sources before making life-altering decisions. The National Treasury, GEPF, and labour law experts are all clear: no new retirement age law exists.

As it stands, you retire when your employment contract or fund agreement says you do — not when Facebook does.

{Source: Daily Maverick}

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