18 October 2004: No 80/04

REGULAR FORCE MEDICAL CONTINUATION FUND: AMENDMENTS AFFECTING CONTRIBUTING SANDF MEMBERS

Chapter XV of the General Regulations (GR XV) on medical matters has recently been updated and promulgated. The changes that affect contributing serving members are highlighted below:

·         Repayment of Contributions. The amendment provides for the Fund to repay contributions to contributing members who cannot utilise the Fund on exiting the SANDF for any reason. It includes repayment of contributions to dependent spouses of contributing principal members who, on exiting the SANDF, choose to be included in the principal member’s household as the dependent spouse. The relevant forms to be completed for this purpose are available as part of the Service Termination Booklet distributed by the HR Support Centre. Existing members must ensure that their banking particulars are correctly completed in the space provided to ensure that they receive the money.

·         Discharge from the SANDF through Medical Unfitness. The qualifying requirement of continuous ten years’ contributions to become a beneficiary has been removed. The new requirement is an SAMHS Medical Board declaring the contributing member unfit for further service in the SANDF. However, the payment in one sum of the monthly contributions for the period until the contributor would have attained the age of 60 years is still applicable.

·         Voluntary Service Termination Prior to Retirement, from the age of at least 50 years. Provisions to be admitted to the Fund have been expanded. It now also makes provision to admit contributors who voluntarily terminate their services as from the age of 50 years for any reason other than retirement, or related qualifying exit reasons. However, apart from the payment in one sum of the monthly contributions for the period until the contributor would have attained the age of 60 years, to access the Fund’s benefits as from such age, they will privately and at own cost be liable for their and their dependants’ own medical expenses until the age of 60 years.

·         Widows/Widowers/ Surviving Life Partners Remarrying/ Entering/ Re-entering into Life Partnership Agreements. Provision now exists for such beneficiaries who remarry/enter/re-enter into life partnership agreements, to retain their acquired benefits only for themselves and their legal dependants. Therefore, new spouses and their children are excluded from such benefits.

Enquiries can be made by contacting the following:

·         Regulatory framework issues: Mr P. Ramsing: tel (012) 355-5892 at Policy and Planning Division (DSS).

·         Contributions and serving member issues: Col P.J.S.J.L. Venter: tel (012) 339-5400 at the HR Support Centre.

·         Fund management and administration and matters pertaining to beneficiaries: Col (Ret) C.S. Meyer: tel (012) 431-3358.