Woman loses battle for R2.64 million death benefit as sister receives 40%.
A woman nominated by her late friend to receive the full proceeds of a death benefit worth more than R2.64 million failed in her attempt to overturn a decision awarding 40% of the benefit to the deceased's intellectually impaired sister.
The Pension Funds Adjudicator dismissed a complaint brought by HP, who challenged the Ninety One Retirement Annuity Fund's decision to allocate 60% of the death benefit to her and 40% to Debra de Jager, the late member's sister.
The dispute arose after CA's death in August 2022, making a death benefit of more than R2.6 million available for distribution. Initially, the fund awarded the entire benefit to HP, but the Pension Funds Adjudicator overturned that decision in January 2025 after CA's sister, DB, complained that the fund failed to properly investigate whether she was financially dependent on the deceased.
Following the earlier ruling, the fund conducted a fresh investigation and concluded that DB should receive 40% of the benefit, while HP should receive the remaining 60%.
