Woman faces court setback over friend's R2,64 million death benefit after surviving sister gets 40%

Woman loses battle for R2.64 million death benefit as sister receives 40%.

A woman nominated by her late friend to receive a R2,64 million death benefit faces a setback as the court awarded 40% of the funds 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 DB, 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.