15 May 2017

Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund regional manager (Maun) Mr Tibayani Mabalani has called on members of the fund to update their nominations and other personal details regularly whenever there are any changes.
Mr Mabalani was speaking at a workshop organised by the fund for desk officers recently.
The objectives of the workshop were to sensitise desk officers on the operations of the fund as well as educate them on their role in the administration of pension benefits.

He said desk officers were responsible to administer the death benefits questionnaire to help identify dependants for the trustees to exercise their discretion to allocate benefits to dependants.
He further said death benefit questionnaires should be administered immediately after burial or sometime after the burial when the family requests.

Further, Mr Mabalani pointed out that his office encountered challenges with the processing of pension benefits such as desk officers not completing questionnaires and not signing the questionnaires.
He said desk officers should explain thoroughly if the deceased’s parents were dependant on the deceased, if they were single parents or if they were late.

For her part BPOPF counsellor of members, Ms Tsholofelo Aaron advised that members should always ensure pension contribution is being deducted by checking their monthly pay slips.
“We encourage pensioners, guardians and dependents who do not have bank accounts to apply for cash cards for their convenience,” she said.
In addition, Ms Aaron informed officers that a nomination of beneficiaries form does not bind the trustees, but only serves as a guide on the allocations made by the member.

She added that benefits for major dependents are paid as cash while minor dependents under the age of 21 and adults who are mentally challenged are placed in a trust and a guardian is then appointed.
The BPOPF member communication consultant, Ms Keletso Gotcha advised members approaching retirement to book for pre-retirement counselling in order to prepare the mind for retirement.
Ms Gotcha noted that a BPOPF member only contributes five per cent, whereas members’ employer contributes 15 per cent. However, she noted that members can make up to 10 per cent of Additional Voluntary Contributions.
She encouraged desk officers to always remind members to make sure that they comply with tax legislation.
She further noted that tax returns should be submitted every year in order to avoid delays in the payment of retirement benefits. ENDS