The Politics of Cohabitation in South Africa: Exploring Who Qualifies for Pension Benefits Under Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act, 24 of 1956

Abstract

This paper looks at how politics play out when considering who qualifies to claim when distributing pension benefits to beneficiaries particularly those who claimed to be cohabiting. Against this backdrop, previous decisions of the pension adjudicators were examined and the politics inherent in those decisions were articulated. The importance of pension funds tied to social security was also highlighted. The paper emphasises that a lot of claims were declined as a result of unnecessary politicking and therefore concludes that the current position needs to be reformed in order to allow more people to be eligible to access and benefit as prescribed under section 37C of the Pension Funds Act, 24 of 1956 as amended. Bearing in mind that this section seeks to protect those who were benefiting from the deceased during his lifetime, the argument is therefore that, they should continue to benefit in order not to become destitute.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n2p773