No, there is no change to the retirement age in South Africa

Story published by the Zerode website on May 22, 2025 falsely stating that SA's retirement will change by May 30

27 May 2025

National Treasury has dismissed the claims contained in an article gaining traction through WhatsApp forwards and Facebook reposts.

South Africa’s retirement age has not been changed. Some online articles, including one published on Zerode.co.za, have said South Africa is implementing sweeping pension reforms – most notably a uniform retirement age of 65 for all citizens regardless of gender or employment sector, and effective from 30 May 2025.

The article gained traction through WhatsApp forwards and Facebook reposts, and further asserted that the government has confirmed new phased retirement options and that older workers will be able to draw partial pensions while continuing part-time employment.

None of this is supported by any gazetted legislation, parliamentary record or regulatory announcement.

What Treasury says

In response to detailed questions from Daily Maverick, National Treasury dismissed the claims.

“There is no standard retirement age that is set by government in South Africa,” it said. “Employees in formal employment... have a retirement age that is determined by the employer and the relevant retirement fund, which is not prescribed by government.”

Treasury also confirmed there are no planned changes to the old age grant – which remains available from the age of 60 for men and women – and that the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) still permits retirement from age 60 for public servants.

Where did this rumour begin?

This round of confusion appears to follow the earlier circulation of a fake version of the Public Service Amendment Regulations. That document, distributed on Facebook, falsely claimed that the retirement age for government employees would be increased to 70, but was linked to no official source.

Story published by the Zerode website on May 22, 2025 falsely stating that SA's retirement rules will change by May 30

Here’s the law

South African law does not prescribe a universal retirement age. In the private sector, retirement age is defined by employment contracts or pension fund rules. In the absence of such terms, section 187(2)(b) of the Labour Relations Act provides that dismissing someone for age is only legally fair if they’ve reached the “normal or agreed retirement age” for their role.

In the public sector, the governing legislation is the Public Service Act of 1994, which sets the normal retirement age at 60 and allows early retirement from 55. These provisions remain unchanged.

Risky assumptions

Labour lawyer Avi Niselow, who has represented both employers and employees in retirement-related disputes, confirmed the legal position – and the practical risk of relying on online claims – in an interview with Daily Maverick.

“We’ve never had a mandatory national retirement age,” Niselow said. “That misconception has landed employers in court before. If there’s no agreed age in the contract or fund policy, forcing someone out at 65 could amount to automatically unfair dismissal.”

He added: “It’s not about what’s common practice in the industry or what’s trending on WhatsApp. It’s about what’s in writing. If it’s not contractually agreed, the employer is exposed.”

He also warned of the fallout for employees: “If someone resigns based on false assumptions – thinking new pension access rules are already in place – the damage could be irreversible. You don’t get to undo that.”

The final word

There is no legal basis for the claim that South Africa is implementing a universal retirement age of 65 from 30 May 2025.

Treasury, the GEPF and labour law experts confirm that no such change exists – and that acting on misinformation could lead to legal exposure and irreversible financial harm. DM

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