By Magnus Heystek*
Commentators everywhere – locally and internationally – have urged the ANC government to take drastic steps to change the management of the local economy in order to drive growth and manage the country better.
If it is not ratings agencies like Fitch and Moody’s warning about the country’s rising debt, it is independent economists like Mike Schüssler who warn that SA is in an economic mess that will take years to recover from.
The SA economy was in recession before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the downgrade to junk status by Moody’s was pretty much the final nail in the coffin. And then the ANC introduced lockdown measures and draconian rules, making matters far worse.
The economic consequences of mismanagement, theft and corruption of the past 10 to 15 years are now evident everywhere, whether on a macro-economic level as reflected at unemployment now at 30% of the total population, or figures like the budget deficit before loans, which is expected to reach about 15% of GDP this year, and a contraction of 8% year on year forecast for economic growth.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), that granted SA a loan of close to R80bn, also warned that the country cannot continue on its current path.
Yet many of the country’s asset managers, managing assets of about R8 trillion in pension funds and other investments on behalf of members and investors, remain largely silent about the economic decline. They have the most accurate numbers to show the impact of the economic catastrophe: the declining growth achieved for the investments of millions of South African’s retirement funds, many of which did not beat inflation for the past five years.
A rudimentary calculation shows that this trend indicates that the value of many South Africans’ pension benefits declined by 30-40% in the past five years, compared to the positive growth achieved for many years prior.
The biggest reason for this is the absence of growth achieved through investments in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in the past five to seven years, especially from companies who mostly do businesses in SA and are dependent on local economic conditions. If the results of international companies like BAT, Richemont and Naspers are stripped out, the performance of the JSE is especially alarming. If Naspers is excluded the JSE has declined by almost 25% in the past five years. This is reflected in the share price levels of several local companies, especially in the property and manufacturing sectors.
By comparison international assets delivered growth of between 15 – 20% per annum for the past ten years and in certain sectors, like technology, even higher growth.
The problem is exacerbated by Regulation 28 of the Pensions Act which prescribes the level of exposure to offshore assets pension funds are allowed. This exposure has been limited to 30% since 2011, with an additional 10% allowed for African investments, that are not performing too well either.
The result, that many people are now beginning to realise, is that there has not been much growth in the values of their pension funds. I receive many messages from investors complaining that the rand value of their retirement annuities show little growth or declined. Note the example of the performance of retirement funds of one of the big three insurance companies in SA.
It clearly shows that the fund achieved negative growth every year for the past five years, which translates into a 25% decline in inflation-adjusted net value. Which confirms my estimation that most savers using traditional retirement funds have realised declines of 20 – 30% in the past five years.
This example may be extreme, but it shows the sad state of affairs; even though it is rather challenging to find these details as a lot of this kind of information is rather hidden on many platforms.
RETURN AFTER INFLATION: – 25%
If one looks at the average return of the Reg 28 funds of the SA unit trust industry, as compiled by Moneymate (end July 2020) it is evident that no category of funds (low, medium and high exposure to equities) beat inflation the past five years. Also, these numbers do not reflect administration or advice costs, which will add to the lower return figure.
Inflation averaged at around 5.4% the past five years. However, for many the inflation rates for medical aid, electricity and municipal rates are much higher.
RETURNS OF REGULATION 28 RETIREMENT FUNDS
| 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 7 Years | 10 Years | |
| Multi-asset (low equities) | 4,13 % | 4,52 % | 4,95 % | 6,27 % | 7,51 % |
| Multi-asset (medium equities) | 3,62% | 3,53% | 4,04 % | 6,14 % | 7,51 % |
| Multi-asset (high equities) | 3,36% | 3,22% | 3,77% | 6,23 % | 8,30 % |
Source: Moneymate, July 2020
This retirement crisis does not attract a lot of media coverage; most retirement related articles encourage investors to save more – which is sound advice – but fail to highlight the shortcomings of several instruments that have not delivered much or no growth for five years.
The refrain that investors must think long term is all good and well, but five years of poor performance is long enough.
Furthermore, it is not useful to use figures that show that the JSE beat world markets for 20 years. This was thanks to a bull market between 2002 and 2007 (supported by a commodities bull market) which has since collapsed. For the past 15, 10 and 5 years the JSE underperformed compared to world markets, especially the past five years.
A serious review about Regulation 28 and its effect on members of pension funds is required. It should be allowed to include other asset classes, for instance Kruger Rands, which achieved average growth of 15% per year for the past 15 years. Why are South Africans prohibited from including gold and other precious metals as an asset class in pension funds as is allowed in many other countries?
Too many managers of pension funds are not vocal about this. Some are fearful that strong objections may be career-limiting. There may be conversations behind the scenes but on the surface, it seems that nobody is speaking on behalf of the members of pension funds.
The crisis in retirement investing is exacerbated by poor to no growth in the residential property market and also by lower interest rates – now at the lowest in 50 years. It cannot get worse. Or can it?
- Magnus Heystek is investment director at Brenthurst Wealth (www.bwm.co.za). You can follow him on Twitter on @magnusheystek.
Megan joined the Brenthurst Wealth team in March 2026 as an Administrative and Fiduciary Services Assistant at our Val de Vie Office in the Western Cape. Prior to joining Brenthurst, Megan gained three years of experience in the retail sector, where she developed management and client service skills.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Esmarelda Isaacs-Andreas joined the Brenthurst Wealth Stellenbosch office in October 2025, taking on the dual role of Receptionist and Fiduciary Administrator.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Ashley joined Brenthurst Wealth in January 2025 as Office Administrative Assistant and Receptionist for the Stellenbosch Office.
René Heystek joined Brenthurst Wealth in November 2023, as receptionist and administrative assistant in the newly established George/Garden Route office.
Michelle Heystek has built a career in the financial services over the last two decades, after obtaining her B.Com degree in Financial Management in 2005. Once she joined Brenthurst in 2006, she continued her academic journey, obtaining her Certificate in Wealth Management from INSETA in 2007, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State. In 2008, she earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.
Anelle joined Brenthurst Wealth as a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant to Brian Butchart in the Cape Town office in December 2023. She has a wealth of knowledge from working as a liaison between Financial Advisers and clients at TMA and Absa Investment Management Services (Aims) since 1998. She obtained her B. com degree from the University of Port Elizabeth in 1997.
ADMITTED ATTORNEY | FINANCIAL PLANNER & HEAD OF BRENTHURST FOURWAYS
Sanet was appointed in April 2020, joining our Cape Town team as an Executive Administration Assistant to Renee Eagar. She has been in the financial services industry since 1990. Her previous experience includes positions at Sanlam, BJM and ABSA. She spent her last 12 years working at Alexander Forbes Private Client Wealth as a Senior Wealth Management Assistant. She has received numerous accolades over the years which include but not limited to, Alexander Forbes Client Service Excellence – Silver award in 2014,2015 and 2017. Sanet has also obtained her Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5) in 2012 and achieved “Best Student of the Year” from Moonstone.
Maria Smit is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 10 years of experience in the financial planning industry.
