Durban — KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane has expressed her concern over the spike in the resignation of health-care workers, particularly professional nurses, since the government announced the implementation of the two-pot system.
The two-pot pension fund retirement system opens for applications on September 1. It will allow members to withdraw up to 10% of their retirement savings with a maximum of R30 000 at the marginal tax rate a year.
Simelane and Human Resources chief director Dr Nozipho Mthembu were speaking about the latest episode of KZN Health Chat Dot hosted by Ntokozo Maphisa, published by the department recently.
Simelane said that since the talks of the two-pot system began, the department has noticed a spike in the resignation of health-care workers, especially nurses.
Once they enquired, she said, they found that the leading reason behind their resignation was the misinformation about the two-pot system bill that was passed before the elections.
“Many professionals were found to have accumulated debt over the years and to meet that they would resign to pay off their debt.
“Others were found to be sceptical of the two-pot system’s legitimacy and wanted to resign and get their money,” Simelane said.
The spike in resignations affected the department because many of the workers were nurses, she said. The department was already short of nurses and such resignations have a negative impact on the service.
Health-care workers should not panic, Mthembu said, explaining that the two-pot system provides relief for workers in the public and private sectors.
Workers would have access to their money rather than drown in debt, she said. There is a pot for savings and the other for retirement.
Mthembu said the minimum to claim from the savings pot is R2000 and the maximum is R30 000.
“If you have a big problem or a purchase that will be sustainable, by all means, use the money. You need not retire to access your money.
“The two-pot system will begin on September 1 and workers can find out more information at their HR offices,” Mthembu said.
The system comes with good things for workers and the workers should speak to Human Resources rather than rely on hearsay, she said.
MEC Simelane emphasised that many of the health-care workers who have opted to resign were still young and that it was a huge discomfort to the department.
They were aware that many workers face hard times and that is why they advise them to use the two-pot system once it is open, she said.
The funds should be used wisely and for important expenses, she said.
Simelane also discouraged workers to use their savings for spending such as birthdays because it would affect their pension balance once they retire.
“Also, workers should remember that the system affects their pension as they will be deducting from it. As such it should be used for the pressures of life and personal development,” Simelane said.
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