Katlego Sekhu

Most people assume they’ll retire at 65, but the reality in South Africa tells a different story.
According to internal data from Sanlam Corporate, the true retirement age—when most citizens can afford to stop working comfortably—is closer to 80.
Kanyisa Mkhize, CEO of Sanlam Corporate, is urging collaboration between corporations, financial institutions, and key stakeholders in the retirement funding industry to build a more sustainable working environment that enables more South Africans to retire with financial security.
“Our data reveals that while 65 remains the official retirement age, only 25% of South Africans can actually afford to retire at this stage. Most will need to continue working for another 15 years to achieve financial stability,” says Mkhize.
“This gap is not just a financial issue—it requires a fundamental shift in how we approach retirement planning and employee benefits. The disconnect between expectations and reality poses challenges for individuals, businesses, and the broader economy, reinforcing the critical role of holistic financial planning in securing the future of our workforce.”
On Business Update, Gugulethu Mfuphi joined Sizwe Dhlomo to discuss the pressing issue of South Africans’ poor retirement savings. They also touched on the growing concerns around Temu’s production of unsafe consumer goods.
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